Hi there,

I had Gastric Bypass 7 yrs ago. Have gained weight back but still down 60lbs. I have been anemic for awhile but the PCP keeps telling me I'm ok b12 and iron wise. I even had a colonoscopy last wk to make sure I wasn't bleeding internally. That checked out ok too. I have alot of the RA symptoms just not swelling, I have an appt w/rheumatologist next month. Anemia does seems to be a symptom of RA and the GI doc seems to think the Gastric Bypass is causing the anemia, even though the iron and B12 are ok??? I'm so confused. Le me know what you find out.

Hi,

I had GBS 6 yrs ago, lost 160 pounds, had no issues with joint pain, no family history of RA.  I was diagnosed with RA 3 yrs ago after I thought that I had injured myself weight lifting...my fingers swelled up like sausages and I couldn't move them.  I've been taking Remicade every 6 weeks, methotrexate.  I have often wondered if my GBS triggered this disease, especially after I heard that my sis-in-law has been diagnosed the RA this summer and she is 5 yrs out of GBS...also no family history of RA.  I have asked my rheumatologist, but she doesn't know enough about GBS and then asking the GBS surgeon, he doesn't know enough about RA.  Does anyone have any ideas who we could contact to see if there has been any study on this??  Because of the RA and some other back issues, I've gained back 45 lbs because I can't exercise, which really is depressing and frustrating.

b2

11/ 6/09 12:00pm

Just curious did you get any feedback on your questions? I am in the same situation and it hurts and drugs are not the answer.

 

Thanks

 

B2

Hello there,

I had GBP surgery 5/05 and have developed RA as of last year.  This is the first time, I've heard that others who had the surgery were experiencing the same thing.  I'm also, taking Remacade and it has helped.  No one has been able to tell me the RA was caused from the surgery.  I've always been in pain, so I thought it had always been there.  Last year, it flared up and I could barely walk.  I wish I was informed about the absorption of food and a side effect could be RA.

Hope that helps.

Debra

I had GBS in 1999.  5 yrs later I developed severe R) hand pain, in the last 5 yrs it has progressed to both hands, ankles and Knees. At first the Rheumo told me it was RA, with no Xray proof of this being the case. I went for another opinion from another Rheumo and he said no it's not RA but it's Psoriatic Inflammatory Arthritis and SLE.  This Rheumo is encouraging me to have the "blind loop" removed as all my problems are arising from this "blind loop".  He wont guarantee that this will solve my problem of Arthritis but it should ease the levels of pain to a certain degree.  I don't really know if it will help or not but I'm only thinking about it at the moment and haven't even thought of taking it any further.

Even with all the medication that I'm taking has not really helped my pain levels at all and the Inflammatory Arthritis is still progressing very slowly.

plasticwindow

3/10/11 8:15am

I already have RA diagnosed five years ago and am considering having GBS. My bariatic surgeon believed it will actually improve my RA. Did anyone have RA BEFORE their surgery?

tpeila

5/21/11 12:44am

I am researching this RA GBP connection. My sister had debilitating RA before she had GBP under a year ago. She said she is in the most pain she has ever been in, in her life. She recently developed bedsores from not being able to be mobile at all. I am SO sadden by this and searching for anything that can help her. She is on methadone every 4 hours and basically cannot function. I am disappointed the military gave her this surgery without researching what could happen.

Hi,

I had a gastric bypass ten years ago and lost 120 pounds. Felt great for some time. Was not very compliant with supplements, but ate well. 15 months ago developed severe "frozen shoulder", very painful and somewhat disabling. Nobody knows what causes it but it has a regular course and usually people get over it within 1-3 years. I also developed osteopenia and mild anemia. 4 months ago the frozen shoulder started to "melt", i.e., the range of motion started to come back fairly rapidly, but the pain became worse and spread everywhere along with stiffness and weakness. No swelling, but across my shoulders, glutes, knees, elbows, wrists, neck and now spine it's like I've been beaten up. Feels like moderate to severe arthritis. Comes and goes, some days better. Sleeping at night is difficult and it's depressing to be in this pain for 4 months and have no idea what's causing it. I had blood tests and they came back negative for inflammation. Only thing my doc suggests is that I have a colonoscopy to check the cause of the anemia, which isn't going to help the pain! I use a lot of nsaids because I have no choice. Wish I could get some help. I'm going to be an alcoholic soon at this rate as a couple of glasses of wine seems to relax my body and relieve some of the pain and let me sleep.