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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!

I don't have MS but I do have another autoimmune disease, Ulcerative Colitis. (I am also planning on getting the sleeve, not bypass) I have done lots of research by googling my disease and weight loss surgery. You could google "Multiple Sclerosis and gastric bypass" and should get some results. I was able to find clinical studies on the NIH website that I printed. I read that morbidly obese people who have UC and lose weight saw a reduction of flare ups and were able to control symptoms better. I also found that while having an autoimmune disease used to be a contradiction for Bariatric surgery it's not anymore as long as your disease is managed well and not flared at the time of surgery. I've been on and off steroids for the last 5 years and started Remicade last year which has me in remission but I would eventually like to get off of Remicade due to the dangerous side effects that can be acquired from the drug itself. I haven't been able to find many people here who have my disease (or Crohns) and have had surgery so I know what it's like trying to reach out to others dealing with your situation! I hope you find some more info! (I'm in the pre-op phase as well! Oops never mind. I see your surgery was last month!)

that is interesting to know; I have to take Singulair to treat an autoimmune condition in my lungs and I DEFINITELY feel like it makes me "derpy".

I’m sorry for the long rant but I want you to see the full picture: sleeve vs. sleeve + behavior modification/commitment. You’re 2 weeks out. Don’t be so hard on yourself or doubt your decision. What is done is done. No regrets. This could be the beginning of an amazing healthy future. No looking back now — only ahead... Here we go: I am 7 years post sleeve and I’ve regained all of my weight back and some. Highest weight before sleeve was 210, Surgery day weight was 193 (done in Mexico). I got down to 147 and maintained that for about 2 years and then started regaining. I’m 214 now. According to my current U.S. surgeon (Dr. Stanley Klein), my Mexico surgeon (Dr. Ariel Ortiz) completely blotched my sleeve in 30 minutes (surgery report information) making it look like an hourglass instead of a banana. BUT, I regained not because of my “bad” sleeve but because I changed my eating habits. I have A LOT of restriction still, more than a friend who’s 4 years out. I also became very anemic which caused me to pass out and get into an accident in 2014. I’m terrible about taking my Vitamins, so that’s also not my sleeve’s fault. I then received multiple infusions over the years, had my esophagus dilated twice because I wasn’t eating enough (mostly GERD pain related) and developed a grazing eating style (probably the biggest contributor to why I regained). Having GERD since day 1 (couldn’t keep any liquids down/stayed on IV till I was literally kicked out - started putting my stuff outside - to get room ready for next patient), a hiatal hernia and two ulcers, I am now revising to the RNY (surgery date TBD 8/1/19). My malabsorption/malnutrition is because I don’t take any vitamins. I’ve become “nutritionally crippled” as my surgeon put it which makes my body crave carbs for immediate conversion to energy. It’s literally biologically driven at this point and he told me not to blame myself for the regain — he’s so nice but I do blame myself because I got myself here! Due to the malnutrition, I’ve developed some metabolically induced issues: thyroid problem, autoimmune problem, multiple infections that antibiotics do nothing for (or maybe I’ve become prone to the antibiotics) and lately, small Fiber neuropathy (worst feet tingling and burning ever). I’ve now started going to CBT and support groups that are super informative and fun. Last time they had a practical activity for us at the end where we pretended to be at a restaurant, were given real menus and we discussed why some choices are good and why some are not so good — keywords to lookout for, etc. I’m considering pushing my surgery date as far out as possible to be better prepared through these new resources. I realize the problem is not my sleeve. The problem is my head — my food abuse issues, my food addiction issues, my head hunger, my emotional eating... The list of “synonyms” goes on! But in essence, all of us are here because we have these issues plus obesity/genetically related comorbidities or else, we would have not resorted to surgically modifying our anatomy. We need to fix our relationship with food if our surgeries are ever going to help us, and that’s why I’m trying to work on that more than anything this time especially because I didn’t have any pre or post care before. I’d love to get rid of my GERD and the other problems but I’d really hate to fail at losing weight, again. Not out of vanity but just to prove to myself that I can triumph over years of using food to feed disease instead of health. Summary and awesome thing to keep in mind: “You get out of it what you put into it.” Thank you @Macy6! I love that... Great motto! Take this opportunity to change your relationship with food. You are in the “honeymoon phase” where your body is not ready to accept food (it’s all head hunger), so use this time wisely to identify your emotions and cravings, knowing you can’t act on them now with your healing stomach. Later, this will really help you... when you can map your behaviors to their origin in thought (triggers) and stop the unwanted behavior right in its tracks! You’re in control! Your taste buds may also change so what you’ve liked before, you may no longer want to eat, so this is also a great opportunity to try new healthy things and learn to like those instead of our old ways that hurt us in the end. I really wish this was helpful. I’m being as transparent as possible to give you vision into what the sleeve is and what it’s not, because I went into this initially thinking the sleeve will stop me from overeating and I’ll always have an accountability buddy, but you can drink and eat your way around any WLS out there and gain weight, not to discount the RNY for the additional malabsorption component... You can do this!! You can use your sleeve to change and become a new person INSIDE (head/habits) out (health/body). I wish you complete healing and all the best for your future.

