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I'm sorry that you're in the same situation. I'm having seizures and in constant pain due to trigeminal neuralgia , raw and several autoimmune diseases. Being in a wheelchair is limiting. My weight loss has stopped and sometimes gone up. I need to lose. About 40 more pounds. It's depressing after all the problems during the surgery. No hope for change so I'm learning to live with it. I hope others are doing well.

Holy Hannah! That's a lot! Have you asked your immunologist? Or whatever specialist deals with autoimmune stuff... They might be able to give you some insight. I'm sure you're surgeon can also be able to offer insight. I have a friend with Sjogren's. Hers is pretty far progressed but I know it's been a battle for her and I hope things have progressed in the research to the point where there's better care for the disease. Good luck!

I have a strong family and personal history of autoimmune disease. Because of that, my surgeon agreed that sleeve would be better because of potential issues with medication absorption after the bypass. If not for that, I probably would have gone with the bypass. I know people who have had it and done great, it does have better stats than the sleeve. I tend to be a pretty rational person who tries not to make decisions based on emotions, so the "it makes me feel ooky to think about re-routed intestines" was not a factor for me. Well, rational is probably not the right word, I don't want to call other people irrational -- but I try to put aside my initial emotional response to situations and make decisions (particularly medical/health decisions) based on science rather than emotion. If you haven't, you might want to go to a support group and meet people who have had these surgeries and are at least a year out and see what they have to say. Sometimes it can help to talk to and see people in person to get a real sense of what their experience has been like. Good luck!

I chose sleeve to avoid the rerouting element. I also have an autoimmune disease, so I needed a procedure that would allow NSAIDS if needed. I am very pleased with my choice. I had a textbook surgery and recovery. I am 7.5 months out and down 122 lbs.

I chose the sleeve because I have an autoimmune disease that requires me to use NSAIDS at times. With RNY, NSAID's are a never again. My doctor told me so long as I'm on a PPI, I can use NSAIDs with a sleeve. I'm also on other maintenance medications for bipolar, and I didn't want to risk my meds being malabsorbed. So sleeve it was for me!

Hello, I'm Kim Harris and I've had the band since early 2010. Althouh I loat weight, I've had nothing but problems from the get-go. A year and a half ago I was diagnosed with a Sjogrens, an autoimmune disease similar to lupus, which causes joint pain and fatigue 24/7. I just received word today from my surgeon that insurance has approved the removal of my band. I am praying that removing the band improve my health with respect to my autoimmune condition. I considered having a revision to a gastrectomy but metal staples would be yet another foreign object permanently placed in my body for my body to reject and continue the autoimmune response. When I saw your poat about how you had just had your band removed and you feel so much better (and weight loss on top of it) I had to ask what you were feeling and problems you were having that prompted the removal of your band? And did you have any revision surgery? I'm wanting to know if there are others who developed autoimmune conditions after lapband placement, and if they chose to have the band removed, did it improve their autoimmune symptoms/conditions? Thank you for sharing your post-op improvement; it gives me hope that I haven't had for many months now. I wish you continued improvement in your health. I am interested in knowing what problems yiu experienced with the band and what has improved thus far. I'm new to this site, so if you have posted this info elsewhere, I would appreciate a link. And by the way, my daughter in law works for an attorney and we were juat discussing this very topic yesterday of lap band compllications and how they are so hard to prove for a jury to actually have enough concrete information to find in favor of a patient. Her attorneys won't even look at medical cases unless there has been loss of limb or life. So, don't be too optimistic on finding an attorney for lap band complications (I have no idea what your situation is; you may have something an attorney would consider.) Kim

Thanks guys. I have an autoimmune that really keeps my mouth dry and parched. I always, always have something to drink. The thought of trying to eat and not having anything to drink with it is hard for my mind to grasp. I do want to "follow the rules" and not go against what is recommended. But I was wondering if I did sip something at a restaurant out of caving to my dry mouth, would there be an ugly scene at the table?

Well, the seminar was good and I got to talk to the doctor. I have lost 27 pounds since I my PCP a month go. I have been on a 900 calorie diet, high Protein, low carbs, low fat, no red meat and NO SWEETS! The doctor recommended the Sleeve for me. That's the GOOD news. The BAD news is that till Dr Turnquest gets my records from and talks to my Liver doctor, he won't know if I will be able to have WLS. He said it depends on how much liver damage I have. (Autoimmune hepatitis and nonalcoholic cirrhosis. I will find out on June 5 when I go for my first meeting I with the dietitian. (I have to go for 4 sessions). So till June 5, I won't know anything definite. I don't wait well. LOLOL Actually, I expected this to happen. I never asked my liver doctor how much damage I had. So I will be playing the waiting game once again. SIGH.........

