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I don't know if there is any correlation between lapbands and autoimmune diseases but I do know that a lapband will not be placed (at least by my surgeon) in a patient who has an existing autoimmune disease. But then I read loads of posts on here by bandsters with MS, Lupus, Crohn's, etc...and was astonished that they had been able to find a surgeon who would band them. I haven't developed an autoimmune disease (yet) but my band is responsible for me developing heart arrythmia, for which I now have to take strong and unpleasant medications for the rest of my life. And, sadly, removal of my band will not "cure" the arrythmia because once the electrical pathways are disturbed (thanks, lapband!), they are there for life. I don't regret (yet) having opted for a lapband, but I am extremely sad about now living life with this high-level lapband complication. My risk of stroke is now increased, not to mention the risk of dying from congestive heart failure or cardiac arrest. That said, staying obese might have brought on heart issues as well. Who knows? Here's what i DO know. Statistics mean nothing because either you do develop complications or you don't. It is black or white. I thought I'd be among the "x" percent who would never have a lapband-related complication. But I'm not. Many of us are not. But to those that are....rock your bands and enjoy their benefits!

I have had lupus for over 30 years. I am over 50 years old and I am considered high risk. My surgery went well and I am losing weight. I was wondering if anyone here has lupus or any other autoimmune disease to deal with while going through this sleeve process. How are you doing with taking your medications and dealing with the fatigue and pain that comes along with the disease? I have never had trouble with my meds until after the surgery (Feb 25, 2015). I always took my bedtime meds on an empty stomach, but find that now, I must have a few bites of food or some thick Protein drink on my stomach before I take them or my stomach hurts and spasms all night. I am wondering how someone who is maybe a year or so out from surgery is feeling now and have your lupus symptoms lessened.

I have had lupus for over 30 years. I am over 50 years old and I am considered high risk. My surgery went well and I am losing weight rapidly. I was wondering if anyone here has lupus or any other autoimmune disease to deal with while going through this sleeve process. How are you doing with taking your medications and dealing with the fatigue. I have never had trouble with my meds until after the surgery (Feb 25, 2015). I always took my bedtime meds on an empty stomach, but find that now, I must have a few bites of food or some thick Protein drink on my stomach before I take them or my stomach hurts and spasms all night. I am wondering how someone who is maybe a year or so out from surgery is feeling now and have your lupus symptoms lessened.

for me and the surgeon it was a no brainer ...with meds I take for autoimmune diseases and 2 of my specialist both suggested best for me would be the sleeve. and neither of these dr's had spoken to each other about me they dont even know each other but I seen them both in 1 wk an ironically they both referred me to surgeon for sleeve. theres no organ switching an less absortion problems. so I went with the sleeve surgeon backed me up he had been doing these ever since this procedure come about . eat slow, small bites, no drinking during eating first 4 months I did good to get in 3 or 4 bites a setting. now I am 8 months PO over 100 pds down an this has been the best thing I ever done for myself! the sleeve is less evasive . I do have a good friend who had bypass 8 yrs ago shes alot older then me an she did great as well. her health was a little differant then mine. do your research. it was easy on my part I trust my specialist they have always steered me in the right direction (my internist an endo that is)..best wishes! keep us posted..

I had a lapband surgery 8 years ago. I lost 40 lbs initially but then I started throwing up constantly. turned out I had severe GERD which has caused scarring of my esophagus. I have also developed a autoimmune disease called PBC, Primary Biliary Cirrhosis. This could result is me evidentially requiring a liver transplant. I recently went to see a homeopath and he is convinced my body is rejecting the band and it is the cause of my issues. I do believe him as I was overall healthy until about a year afterward. Do I think I could have gotten PBC anyway - maybe as it is genetic. Do I think that having a foreign item in my body caused the so called switch to be turned on YES. Of course there is no research on this as who will pay for it? Not lapband manufactures, not drug companies so there will be no research done unless a hospital takes it on as a cause to stop these surgeries. I am in the middle of researching having it removed and hopefully it wont cost me a small fortune and hopefully I don't gain all my weight back as that would also be bad for my liver. I know for many their health improves due to the weight loss but I now wonder at what cost.

Originally banded (2008), not successful. However, apart from getting stuck and vomiting a lot, no problems with the band itself - no erosion or slippage. Sleeved in January 2015. VERY happy so far (was NEVER happy with band, not even in the beginning). Wish I'd been able to get the sleeve in the first place. As an aside, a bariatric surgeon - not mine - confided to me that she has seen a number of autoimmune problems in people who have been banded.