My surgeon won't perform the band on anyone who has any type of autoimmune disorder because of potential for band rejection. You might want to confirm with your surgeon before you proceed that he/she doesn't feel that's an issue. Having said that, I only have MORE MORE MORE energy when I lose. There was a brief time post op during which I only could have clear liquids (no protein) and frankly I felt bad. That only lasted 1 week and once I added protein in I felt better. However I have ALWAYS done better, energy wise, when eating foods that are high in protein and low in processed carbohydrates. I think your "energy" will depend partly on attitude and partly on what you choose to eat once you have the band. If you have protein, then healthy veggies, then fruit, and finally grains, you should be fine. However again with your CFS and other autoimmune issues, you may react to the band in a totally different way. That would worry me a bit, were I you.

Dear all I’m so glad I’ve found this site! This post may be a bit long, I’m very sorry in advance! My background in brief is this. I am 36 years old and live in the UK. I weigh 17st 12lb, and have a BMI of 39.16. I have had mild chronic fatigue syndrome since I was 15 years old. In the past 6 years I’ve also been diagnosed with an unstable underactive thyroid, and two other autoimmune diseases called ocular myasthenia gravis and premature ovarian failure. My eating history is one of comfort eating when stressed but not complete bingeing. I have had counselling for this and other stuff for a year and have made good progress but no long-term weight loss. I also NEVER get full!! Apparently, a combination of 3 autoimmune conditions and being obese also means that the risk of my getting diabetes is higher than usual. I was referred to a professor in Oxford who while treating me pointed out that losing weight will quite probably help me to alleviate some of my symptoms, but that the conditions I have mean that losing weight successfully would be much more difficult and so he recommended that I be referred for a gastric band. I met with the gastric specialist in Oxford last Monday, they’re really nice, and seemed to feel that I am an ideal candidate, and today I found out that I have been approved for surgery, potentially in January or February 2009. I want to apologise for the next bit. I’ve read a lot of posts today and I know that many people are trying to get a band but not necessarily able to get funding for the op. I really don’t want to appear ungrateful for the opportunity but I just don’t know whether to get it done, my doctors are infinitely more enthusiastic than me. To try and help me decide I’ve drawn up a list of pros and cons that I can think of so far for me of having a gastric band, which are, for me: Pros: Faster weight loss than I could achieve without it, greater chance of maintaining weight loss, decrease medical symptoms, reduce risk of diabetes, solves the problem of never getting full. Cons: Risk of procedure, loss of ability to eat normally with friends in restaurants etc, am already pretty prone to vomiting, can I still get enough nutrition/calories to do a substantial amount of exercise, will I get a loss of energy? The last 'con' is my main question. I was reading a crappy celeb magazine the other day and it had an article about (not an interview with) Fern Britton. It said that she has suffered from greatly reduced energy levels since the op. Now this could be total rubbish and not actually true for her but it really worried me. Having had chronic fatigue for so long the energy I do have is very precious to me. If it came down to a straight choice between the band vs. higher energy and ability to exercise I’d have to choose the latter. Even if you don’t have anything else to comment, please could anyone who’s had the band tell me their experience with energy levels and whether they've been reduced or not? I realise that I will feel puny to start with but it’s the longer term prospect that I am more concerned with. It would be sooooo much help, I’m just not sure what to decide at the moment. Thanks for being patient and reading to the end (hopefully!) x

Cyndi, Hope you are feeling much better! I am feeling much better but am very sluggish still. Saw surgeon and he says that is normal and will feel better soon. I'm autoimmune, so it took a tole on my body. Still have terrible acid-reflux. Hoping that will go eventually. Sorry to hear you had issues as well. Just hang in there! :-) Good luck and let me know you're doing. Thank God I'm not the only one! Not that I'd want anyone else to have this issue. It's just that I felt, "of course I'd be the only one!" lol I had surgery last Wednesday, with complications, came home Saturday. Woohoo! :-) And now I am starving! Jello hits like a rock! As does water. So no help there. Hoping it will subside soon. :-)

