Hi Krypto and welcome! I'm six months out from my RNY and had my share of what-if's and major anxiety before my surgery. I can tell you that it won't be easy, but it WILL be worth it. I'm sorry you've had so many health struggles before now. I'd say don't try to fix everything at once. When we make major changes, we have to change one small thing at a time, right? Concentrate on just one change at first, then add another when you feel ready, then another. I know, easy for me to say, right?

Hang in there and let us know how things go. You can do this!

welcome ; I too have issues with arthritis in most of all my joints. I am 1 yr. post-op and down 140lbs. limited walking some exercising. I also had my left knee replacement done in Dec. You've got this, just follow your eating guidelines!!!! Breath and ask questions of medical team !!

Thank you for the responses and words of encouragement. I was letting all my anxiety bubble up yesterday, so I do appreciate the encouragement. Unfortunately as far as the changes, my doctor doesn't want me on the meds while going through the surgery. I suppose this gives me an opportunity to get off my prednisone and only add it in when or if necessary for periodic symptoms. Using the prednisone is what started my latest weight gain. I'm trying to look at the positive. ;-)

Welcome and I understand your concerns. Manny people who need pin pain medicines that are in said oriented usually do better with the sleeve. Whereas the RN why people cannot take NSAIDs

Well crud, Siri posted before I was ready to post. I could not exercise during my shedding process because of old shoulder, back, and knee issues, and I shed all my weight just fine. I had a hiatal hernia and an abdominal hernia taken care of at the same time as my RNY so I don't think the gets issue should be a problem if you have a good surgeon. I'm not sure which surgery you are getting but you might want to talk to the doctor about the NSAID issue

Have to laugh Lcat! My talk to text often gets me in trouble. When talk to text writes something that can't be interpreted, my son will reply: "Lay off the juice Mom!"

Thanks all!

LCat, I'm planning to have the RNY, but will be talking about the sleeve with my physician. The thinking behind the RNY was that the sleeve has slower weight loss and my doctor (as well as all my docs) feels that my overall health conditions warrant the "most effective surgery." Mind you about 4 years ago I saw the surgeon, and while reluctant to do the surgery said he would, but all my other docs (I've got many.) I shouldn't do it. It is too risky for people with my conditions. So I went back on a diet and lost 90 pounds, subsequently gained back 88lbs. and here I am. Now, every doctor believes I need the surgery since I have trouble keeping it off.:-(

Anyway, I had a hiatal hernia fixed with my GERD surgery years ago. I will talk to the docs about the NSAIDs. I sometimes take Aleve, but I mostly take Tylenol from the doctor. I'm on a pain patch, though that doesn't help. I have another problem related to my conditions. I have chronic gastritis. I understand that the RNY could add to this or it at least doesn't help. I take meds for that too.

One thing for sure is I have a top-notch doctor. He is one of the doctors everyone sends their screw ups to or in my case, complex patients. This is one thing that is helping with my anxiety, but I do believe I might be more anxious about how my other conditions are going to respond. This is going to be a very long month. UGH!

Yes Krypto, RNY is faster but you can't take NSAIDS orally. The most "effective " surgery needs to take into account your pain and other physical needs and medications. If you take something like Prilosec long term then you have the potential for calcium deficiency and osteoporosis. I haven't found many doctors who consider the side effects of multiple medications in the long run. We have to educate ourselves about the meds we take. The gastritis issue should change with RNY. Be sure to talk with your doctor about how each surgery would possibly take care of the gastritis. RNY bypasses most of the stomach which might help the gastritis.

" a gastric bypass can decrease the amount of acid in the pouch since no acid can get to the pouch in a gastric bypass patient (because the stomach is divided away from the portion of the stomach that acid is made)". http://www.bariatric-surgery-source.com/is-converting-the-gastric-sleeve-to-the-gastric-bypass-an-effective-solution-to-chronic-gastritis-and-gerd.html

Thanks LCat. That is helpful. I'll talk to the doctor about the gastritis and RNY. I've been making a list of questions to ask and all this goes down on it.

I will need to find as many liquid medications as possible. I don't think I'll be able to take the same meds.

Liquid, chewable and sublinguals are the way to go !