Hi Tammy, I have lupus, too, along with other autoimmune disorders, like Reynauds, Sjogrens, Fibromyalgia, Grave's Disease, etc, and I am 52. I have not have my surgery yet. I am scheduled for July 27, 2015, so I can't give you the answers you are looking for. But I am glad to find someone else in the WLS community in a similar situation. I will let you know how I do with taking my meds (and there are a lot of them!). I chose the sleeve procedure over the bypass specifically so that I could continue to take my lupus meds and hopefully not have problems with absorption (since losing weight won't mean I get to stop taking those). Has your experience been that you are able to absorb your lupus meds successfully? Good luck with your weight loss adventure! kbpaulie

Big Opie-- There is no shame admitting that you have low self-esteem. As such, it may feel easier to focus on the scary, dare I say, superficial aspects of weight-loss. But as someone who had high blood pressure, high cholesterol and difficult-to-control Diabetes, (I have Type I--autoimmune diabetes. Mine can't be cured) I urge you put the physical appearance aspects aside for a minute. Your body is sending you strong signals that it is breaking down and will continue to break down at your current weight. Your very life is in jeopardy. Since my surgery my cholesterol is normal, my blood pressure is normal, my insulin levels have decreased drastically, I have no more sleep apnea, no more A-fib... the list goes on. And in terms of vanity, I love being a size 8-10. I don't care if my belly will always be flabby. You can't see the flab under my clothes, bathing suits, or lingerie. This is the best decision I have ever made and I hope you make it too!

So far I use the cinnamon bark stevia herb suppliment daily in my coffee I use to keep my autoimmune disease inflammation down..no problem here..I have changed over from pill form to essentials and liquid for most supplements now. Feeling so much better..the liquids are more pure form without all the non essential additives..working for me

I don't know that people were misled as much as new information I on has been discovered/revealed over the course of time. I'd been warned that the band was still relativelly new and as such there weren't the types of long term studies that would show it's performance over decades. Yeah @Cleos mom, the surgeon I know was only telling me the info about the autoimmune showijg up as a point of interest. She herself said there was no way to know if it was caused by the band or independent. She only said she'd noticed it. I myself had much worse gerd with the band than with the sleeve and I vomited dai l y. Not the sleeves fault. I just never learned to work with it.

I go in for my first appointment tomorrow. Some 2.5 hour Weight Management / Nutrition Class my insurance company says I have to attend. I bet there's a lot of you here that are like me: We could teach the class with what we KNOW we're supposed to do... LOL! Why do I want to get sleeved: Selfless Reasons: My two beautiful daughters (1 & 4 years old) I want to run and play with them without huffing like an old steam engine, or without paying for it with back, hip, knee, ankle, and foot pain for the next three days. For my wife: We recently found out that my wife has an autoimmune disease that if we cannot get it into remission has a mortality rate of around 10 years. By the time we know if this disease is going to prove fatal to her: Her mother also has an autoimmune disease (a different one) and may not be with us anymore by then. Her father is a chronic alcoholic and will not help me with his granddaughters. My own parents are on the other end of the country, and will be in their 80s by the time we know. I cannot be so selfish to not take the best care of myself I can if I’m going to have to raise my girls by myself. It brings me to tears to think of these two amazing little girls all alone in this world, just because daddy couldn’t get his weight and health under control. I cannot, and will not fail them. Selfish Reasons: I want to be buff again. I worked as an Air Force Cop, and at the time I was 190 lbs with a 50” chest and a 32” waist. I could run 10 to 15 miles with over 100 lbs of gear on my back like it was a stroll through a park. I’d like to get as close to that as I can. Back in the early 90s I went to a nude beach on a dare from a hot Australian girl I met while scuba diving in Cancun. I’d love to have the confidence to do it again. There’s no way in hell I’d subject anyone to seeing me like that with the way I look now! If the time with my wife is short, I want us to experience anything and everything she wants. This has gone beyond just “I want to be skinny” for me. It will affect my whole family. Thanks for reading. I'll be back as soon as I know more about my times and dates. R

I have Raynaud's. It can be associated with autoimmune disease. I am under the care of a rheumatologist. It usually doesn't bother me unless I am super cold.