Below is a chart that shows how the Lap-Band should be as well as how it shouldn't. Have a look, you are without a doubt in the Red Zone, which is a problem. The reason so many surgeons are hesitate to put a Lap-Band in a Lupus patient is because it's not just an autoimmune disease, it's a disease of the connective tissue. That makes you a much higher risk of your body having an autoimmune response to the foreign object inside of you. The fact you now have a fungus in your esophagus may very well be the start of your body rejecting the band. Losing 29 pounds in one week is also a major problem. Having to repeatedly go onto IV fluids just to live is also a big problem. Your band isn't just "a little tight", it's dangerously tight. If I were in your shoes, I'd be going to another surgeon and getting a second opinion. I seriously question your surgeon's judgement in the way this is being handled. Best wishes to you- I'll definitely be keeping you in my prayers.

Good luck, it will be interesting to see what he says. Having an autoimmune disease is listed as a contraindication to being banded on the lapband site. If he says he can't band you because of it then ask what your other options are. You may be able to get the sleeve or a bypass.

So I recently got my first manicure in, like, 20 years. I decided to do something pampering for myself that didn't involve eating or buying clothes. I don't like to draw attention to my hands because I have vitiligo, which is a loss of pigment, and my hands are quite blotchy. But I did the manicure anyway. I started getting compliments on my nails from coworkers and friends. So I've been polishing them regularly myself now. Feeling all girly for the first time in ages. So of course I develop a new skin problem. Why not. Flaky, dry, red, burning eyelids. Day after day after day. I google this. The apparent diagnosis says get to the eye doctor. So I go to the eye doctor and he says nope, your eyes are fine. Get to the dermatologist. So today I see my dermatologist. She hasn't seen me since oh, about sixty pounds ago. She asks how much I've lost. I tell her 101 pounds. Congrats and compliments ensue. Very nice. So, Doc, what's going on? Did I develop yet another autoimmune disorder to add to my arthritis and vitiligo? My stress levels have been through the roof over the last four months. I filled her in on my crazy life situation. Oh, no. It's your nail polish. What? Yes, you have contact dermatitis of the eyelids and almost all of the cases I see are an allergic reaction to nail polish or artificial nails. I'M ALLERGIC TO MY ONE CALORIE FREE AFFORDABLE LUXURY?! Yes, yes I am. Fortunately, there's a doctor approved polish I can use. Pricey, but not as pricey as a weekly foot massage. So that is my rant for the day.

Hi Everyone, My name is Barbara and I live in NJ. My sirgery date will be next week, Sept 7th. After struggling many years, especially due to health isseus and several years on high dose Prednisone to stay alive due to autoimmune diseases, my weight soared, and I am now taking my life back. I have lost weight prior to surgery and continue to lose but am really looking forward to stable weight loss with the lapband. . Now is my time. I have 7 autoimmune diseases and founded a non profit organization to help people like me about 2 1/2 years ago. My whole life revolves around helping others and now is the time to take care of myself. I look forward to hearing everyone's stories. If I can ever help just yell. Barb PS..... Any Vegetarians have the surgery? I ask because eating as a vegetarian after surgery will be different than it is now. Home

Yes I ate most of the bread Pn the sub. I am making good choices nothing fried or too high in carbs. My doctor did testing and said everything was normal. My only vice would be pizza and I had one piece last week but could have eaten more that. I limit myself on calories and even if I am hungry dont eat most days. I tell myself this is a tool and I can't be crazy about it. So I write out my calories daily with a food journal. If I have enough calories to eat a slice and it is around I have it. I don't have pizza in my house often and cook 95% of the time so this will work for me. If I was around it more I could see it as my down fall and asked my family to not bring it home. I am short 5 foot 2. So I assumed my sleeve would be short. I also am a type 1 diabetic and have a few other auto immune disorders. I am wondering if that matters. My doctor have done thousands of sleeves but has never had a patient who is a type 1 diabetic and had all my autoimmune issues. I just wonder if that us somehow playing a role in my sleeve if steel. It just seems too good to be true so I am trying to be careful.

Gamergirl, I have heard so many stories like yours re thyroid meds. Recently had a full on argument with my teenage son's GP re getting t3 and t4, not just TSH - my son has coeliac disease which is often associated with other autoimmune disorders like hypothyroidism and diabetes, any both males and females in our family have hypothyroidism with some going on to develop thyroid cancer. He is so likely to develop hypothyroidism in future that I wanted to get a baseline so I could help him start to work out his "correct" levels... But dr just point blank refused to order any test beyond the TSH. Needless to say we won't be going back there. I joined Thyroid Australia which has fantastic information (all solid medical journal stuff) that can be printed out and shared with doctors. No doubt the US will have something similar. After 30 years (my entire adult life), and with so many others in my family also affected, I've also had loads of opportunity to work out what T4 level (t4 is the most significant for most people) is "right" for me. It helps too that I'm not just asking for a high T4 level, but a specific narrower range than the population range. There are issues with taking too much thyroxine and I understand drs fear people might be just concerned about weight loss. Good luck with it all.

