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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.....

The reason I mentioned second opinion is there are many causes of myopathy, and it is imperative they find out what is causing it early on so it can be treated properly. It can be congenital, even an infection past or present, rheumatoid arthritis, electrolyte imbalance... Etc. One of my siblings has it due to rheumatoid arthritis and gets monthly steroid shots and treatments to help with his autoimmune condition. Another had it due to being in a long term off and on state of dehydration. Both had significant improvement from their treatment.

Wow, I am so glad I found this topic. I'd posted in another forum about a question I had after seeing the PA for my admission history, and mentioned I had RA and a poser responded that autoimmune diseases were a contraindication to the band. Needless to say I was freaked, although I specifically asked the surgeon at my seminar about it and the PA knew I have RA and also did not tell me I could not get a band. However a google search turned up references saying that autoimmune diseases are indeed a contraindication. So seeing other who have autoimmune diseases who have had the band makes me feel loads better. As for meds, I recently stopped my third TNF-inhibitor (they'll work for a while then poof, they stop working). I started Orencia infusion yesterday and everything they said/gave me said just no infusion 2 weeks before or after surgery, and its a monthly infusion so timing seems to be key. Not sure about methotrexate, but he's told me in the past to keep taking even if I get sick, unless it's really severe. Something about the half life. I had foot surgery a couple years ago and believe I may have skipped that weeks' dose just to be safe.

It was suppose to be 2 weeks for me, but my autoimmune disorders 3 weeks is just right. Let me know how you feel on your 1st day back! Im a social worker, so Im NEVER at my desk (always out in the community).

I just had mine. It was pretty lame. Asked why I wanted surgery, I explained about my psoriatic arthritis, fibromyalgia and my autoimmune issues. He saw my list of meds... said you take a lot of medications. I said yes that’s why I need this surgery. Asked about family supporting me, asked about depression, if abused or was ever in an abusive relationship. Asked if financial hardships, ever think or attempt suicide. Done in 15 minutes.

You're totally right - it's not up to anyone but me. It's just that I've put my family through a lot. I've been in and out of hospital since my WLS with a weird autoimmune disease that was maybe triggered by my WLS, or the subsequent shock to my body. I ended up with all kinds of medical problems and they had to take care of me. I feel guilty about that - and also concerned that I would put my body through something even worse with plastics. It's not their decision but they are very much trying to talk me out of it and I guess I'm weighing up everything in my decision. My family aren't anti-plastic surgery in general. My Mum had a breast reduction and my sister had her ears pinned back. They just seem to think I don't need plastic surgery. I get accused of having body dysmorphia, like I've lost weight, so I should be happy now. They think the skin thing is trivial. I have read somewhere (can't remember where) that if you have plastics, you are more likely to successfully maintain your weight. Maybe people who get plastics are just more determined, or more likely to have reached their goal weight in the first place in order to have surgery so they're more successful at maintenance. Maybe it's going through the additional expense - that's got to be a kick in the pants for motivation to stay on track! @Scamp I loved reading your post. Thank you so much. I'm so glad you've been so happy with your plastics. Sorry - lots of scattered thoughts here. This is just weighing heavily on me at the moment.