I think much of the future of medicine will be in gene therapy and we are a long way from that. I think conditions like cancer, alzheimers, parkinsons, autism and the autoimmune diseases will likely require gene therapy for prevention or cure. So, too, I think will obesity, which is a disease. I envision a (far away) future where people will say - "What? they used to cut out 80% of your stomach or reroute your stomach to lose weight? So glad they don't have to do that now".

this is strictly my experience and journey...I have several dx's ..mine has changed soo many times depending on the psych I seen over the past 25 yrs. It's been Bipolar, MDD, PTSD, and then back to Bipolar/with MD...I understand I was reading your story and my goodness I thought I was reading mine. bless your heart. I lived through that vicious cycle the past 30 yrs. But mine went further. after 25 yrs of battling weight (up and down up and down) and many specialist I was also dx with hashi's. ( autoimmune disease) that destroyed one side of my thyroid I was put on armour a yr ago right before going through the process of getting the sleeve. I also dx with insulin resistant, pre diabetic. I ate also out of all emotions and craved simple carves to no end! I ended gaining like 30 some pds within a 6 wk period that's when my endocrinologists dug deeper with extensive BW and ended up doing US on thyroid and biopsy. I also had already been through 12 yrs under dr care for the "mental" issues and treatment with psycho therapy which done me wonders got other perspectives and causes of my underlying eating issues and I hadn't even thought about the sleeve bc I had no idea it was even being done. yea I thought about WLS in the past yrs but I always thought I didn't qualify till 2 of my specialist directed me to my surgeon. after being put on armour for my thyroid and I got my BW in the normal range before I was accepted for the sleeve , I was on a cocktail of 4 drugs for the mental diseases over the past 12 yrs it was 2 yrs ago I got weaned down to 2 and now I am at 1 and doing great. since getting my thyroid levels at optimal levels my mental issues has improved so much(for me) I was released by my psych and endo to have the surgery my highest weight was close to 275 and without the surgery I was headed to the 300 plus and I was miserable where I was. it does make you have a more depressive attitude toward yourself and it turns to being angry and disgust with yourself (talking about me and how I treated myself and myself internal dialogue) which made me a very outward moody person I hated life and could not stand the idea of facing a day which I know the MDD/Bipolar also had its affect on that thinking as well. But I am 10 months PO over 100 pds down. I no longer turn to food for that self comfort you mentioned that only last a short while till I bottomed out again and repeated this cycle to numb myself and how I was internalizing and it was a vicious cycle. I understand. I am soo thankful my 2 specialist directed me to the sleeve. my internist said I was candidate and the sleeve with me on daily meds there's no malabsorption issue and no redirecting organs and has a huge success rate as long as I DO MY PART and STICK TO MY PROGRAM. I had already started the lifestyle changes 2 yrs prior to this. I had already removed all processed sugars, breads, pastas etc bc of my autoimmune diseases and I had already dropped the calories while doing this of eating the less the 600 cal a day and yes for those who doesn't understand the starvation of this reduced cal intake and still kept getting bigger and bigger it happens. I am the testiment and charted. I was hungry all the time! but my body was in war with itself and it got to where everything I ate it stored. now I eat to live and have been released from prison and loving life. I am 51 and my life is just starting. do your research and I am so glad you asked this question. talk with your dr's you trust and that will support you. there's alot to the process. but SOOO worth it. I have found myself and relearning each day. as long as I am stable which I have been for a while I'm doing great. am I perfect? heck NO! but my awsome days totally outweigh my bad days now. my self esteem is out the roof. I have a dear friend who is over 300 pds and she came over one day and asked me how I have been losing weight. she is bipolar (not sure if its actual dx from a psych or self dx) but she has stood by that for over 40 yrs and I told her about my stopping the sugar addiction a few yrs ago and her words were "I don't see myself losing weight or getting off the sugar addiction wagon" and of course I said strict portion control..(her and hubs lives for food) its their recreation...(Iv been there done that)! I said as long as you tell yourself that it wont change. I am hoping my new life changes will inspire her! sorry such a long post I just wanted to share what I went through and I hope this helped. keep us posted dear and best wishes..xx

And how many people develop an autoimmune disease that didn't have the lap band? There would have to be research and studies on this topic to show a cause and effect - comparing those in the general population without WLS in the vulnerable age groups for these autoimmune diseases against the same group who have had the band. Then the differences would have to be statistically significant to conclude a cause and effect excluding other factors such as genetics, etc. I am no fan of the band, that is for sure, but if you go to the lap band forum you will see many who are, just like you see all those who just love the sleeve on here.

