Can I start taking Ibuprofen again ?

[KathyLev 283]

Before surgery, whenever I'd have a sore muscle ,I'd take Ibuprofen because it dials down the inflammation and for me, it was my miracle drug . Now ,after having VSG,I was told I can't take them. I never asked if this was temporary or forever. Alot of Google replies said to avoid them for the first month only. What did your surgical team tell you?

[FifiLux 96]

I was told it was forever which I think upsets me more than possibly not being able to eat and drink everything I like.

Ibuprofen is what gets me through my knee pain, I just have to hope I lose enough weight to reduce the knee pain.

[LindsayT 556]

I was told forever and to have it put on my allergy list. It increases the risk of ulcers.

[summerseeker 1,852]

You need to ask your team. Every team have different rules. I take co-codamol for my fibromyalgia and have from 'as soon as I could swallow them ' I was told by my team it was ok to take them.

[SleeverSk 617]

I think as long as you are not taking them everyday or frequently and have food with them its ok, but yes taking them regularly could become an issue even for non surgery people

[BabySpoons 531]

I never dealt with a lot of pain pre-op but when I did, Aleve seemed to really knock it out for me. I will miss it. Now I take Tylenol/acetaminophen if needed to avoid getting any ulcers from NSAIDS. Sounds permanent.

Now I am dealing with a different kind of pain almost 3 months out from Gastric Bypass. I noticed it all last week and still with me today. My bones ache. Not my muscles. My bones. My next follow-up appointment is on July 12th.

[RickM 1,747]

This is a big maybe - talk to your surgeon and see what their position is. They may have one thing published in their guidebook (don't take them, ever...) and something else if you talk to them directly about your specific condition.

NSAIDs are a big NO NO for a bypass, which has been well established owing to specific problems with that configuration, which doesn't exist with the sleeve. When things started with the sleeve, most docs simply carried over their same instructions to their sleeve patients - intellectually they knew there was a difference, but their experience didn't tell them how much. Many now consider them to be a small no no for the sleeve, while still prohibiting them for the RNY, but that still varies. Occasional use is usually approved, but they want to avoid consistent use. Our team had been doing sleeves for some twenty years, mostly via the DS, when I had mine done twelve years ago, and their experience indicated no problems with NSAIDs even shortly after surgery (more recent conversations with him indicated waiting a couple of months or so.)

I like to be conservative on such things, so I avoid them mostly, but use them occasionally. These days I mostly use Rx meloxicam for occasional orthopedic issues, which is a Cox-2 inhibitor and supposedly somewhat friendlier to the stomach than NSAIDs.

[SleeveToBypass2023 1,832]

When I had my sleeve done, I was told nothing but Tylenol for the first 8 weeks, then after that, only as needed and not everyday. Now that I'm about to have my revision from sleeve to bypass, I was told never again. Only Tylenol from here on out. No Ibuprofen, no Aspirin, nothing.

[CarolineLittle 90]

I'm allowed to take them, just not regularly. My clinic says to take a reflux tablet at the same time.

[Arabesque 6,486]

You need to check with your team. My surgeon gave me the go ahead after two months because I take them so rarely but he still gave me strict restrictions: half dose (so 1 tablet at a time) & not two or more days in a row. I may take them 5 or so times a year. Thankfully, I don’t experience regular pain just an odd headache or if my back goes out but pain meds like Tylenol do nothing so I was pleased when I was given the okay.

[Jeanniebug 472]

When I was suffering from a rotator cuff injury, a couple of months ago, I was miserable. Tylenol wasn't doing a thing for my pain. I reached out to my surgeon's office and begged to be able to just take one dose of ibuprofen. They approved it, but told me to take omeprazole with it.

NSAIDS increase your risk for ulcers. So does bariatric surgery. Combine the two and you're almost asking for a problem.

The restriction on NSAIDS is forever, but it's probably not going to kill you to take them once in a while. You'll want to get approval from your team. I had already been several months post op, before trying to take it.

[The Greater Fool 1,952]

My surgeon had no blanket restrictions on any medication. Many of us take medications every day that have pretty severe side effects, but we make the choice that the definite benefits out weigh the possible negative side effects. We mitigate the possible side effects where we can and we monitor carefully for problems. This is as true for OTC drugs as it is for prescription drugs.

My personal situation makes Tylenol a general "do not take" while NSAIDs are OK for the situations for which I need them. I have other meds that are more effective against most pain, but likewise have larger possible side issues. Again, mitigate and monitor are the order of the day.

Don't take your medical advice from strangers on the internet. You're medical team is the place to get informed information that takes into account your personal situation.

Good luck,

Tek

[Arabesque 6,486]

Oops. Just noticed I said in my post I was allowed to start taking NSAIDS after 2 months. It was two years.