I know this is a strange question but, did anyone have a positive ANA blood test after VSG? I have an appt with a rheumatologist so I'll know more after that. I guess I'm wondering if all the changes my body is going thru can cause this and not some dreaded autoimmune disorder.

Congrats! I am in the process of getting approved as well. I have my first initial doctor's appointment on March 4th. I am excited. I have been communicating back and forth with the nurse who has been collecting all of my paperwork to send to the insurance company. She doesn't think I will have any problems getting approved. I have two comorbities. I have sjogren's syndrome (an autoimmune disease) & sleep apnea.The autoimmune disease affects inflammation in my joints. I am 5'7 & 270 lbs.

I dont understand the "calling authorities" part over testing positive bc of "adderall" but in your case was cold meds. I would def ask to take blood test especially for a job. Iv taken adderall for ADD an I wasnt addicted it does help. just felt the need to clear that on my end on the use of this particular drug. in fact I was suppose to take 2 daily an I did well to get 1 in daily. I couldnt feel the differance other then brain fog from the autoimmune diseases cause. Im sorry your dealing with the false positive hopefully this can get cleared up quick. if they really wanted to know the truth they could have checked on the drug list to see if your on it..anyone who is subscribed by dr legitimatly their name is on the data base for controlled substances. I know its stressful but the truth always comes out hang in there.. keep us posted ...I hope it works out for ya

you have come to the right place for "Proper Education" an "Personal Experiances" ..Im not male nor a chef however being married to an Italian we do luv to eat! we do enjoy going out an he LOVES to cook! trying to make a long story short bare me: Im 51 have battled yo yo dieting an weight since I was 17. my body started falling apart in my mid 20s. I have seen countless drs, specialists, thru countless testing blah blah blah..5 yrs ago I had to quit work for the 2nd time in 2 months my body refused to cooperate. the past 12 months I had gained again 40 pds in 2 months. finally got referral to endo after putting my foot down on seeing one. my immunologists couldnt understand why no other dr I had seen would refer me to well it was bc my thyroid panel was always on the low side of the "NORMAL" gold standard range. he did as I asked ...within 2 wks I was having an in office US on thyroid, (I had been complaining for 2 yrs of trouble swollowing) low an behold goiter on side the other thyroid "dead" shrinking. the PROPER bw on thyroid panel that I had researched from mary shoman had those tests ran sure enough I ended up on the biopsy table confirmed hashis, insulin resistant. with over 25 yrs of yo yo dieting an already the past yr of slashing calories down to 500 or less still having a difficult time of the numbers dropping I was prime canidate for sleeve to be done. that was farthest from my mind even though 20 some yrs ago I did think about it yet I never dreamed my ins would pay for it. now all of a sudden I have 2 specialists sending me to the surgeon, saying the sleeve way was best no switiching of organs an getting rid of the portion of the tummy of the stomach hormones that would never shut up an down sizing the tummy from a 40 oz to 4 oz would make all the differance in the world! before I knew it I was accepted online by our hopsital over here insurance was verified immediatly an within 2 wks I had started preop classes, going thru the mental evaluations didnt have to repeat the stomach endoscopys bc my internist had already done one a yr before , had all bw done by then I was on armour thyroid an got my levels where they are approved for surgery an released by my endo to go forward with it I also had severe apnea, fibro, lupus, polymyalgia , GERD, prediabetic, insulin resistance an hashis an list goes on, I had a surgery date within 3 months from start to table! I am 7 months PO..100 pds down would I do this again? YOU BET!!! best thing I ever did besides marrying my bes friend an hes my biggest supporter an having my 2 beautful adult kids! I am 51 (I dont know if I mentioned age earlier) but I am feeling now that my life is actually starting new! If I hadnt had this surgery for the tool it provides(its not "the miracle" but a tool) I saw myself with all the health dx I had there is no doubt I would have ended up being over 300 pds more miserable an bedridden! for me I dont wish that on anyone! thats honestly UNHAPPINESS UNHEALTHY (an no one can convince me that being fat is healthy) Im sorry I was FAT an theres no other term for me I use...I refused to be delusional anylonger an just living. I actually wasnt "living" I was merely in survival mode an that term I use bc I was merely breathing an a couch potatoe. no life! now I am all of a sudden able to actually keep up with my home , I am not out of breath as bad I do get some asthma a little an my meds for my autoimmune an inflammation do flare but controlled better. I have another 40 or so pds to go to make goal I havnt broadcasted my tool yet but only to a selected few I didnt need others "UNEDUCATED" neg comments bc the majority of ppl have no clue of the facts. this was hard enough the first month especially fighting with head hunger an going thru craving with drawls that the brain an body do go thru I needed positive support around me. but to eat there own. I will eventually help others if asked. I hope I have had a positive impact an answered some questions. your at the right place. my only regret is that I didnt do this 10 or more yrs sooner! I would do it again in a heart beat regardless of what I endured the first few months!! best wishes an keep us posted!