Inflammation can also be the cause of a low grade fever. Obviously after a surgical procedure there will be the body's natural response to tissue damage. This also promotes the healing process and the rebuilding of new tissue. Without going into all the complex boring details, it causes some systemic manifestations as well as localized (at incision sites and internally) via blood stream. Hence, your body temp will raise in response to the increase in white blood cells to the area. If an infection follows than the white blood counts will continue to rise and so does the temp, which is why you don't want it to get too high because it is no longer a healthy healing process. Fluid in lungs can be a campground for bacteria, so same idea, your body's autoimmune response will be the same. The better and stronger your immune system is going into surgery and adequate consumption of protien you will be less likely to have an infection and heal quickly with no complications.

Hashimotos is an autoimmune disorder, so the TPO test actually test for TPO antibodies. Most docs will only test TSH and it can be normal while TPO antibodies are elevated. Other symptoms are losing the outer portion of your eyebrows, inability to lose weight, fatigue, puffy face, insomnia, cold extremities, and about 100 others. Research is now showing that over 90% of those diagnosed hypothyroid actually have Hashimotos.

My surgeon did tell me that my reflux could get worse after being sleeved and the sleeve is not the first surgery they recommend for those with severe reflux. However, I am not a candidate for bypass due to an autoimmune disease. But if he thought is should not be done at all, he wouldn't do it. You have to make an informed decision - weighing the benefits vs. the risks (as in all surgeries). My weight also contributes to my reflux so in that respect it could get somewhat better. I also may have a hernia that can be repaired. As with any surgery, it is best to discuss all the risks of surgery and come up with the best decision based on your specific needs and health issues.

Hi everyone! I used to be much more active on this board about 5-6 years ago when I had my sleeve. I am returning in hopes for the same support, insight and information I got back then relating to my current circumstances. I have a sleeve, it was done in May 2013. At that time, my high weight was 460, I lost about 150, getting to my "low" of 310 in about a year. Things were going well, and then I unexpectedly got pregnant in September in 2014. During my pregnancy and post partum time, I gained back about 60 lbs. I did a reset diet and started losing weight - from August of last year to January, I lost about 40 of the 60 lbs I gained. I felt like I was in control again, after feeling so out of control since I was pregnant! Then, the unexpected happened. In January, I went to the ER with severe chest pains. It was intense and I had a hard time breathing - the pain was on my right side, otherwise I would have thought I was having a heart attack. I was admitted, and after lots of testing, I was determined to have pneumonia, and another infection in the lining of my right lung. I had a bedside aspiration that took 2 LITERS of fluid from my lungs. It was not enough. I was prepped for surgery, a thoracotomy (which, if you don't know, is one of the most painful surgeries you can have!). During the surgery, I aspirated, surgery had to abruptly end before treating me. I was on a ventilator, in ICU, for several days. A second surgery was needed, I had a chest tube, two tubes coming out of my right ribs. I went into septic shock. My kidneys shut down and I had dialysis. I had terrible dreams while being sedated, that I was dying and would never see my son again... it was the worst time in my life. I'm grateful to have survived it. The underlying cause of this episode is achalasia. My esophagus is not swallowing correctly, the sphincter at the bottom of my esophagus into my stomach is closed tight and doesn't open correctly to empty food into my stomach. I likely aspirated food and/or fluid into my lungs, which lead to the nearly fatal infection I suffered in January. This condition is rare, and the causes are not known. There is a thought that there is an underlying autoimmune issue that causes it. The treatment is to open that sphincter with a Heller myotomy. Normally, people have this myotomy (or a similar procedure with a pneumatic balloon) and are fine. However, my sleeve puts me at great risk for terrible reflux since the sleeve creates high pressure and this myotomy will essentially keep my sphincter open all the time. Therefore, it is recommended that I convert my sleeve to a bypass. Bypass creates a low pressure GI tract and will greatly reduce the possibility of reflux. The added benefit is that I will lose more weight, hopefully getting closer to my original goal. I'm currently 330, and I'm so curious how much I will lose after my bypass. My questions for a knowledgable bypass patient are: What is your post op life like at a year post op? What are you able to eat? Vitamins: Do you have to space your vitamin intake out throughout the day? What do you take and when? Dumping syndrome: is it only caused by sugar, or are there other triggers? What do I need to know about malabsorption as it applies to taking medications? How is an oral antidepressant affected by having a bypass? And if there are any people who started around the 330 mark, how much did you lose in 6 months? or a year? Did you make your goal? How long did it take?