I was banded in 2008. Was NOT successful. I love my sleeve. It feels much more "normal" to me. I feel much more normal with it. When I was banded, I was told it was expected to be permanent. Since then, research has documented that many people suffer issues with the band and require removal. There's more caution now about stating a projected lifetime for the product. As an aside, a bariatric surgeon I know told me that she had a number of band patients who now suffer from autoimmune problems. She wasn't certain whether it was causal or correlative. However, she feels her patients have been more successful with the sleeve over the longer term. All that said, I do know a number of people who have been successful with the band and who have not had issues. Personally, I had no medical problems with my band. I just could never figure out how to correctly work with it.

So I was wondering if any fellow banders have the same issues that I am having. I suffer from Crohn's disease (an autoimmune intestional condition) that already can cause problems. So could it just be the new "protein first" diet? Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks

going to jump in here! I had the sleeve done 10 months ago. I had 2 of my specialist one being my internist I have over 12 dx's been sick for so long these 2 sent me for the sleeve since no rerouting of organs when I got to my surgeon he asked me what I wanted and he agreed with me that with the medications I take the sleeve would be great. no dumping here, no mal-absorption blood work is awesome I am down over 100 pds no hair loss. my highest weight was 272 since I wasn't over 300 it was ideal for me. I have had 2 friends who had the bypass 1 didn't reach her goal and in fact put it all back on the other one made her goal she's alot older then me and has gained back some but yet stable. I don't know your health issues but my bp is normal, no insulin issues my only complaint or regret is that I didn't have this yrs ago to get my health under control! the sleeve is the procedure that is running in the forefront . I didn't want my organs moved or rearranged. and its the best decision I ever made. but its each persons decision. do your homework. I would go with the dr you trust more. and for me that was my surgeon. mine had been doing these ever since they began and his success rate is up top. I trusted his opinion of what he thought would be best for me and all my health issues and of course he being the expert and I have several autoimmune diseases and I have never been happier! best wishes in your decision and keep us posted as to what you decide..

I have a colleague who can't deal with overhearing others compliment me. She would actually chime in any time people asked me how I lost it. "she had surgery". Yes, it was meant to help with my many autoimmune diseases. That was all I had ever shared with her and others at work. I would always add, "And I'm eating 800 calories a day." She's a bitch. She gives me "elevator eyes" when she sees me, scanning me up and down, and like Scarlett O'Hara, she is just "pea-green with envy". I look fabulous--no apologies on my part. BTW, in the gay community, an otter is a thin, muscular, hairless (chest/body) man. I have a good friend that is described as an otter. I have never once considered licking cheesecake off him. Would add an awkward dimension to our friendship, I would imagine!

I know all about the hardcore BARF fans. I've just seen too many problems from them. And a lot of times the problems stem from improper handling of the raw meat and dishes, etc. Did you know that in some veterinary hospitals (especially in Canada) dogs fed raw diets are quarantined when they come in and considered infectious because of the parasites they can potentially harbor and pass to other patients? Homemade diets certainly have their place, especially when a dog or cat has food allergies or certain medical conditions. We've worked with a holistic vet and used the Chinese temperature-based food charts to help develop diets for patients with cancer, liver failure, Cushings, autoimmune disorders, etc. But they really should be cooked and making sure it is a nutritionally complete diet is challenging. As for commercially prepared foods, it's kind of like with us. Read labels. Know what each ingredient actually is (for example, "meal" is not a bad thing) Use common sense. Find out what you can about the manufacturer - any recalls? where are they getting their raw ingredients? Did they conduct actual food trials in determining their AAFCO status? Do they have their own manufacturing plants or are they outsourcing to mass production factories? Recalls often happen not because that particular food is bad, but because it was processed in a plant that also makes another food that was recalled. There are just so many new, smaller, regional dog and cat food companies that offer a good product, that the search for the "perfect" one is certainly daunting. Nutrisource, Victor, Pioneer, Purevite, Go and Now are some of the ones available locally and we recommend to our clients. (But not all of these are organic and/or grain free)