After almost 9 weeks of a plateau, I'm finally losing again. I got to a place where I just didn't feel good. I went back in to see my nutritionist last week (turns out I wasn't eating enough) and we set a new game plan but I just felt ill eating that much during the day. I was literally eating every 3 hours, when my body was used to going 6+ hours between meals. My stomach always felt full, my bathroom habits were way off, and I just felt sluggish. Sunday, I watched the documentary called "Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead" and it was AMAZING. If you haven't seen it, please watch it. It's about a man who really was fat (over 300 lbs), sick (had an autoimmune disease that he took meds daily for) and nearly dead because of those two reasons. He decided to go on a 60 day juice fast (which 60 days is LONG - he was medically supervised and it was durastic, but he felt he needed it). The changes his body went through over those two months was jaw-dropping. He not only lost almost 100 lbs, he lowered his bp, cholesterol, and reset his body enough that he was able to go off his meds completely. Me, being the skeptic that I was, hit the internet and read all about the pros and cons, do's and don'ts, then thought that where I was at - - feeling ill, weight stuck, nutrition lagging - - I may as well give it a try. I started Monday of this week. I drank juice all day then ate a very light dinner. Also decided it was time to quit coffee again. Sidenote: by juice, I don't mean the store bought that is mostly sugar and juice extract. I bought the fresh produce and a juicer and made the juice by hand using only pure, orgainc vegetables and fruits. I'm also adding in a protein shake to ensure I reach my daily need. Tuesday I woke up with a migraine (thanks to the no coffee), and have to eat with my medication, so had a Greek Yogurt for breakfast and then drank juice the rest of the day. Yesterday, Wednesday, was all juice. In three days, I dropped 7 lbs. Mostly water weight (that I could feel, and really needed to be shed) I'm sure, but the way I FEEL is amazing. I'm sleeping soundly. I have energy all day long. My cravings I was having for coffee, sweets, and salt have completely gone away. I feel like I'm really giving my body what it needs. When my stomach growls now, I know that it's real hunger instead of me just feeling like I want to eat. I know this sounds durastic but I felt it was what I needed. My plan is to continue the juice plan for a few more days, as long as the scale keeps moving down, then slowly reintroduce foods to my system, working up to the original plan of protein, fruits, and veggies. I feel like I'm giving my system the reboot I desperately needed. It's similar to doing the pre-op liquid diet, the accompanying feelings are there the first day or so (hunger, anger, headache, etc). Now that I'm on day 4, I can't believe how great I feel. This program may not be for everyone, and it is, in a way, sidestepping my understanding of well-rounded nutrition, but it was the healthiest way I found to cleanse my system and get a "do-over". Has anyone else tried a juice fast?

3 years out and I still have plenty of no-gos, however I have turned that to my advantage and whenever I feel that I am eating a little too wontonly, I eat a sticker food . Potato anything is a losing bet, more than a single bite and it's like feeding white rice to a pidgeon Dense greens in a salad are wonderful, but I can only eat 4 bites before having to stop for at least 30 minutes. It has been known to take me 6 hours to finish a nutritious salad :/ And during that time it just sits in my chest, ummph. As for queasies/slimes, eggs are a real gamble, sometimes they slide right down delicious and nutritious, other times the mere smell has my mouth watering in the bad way. Hot dogs are my favorite junk food but more than 2 bites and I'm courting danger, painful embarrassing, slimy danger. And hamburger patties are a great source of protein, delicious, but one bite and it's sitting in my chest the rest of the night. I have had beautiful organic delicious cheeseburgers take me 36 hours to finish! My workaround for that is to make cheeseburger salad, but alas, see above regarding dense greens. With my new autoimmune protocol diet I'm adhering to right now, the big issue of course are the greens.

i have also found over the years... dietitians are a very conservative type people who tend to enjoy rules and dislike innovation and change. its just the kind of people who are attracted to the job. my hosp is still pushing fat free artificially sweetened products. sugar free kool aid is on the list of stuff to drink after surgery! they are wayyyyyy behind the research on what actually works for people in losing weight and regaining health. meanwhile, people using diets like autoimmune paleo and whole30 are achieving amazing things with really sick people. even just switching people to real food only is making a huge change. but i feel like a lot of people wouldnt have this surgery if they thought they could only drink Water and unsweetened ice tea post op.

I don't have a thyroid and take synthroid. I have no issues losing weight (the issue is usually keeping it off). I think the reasons why someone is hypothyroid may impact how they lose weight. If someone has autoimmune thyroid disease etc......I think it may be more challenging. I do fine because my TSH is consistent on my dose of synthroid.