I over packed!!!lol!! I always do! for sure chap stick, I took my own heating pad I used it on my chest the minute I got in my room an kept it on all night. I took gas x strips..yes it helped mine to a point. still had discomfort but I also tried an sleep most of the evening I got in my room around 7 or 8 pm I want able to drink or even sip till almost 11 or so that night.I had hernia repair an every sip or swallow I had esophagas spasms..ugh ...I did take my own meds with me my own pjs..take the pain meds. my tummy never hurt. only a few of the small incisions walk as much as you can an soon as you can. I got up 4 hrs after surgery walked to the door turned around an got back in bed. an hr later tried again made it to the hall turned around went to bed. slept till 5 am woke up hubs an I walked fown to nurse station walked back. every hr I walked further an further till I was doing laps. I stayed 2 full days..needed IV fluids couldnt drink much..had no appetite at all. I was crinkling nose up at foods. I had 4 to 6 wks of being released from restrictions. its major surgery even though your not admitted long. but it'll take a good 6 months to heal the tummy. so give yourself at least a month to lift anything over 10 pds..plz ask your dr first. looks like everyones differant. it took me 6 months to get strength back. but I also have autoimmune diseases , 51 yrs old an stay at home. everyone bounces back pysically differant paces. best wishes! keep us posted...

I have an autoimmune disease too so I totally get the weird/unfortunate symptoms they cause. I'm glad that you have been given a tool to help you lose! And for "slow" weight loss, I bet your surgeon is happy with your progress, especially given the circumstances.

@@stephh, I I have an under active thyroid which unfortunately does not go away. It is an autoimmune disease & difficulty Losing weight is one of the unfortunate symptoms. Prior to surgery, my surgeon tested my metabolism. Thankfully, he confirmed that even though the weight loss may be slow, It is definately doable. By the way, thanks for the kind words & words of encouragement.

Oh girl I didn't realize you were having so much trouble. I am so sorry to hear that. You have certainly kicked butt after surgery. We were banded the the same time. I'm wondering if they tried any medications to try and calm it down???? I don't have any input on the sleeve because I never researched it. For me having 3 autoimmune disorders my only option was the band and if it ever has to come out that will be it for me. I know it's scary about gaining it back and it happened to me but only because i had to take high doses of steroids again for months. You can keep it off if that ends up being your choice you have done so great and are such an inspiration to me!!! I wish you the best in whatever you decide but mostly I hope you get some relief of those symptoms soon!

Too much soy is not good for anyone, male or female. I used soymilk in place of dairy when my youngest child was nursing, b/c she was dairy allergic. After several months of daily soy milk (just on Cereal in the am), I developed Hashimoto's autoimmune hypothyroidism. It may be coincidence, since sometimes pregnancy triggers this as well, but soy is a well-known goitrogen so now I avoid it almost entirely. The studies on asians and lower rates of some cancers now show that fermented soy (tofu and tempeh) are the key; they don't eat processed soy products like milk and cheese.

I total agree with all of you! I read the positive stories and I feel so excited about what's to come for me. Then, as I sit here, 5 days post op and read a post about the band triggering autoimmune diseases and I'm like wtf?? Everybody has a different experience with the band and I hope and pray that I am one of those people with a success story. Best of luck to you all, and props to all the positive bandsters out there handing out encouragement! Us new bandsters are in desperate need of it!

I am so glad to see your post. I also have Fibro, as well as several autoimmune diseases. I'm on so many flipping meds that I have to keep them on a spreadsheet. I know without a doubt most, if not all, of the meds have either put the weight on or made it dang near impossible to get off. I was sleeved on 12/8 and am in the midst of a 5 week stall. I'm wondering if it's not the meds that are contributing to the slow loss. My goal with the sleeve was to eventually be able to wean off of some of the meds and hopefully be able to better cope with all of my symptoms. May I ask which med you eliminated? The one that I suspect is giving me the most fits is Cymbalta. It is AWFUL to come off of. I've tried to twice and I just don't know if I could handle it a third time. But, if there's light at the end of the tunnel, I may have to just suck it up and try again to taper off it. I wholeheartedly second the suggestion for aqua therapy. I can barely walk on the treadmill for 20 minutes, but I can walk laps in the pool for almost an hour. It's so much easier on the joints. I had knee surgery in July and it actually feels good to walk in the pool. Now trust me, I can totally relate with the pain of just getting out of bed in the morning. I get it. But the pool is the one place I feel I can truly move and not go into a crazy flare afterword. Good luck to you! Keep up the good work!

