I've been on an non steroidal anti-inflammatory drug or nsaid for almost 20 years. It's part of having TMJ issues. It keeps my TMJ in check on a daily basis so that I don't have pain, swelling and general achiness. Having any surgery requires that you go off nsaids for 5 days. They want the drug all out of your system so they can use the medications they need to use during and after surgery.
I was disappointed to hear at the beginning of the process for the band that I'd need to go off the nsaids all together. I spent many years in high school and college fighting TMJ issues and not understand how medications help it. I didn't understand preventative meds and relief meds. Once out of college my old doctor explained it and I understood that I had to take the medications likely for the rest of my life. In my 30's I spent 3 years going to a pain clinic to figure out a pain treatment plan that I could live with. I've had this plan in place for almost 10 years and it's worked. Now I have to play with it and that is somewhat scary.
My band doctor and I talked about this, given that there really is nothing else I can take. She said that with the band (the least restrictive gastric option) they don't like to see nsaids used, however, if I really need to take it she would work with me to find one that was gentle on my stomach.
However, as I said, I had to go off the medication for surgery. It's day number 4 and I can can feel it. Even though I took it for TMJ issues, it helped elsewhere also. I can feel my knees are more sore from the arthritis. I can certainly feel achiness in my jaw and some pain. I can feel it in my elbows with their bone spurs. I can feel it in my hips with achiness. And I am suffering menstral cramps and issues that I usually don't. All of that was helped with the nsaid that I can't take.
Tough choice, huh? But I'm confident that after surgery if I need something I can work it out with my doctors. I've done it before and I can do it again.
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