everyones differant thats for sure..I have hashis..Im on armour for thyroid. 1 side of thyroid is dead and shriveled up the other is enlarged..I was going back on forth from hypo to hyper...now stable on ty med..increasing my calories with non ff items and mainly proteins have worked for me. my plan is more ketogenic with high protein...so far so good. I feel for us with sluggish metabolisms . the ff/low fat/sf diet is what got myself where I was but this isn't the case for everyone though. have you had a complete thyroid panel done lately? I get mine done throughout the yr...just throwing this out there not for sure it'll help or not. I understand the physical limitations I struggle with several autoimmune diseases including fibro it can be brutal some days. I noticed you said a sf/ff greek yogurt? I have been settling for the chobani greek it was the lowest on sugar per serving organic and I eat the kroger carbmaster brands their really good. the chobani is what I make the hubs protein shakes/smoothies out of. I'll have one here and there but barely theres to much sugar for me. the only fruit I keep on hand handy is the green grapes their easy to have. Do you use MFP? maybe start using it again to add up everything and kinda see where your at? maybe? IDK...Im sure you are...just throwing that out there..do you think maybe cutting out the rice cakes even though you dont eat often might make a differance in not such a struggle? I can't have grains or white processed items they were my worst enemy for me. another suggestion thats all...congrats on maintaining I hope I'm as successful as you are! thats wonderful! keep us posted

Well, I was very open to either sleeve or bypass. My surgeon recommended the sleeve because I have a personal and family history of autoimmune disorders, and the sleeve lets you take a broader array of medications after surgery. But I have nothing against bypass -- it is considered the gold standard of weight loss surgery for a reason! My niece had bypass and some other people I know did as well. They have all lost pretty much all their excess weight and maintained well, all look great and healthy. I haven't noticed them having any digestive problems. There are also a bunch of people in my wls support group with bypass and they are all doing great. If your practice runs a support group, you may want to go and talk to people who have had both surgeries and see for yourself, in the flesh, how folks are doing and what they have to say. Good luck! eta: I am not a band revision patient, hope it is okay that I chimed in!

@@TammyDTM hi there..I still take plaquinil. I have only used the pred maybe less then 2 wks in the last 11 months (if my memory is correct) I have been scared to take it bc of the weight issue. thats just me. so I use alternative methods of pain management. the plaquinil helps termendously. Im no hurry to stop it bc I went thru a few months recently (within 4 months) that I was doing well to remember to get my second dose in. I was only getting 1 in its 200mg and man I was in soo much pain I couldnt hardly move got like the tin man! I thought geezzz I am in a bad flair! well it was bc I was only getting in half of my dose. I had to put them both out where I could see what I needed to take thru the day and I started feeling much better! I also changed from pill form on the D3 to organic liquid it has made a TOTAL differance! my swallowing solids is getting harder and harder. but the liquid is doing so much better. Iv been on pill form D for yrs but there was too many fillers and it wasnt affective..now its doing wonders! I stopped the pill form magnesium those are horse pills lol! they were impossible to swallow! I ordered pure magnesium oil and spray that on my muscles or feet or where ever and OMGoodness! what a differance! I have soo much more stamina energy yet at the same time I still pace myself...I do get really fatigued on exertion and I mean when I have my really good days I go and go and go and then I it hits me I have to recover. thats just the life of autoimmune..ugh..but over all I feel the best now despite some of the diseases. I feel more in remission now or milder in symptoms then I have in 15 yrs! I do keep pred and robaxin (muscle relaxer) on hand for emergency if I get desperate but I haven't used them. I see my kinesiologist 2 to 3 x a month get a message the same day total diet change organic as much as possible and grass fed meats if all possible. I have stopped my nexium few months back only need a rolaids occassionally I took nexium for yrs! I do take folic acid and biotin there really tiny so I can swallow them pill form still. I do take armour thyroid I will for life. I am glad you found me! this has been the decision I ever did (except for breast reduction 15 yrs ago) lol...your on the right road. but I believe some things can be controlled with the right foods and I mean by eating a non flammatory diet. night shade veggies promote inflammation as well. google. when you get to the point where you have more options of foods and can tolerate you will be able to see a differance. I am 8 months PO and my treat has been a piece of the 70% organic chocolate with coconut. thats my thing. I break off a square which is tiny and Im good! I have lost consistantly 1.5 to 3 pds a wk...you do have something to look forward to! although us lupies are at differant disease degrees. I do have kidney involvment , and several other organ issues but Im stable and really feeling so much better and I know the plaquinil is helping. I dont care to stay on it. but my meds have went down indeed! taking more then alternative route now days as much as possible. hang in there!!