Welcome, Your story sounds similar to mine. In the beginning I was only for the Band. I didn't want to have to go through anymore major surgery. But after attending Dr. Husted's Seminar here in Somerset, Ky I was leaning more toward something else. I decided that I did not want to go through all the maintenence of fills and unfills and getting stuck with the needles. Then I found out I had an autoimmune disorder, which the Band is not recommended for those patients. The sleeve was not an approved procedure at the beginning of my journey, but the Duodenal Switch was, so I was leaning towards that procedure. But Dr. Husted said that he would prefer to do the sleeve for me and he hoped that by the time my surgery would take place that the sleeve would be approved. He was going to try to convince Medicaid to start approving it. He really encouraged me to hang in there, which I did and now this Month I got my approval from Medicaid for the sleeve. I hope more states start approving it. It is less evasive than some of the other procedures for the people who can't or don't wish to have the band. Also it has less risks and is less expensive. He told me recently that he does not have to make 5 incisions, now he only has to make one small incision. I wish you all the best with whatever you decide. There are alot of good reveiws on the sleeve.

Have your doctor check you for Hasimoto disease. It is an autoimmune disease of the thyroid. Google it. Sounds like you may have the symptoms. I know I was diagnosed last year BC if a struggly with my thyroid meds not working. I had to start taking two types of medications

The moment I came out of the anesthesia, I was insanely groggy and my abdomen was SORE. Best way I can describe is that it felt like I had someone trying to blow up a balloon underneath my stitches. That pain went down 50% over the next 24 hours, but it was probably about 10 days before that pain completely went away. There will be days when it is just plain sore, especially as your abs heal from the incision (the main incision on the left side, where they cut the abdominal muscle to get in, took the longest to heal and longest to no longer have pain). I tolerated liquids well from the start; I was sipping Crystal Light lemonade in the hospital and handled the jello just fine. As far as being super active...well, define "super active." This was my first surgery ever and what I didn't realize was how much surgery saps your energy. I would slowly walk around the hospital floor once or twice a day, mostly just to have a change of scenery. I walked like an old man in a nursing home, but all the nurses commented on how much more I walked than most people who have bariatric surgery. It was a week before I had something approaching a normal schedule, but it was a few weeks before I had normal energy levels. If you are in your 20s, are going to be diligent about your vitamins/nutrition/protein and have no major complicating factors (autoimmune diseases, etc.), then chronic illness is not super likely.

I've just started on the anti-inflammatory protocol diet this week and bone broth is a recommended item on the diet. I have 3 autoimmune disorders. I'm having a major flare up and my inflammation levels are extremely high. I'm going out of town this weekend but planning on making it next week.

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

I've never experienced this problem myself, but I did a rotation in dermatology and what I learned is that basically there's no effective treatment. It's still not quite clear what triggers the autoimmune attack on hair follicles and why it stops in some people and continues for a long time in others. You can get steroid injections in the bald spots, but they have only limited effectiveness. If it's distressing to you, it'd be worthwhile to consider those; otherwise, I'd just shave if I were you (or, on the contrary, grow out a longer beard so you can cover up the bald spots).

I had my sleeve 7 months ago and have lost 106 lbs to date. I have felt run down of late suffering from a mouth ulcer and irritating cough also a Water infection and a rash that looks like a mild dose of shingles. My hair is also very thin. I suffer from Primary Biliary Cirrhosis (an autoimmune disease of the liver, sleep apnoea and fatty liver disease. I take Ursodeoxycholic Acid 600mg and Provigil 400mg for the PBC. I am on a Multivitamin plus Iron once a day. I only manage to eat about 10grams of protien a day. What additional supplements should I take to feel better and get back on track?

Oh I am so happy. The surgeon's office called on Friday and said Medicare said no problem. The issue was that I have autoimmune disease and there was question regarding that. Anyway they checked to make sure they would pay and they said yes! I had already met with the surgeon. Today I met with the dietition and now I have to get an appointment with a psychologist. There aren't many around where I live and I have to get one that takes Medicare, so hopefully the two I put calls into will call me back soon. One that said they take medicare didn't have any available appts unti the end of April. I'm penciled in just in case I can't find one sooner. The surgeon's office said we set my surgery date as soon as I get the appt with the shrink. I'm excited and nervous.....