Hello, Everything you have said sounds similar to my story. I have learned so much here on the forum from all the posters. I also had my mind set on only the Lap-Band, but after reading all the information on here, and finding out that I had an autoimmune disorder, my plans are to have the Sleeve. I found out that sometimes problems arise from having a foriegn object in your body such as the band, if you have an autoimmune disorder. I don't understand how the staples are any different, but I have not been told about any problems which might occur with them. I had surgery on my knee last year and the knee replacement involved having a metal device put in my knee and it has done ok so far, but at the time I was not aware that I had an autoimmune disorder. Also the other thing I did not like hearing about the band was the need to have to go back all the time to be stuck in the port for any adjustments. It sounded like there would be alot of aftercare. That right there was enough to change my mind to have a VSG instead of a Band. I wish you the best on your upcoming surgery.

I have been diagnosed with Candy Cane Syndrome. This is so miserable and the past 5 years of constant nausea, throwing up and not being able to lose weight has been so unbelievably difficult and hard to understand how i couldn’t be a bean pole since i can barely eat. Well, in doing research that is one of the factors that is a bad side affect of the syndrome, “no weight loss.” I had the Roux-n-y five (5) years ago. In this time the pandemic hit, my Bariatric surgeon was killed, i was hit with covid 2 times and long-haul covid. Plus, broken wrist, and other medical emergencies. I wrote this because some may wonder why or how i went 5 years so nauseated all the time and throwing up. Well, i have Lupus plus other severe autoimmune diseases. I did go to my bariatric office and was brushed off. My Mom found me a second opinion Bariatric doctor and guess what?? Yep, Candy Cane Syndrome. So, my EKG and blood work will be Wednesday then all the paperwork will be sent to Insurance for approval. I had my husband go with me to my new bariatric doctor because my husband is my advocate. He knows i do not over-eat. Everything i try to eat makes me sick. Sometimes we have to be our biggest advocates for our health. I knew something was wrong. I just couldn’t get the former Bariatric office to take the extra step to care. And unfortunately my caring surgeon had died. I’m praying the Candy Cane surgery will fix my constant nausea, and my weightloss will start again

Does your Mother, by chance, have to take methimazole (three times per day)? If so, it's probably the frequency that makes it difficult for her. Have you tried adding her meds to her food? I'm sure you've tried everything, so I apologize if I'm asking dumb questions. Sometimes when a person has a problem taking meds, there is some anxiety associated with the feeling that they will throw up or worse, whatever worse is. What if you try adding it to her food without her knowing? Maybe, psychologically, she's making matters worse by thinking that she'll be unable to keep her meds down. It's an old trick but it might work. I was never able to get down my recommended fluid or protein. Not even close to optimal. I know some people advise others to force down their fluids and protein no matter what. Be tough on yourself, big-girl panties, and all that. I disagree. Listen to your body; it's talking to you. It's trying. You can only do what you can do. It takes months before malnutrition kicks in. Your Mother will be fine. I'd concentrate on trying to get her meds down and worry less about the fluid and protein. I had an abysmal time with my fluid/protein intake, yet when my 3-month labs came back post-bypass, I aced them. My visit to my endocrinologist last week (I have the autoimmune thyroid condition known as Hashimoto's thyroiditis), also revealed stellar lab results. Excellent A1C, excellent blood pressure... and no meds for either anymore. I also take anti-depressants. I was lucky, I guess, since I could down any size pill immediately after my surgery. Horse pill size, no problem. Even several at once. I think I'm rambling here, moving from one topic question to the next without making any sense. Your Mother's experience with suddenly thinking everything tastes too sweet, etc is extremely common. Post-surgery most everything smells and tastes differently. I'm still noticing this at 5 months out. My main point is: continue to support your Mother by NOT contributing to the chorus of other people telling her that she needs to do this or that and if she doesn't do it "right" then she's a failure. Posting this comment on behalf of your Mother says a lot about you. She's lucky to have you in her corner. Keep helping her by reminding her that her body will sort things out (eventually). She's healing. Keep being positive even when she's struggling. And keep us posted! We care about you and your Mother.