I know this is an older question but just came across this and had to reply. Hopefully, this will help somebody! I had lap band in 2007. I did not weigh enough for bypass but had high bp, high cholesterol etc. I started having terrible abdominal pain about 6months to 1 yr later. My surgeon had left our area and could not find a dr to touch me. I became sicker and sicker. From renal failure, swollen joints to diagnosis of RA. I went to Houston and saw Dr Nowzardan (from My 600lb life). (He is WONDERFUL!!!) He did surgery on me the next day. He said that my autoimmune disease had attacked the band. He said it had slipped even though it showed on testing it hadn't. He also said the area surrounding the band was in bad shape... Since then, I have done research indicating any foreign objects causing autoimmune diseases. There are too many coincidences not to be related. Look up even breast implants. Since then, even my body rejects ear piercing. I have since been diagnosed with lupus. To the person that said a lady she knows with lupus is just fine. I'm so happy for her. BUT everybody is different! I have been very very sick with life threatening illnesses due to lupus. I know people who have died. Lupus, RA and many other autoimmune diseases are deadly. It is offensive to compare 1 person to the rest of us. I'm not too overweight but I fluctuate 20-30lbs due to prednisone. I have so much pain due to the extra weight. With all my health issues, I am going to see the surgeon to see if the sleeve could benefit myself. I did want to post my experience.

I tried to post yesterday but don't see my comments. Oh well. My story is that I'm now 6 years out as of Jan 9. I don't struggle with weight at all. I started at around 240 and am now 136/137 at 5'7. I wear a size 4 with no changes. I have even been through menopause during this last few years with no weight gain. I don't kill myself with exercise but I do lift weights and have for 20 years and do light cardio. It's just not necessary to do more to maintain. Also, I eat a plant based diet so the majority of my intake is carbs. I've also had 2 rounds of plastics. The first one was 4 1/2 years ago and the second a year later. I just think this is where my body wants to be. I do suffer from autoimmune arthritis and osteoarthritis and need knee replacements but I'm not ready for that yet. I'm actually afraid I'll lose more weight with a big surgery. Laura

Hello all... I know this is a super old post, but any updates on how you all are doing with an autoimmune disease and being sleeved??

Newlifeb, I had the same unbearable pain. Kind of lower left, between the indented "dimple" and the lowest incision? It was awful. Nothing helped it, then just one day, it was gone! It's almost like a nerve pain. I slept on the couch propped up with pillows so I wouldn't move during the night and aggravate the pain. You are NOT a wuss! I have a very high pain threshold, and it brought me to tears. I've had seven surgeries and have Fibro, 3 autoimmune diseases, and small Fiber neuropathy and this was BY FAR the worst pain I've ever felt. Hang in there! It gets better, I promise! I'm only 4 weeks out (12/8).

I can imagine. Brings images to my mind of the Holocaust. Back to my original comment. Getting a second medical opinion is a really smart thing to do. People do it all of the time with other diagnoses like cancer or autoimmune disorders. No reputable medical doctor would suggest such a thing as this. Not a reputable one. It matters not whether they will supervise you or not. I supervise my sh/t when I flush the toilet. So....you get the point.

Yea, having an autoimmune disease can mess with your blood, the platelets and red/white count...I had some stuff going on with my counts a few months before surgery, that's when I started googling everything about it lol. Omg I started cramping a little today and I was about to flip if my period came again lol. It was just a little gas tho I think. Ugh I hate being female sometimes! :-O

I have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis (autoimmune disorder that causes hypo) and I was sleeved Dec. 18th. So far, I've been doing okay with the loss. I was 20 lbs down on my 10 day appointment, and the doc said that was a good amount for the time period. Still early days though.

With anemia you don't necessarily have to have a heavy period. There are different types, and since you have Graves, you could have something autoimmune going on with the iron? Lol I read google too much! I've had a few periods since surgery too, and what got me confused was that I had one, it was normal, lasted 6 days blablabla...so it goes away. Exactly a week later I got another period!! For another 6 days! Just went away on Tues. It better not come back next week lol, I will be so mad! And pleaseeee, call the doctor lol