Thank you so much for your reply, Arabesque, it really means a lot! I never meant to imply that wanting to look better was totally superficial. I know that a lot of it stems to our mental health. When you look good, you feel good. I had actually gotten to a point with that fat acceptance that I was in, that I bought a bunch of new clothes, kind of “throwing in the towel” about weight loss and “accepting my fate,” so to speak. So I wanted to have cute blouses, and cute pants that fit me well, instead of always having clothes cutting into me or making me chafe, or anything else. I even bought some dresses! I never really wear dresses (though it helps my autoimmune skin condition (hidradenitis suppurativa), because jeans cause a lot of friction if they aren’t the right size!). What I meant when I said that I was looking for people beyond the motivation of “looking good,” I meant that my husband’s doctor once tried to motivate him to lose weight by saying “You’ll look good,” and I don’t feel like that’s always an appropriate motivation. I mean, for some people, sure. It just wasn’t a motivator for me and my husband. I love and accept my body no matter what size it is, even if I “look good” as a thinner person, or I “look good” as a fatter person. If you know what I mean. Haha. Also, I never believed people when they made “the easy way out” comments. I always thought to myself, I don’t know, they generally say when you can avoid surgery, you should...and people opt to do this, it must be life changing enough, and significant enough, or else it wouldn’t exist as a practice. When my doctor suggested it, I thought for a moment about how people say that it’s the “easy” way...and immediately dismissed it when I kept doing research. Nothing about weight loss is easy, period. But to do surgery for weight loss seems even more of a difficult road to travel, and if you aren’t prepared for it, it’s going to be a disaster. I am so glad to hear that you (and your friends) have not been the types to hate yourselves. I just see so many posts on Instagram where people declare “I hated myself back then,” or “God I look so ugly, why can’t I lose weight,” or any other negative self-talk. It took me so long to get over that constant negative self-talk, and I worried about how I would fare going into this surgery. Would I look back and claim I hated myself or my body? Because I don’t. I think this surgery is going to be the greatest gift I can give to myself and my body. Anyway, I’ve gone on long enough, but I just wanted to say thank you again for your very thoughtful reply. It means a lot. I’ve been struggling with even keeping on my weight loss track for pre-op weight loss (I’ve only gained about 1.5 pounds, so I’m still doing good, but I need to get back into gear!). Just to hear someone say a lot of positive and encouraging things is helping me not to do late night snacking tonight and instead drink plenty of water before bed! Take care!

Sleeved aug 23 and my hair has started falling out in small clumps. My vitamins are good and I usually eat 800-1300 calories depending on my workout that day. Dietician says it’s “normal” but I don’t understand why if I’m meeting my macros. However, it could also be an autoimmune relapse. That was my first symptom.

If you have the autoimmune type of Thyroid Disease, it doesn't go away after the surgery, however Sarsar is right in that you have to be re-evaluated. My doctor told me that it is not uncommon to have to have a reduction in the dose following a large weight loss. I have not had my post op Thyroid evaluation yet as I am only 3 weeks out, but I will be going in soon to have the test checked to see where I am.

I have thought about doing exactly what you are taking about. The trainer my hubby got for me had no clue about rny, but he listened to what I wanted to do and helped me in the regards. I then had a friend help me with some other exercises. I have also found that trainers do not understand people with autoimmune diseases. My RA and RNY gives me a very different view of the world of fitness. I think the key is to find a good routine for working out and start the habit early. I was back playing soccer 8 weeks after my surgery. It has really helped during this time. As for new rny people I always suggest find a goal and work towards it. I want to run a 5k and get accepted to the police academy. That is what I work on when I work out. Most trainers can help you achieve goals.

Newbie located just north of Houston - Lots of Questions I am considering the surgery. Have been researching the different types and trying to make up my mind for a couple of years.:confused: I currently have HMO Blue of TX and am wondering how that will work out for me. Anyone with experience on that one? The good news is that I can change my insurance carrier each fall. I am considering a couple of doctors - if they take my insurance. Dr. Spivak and Dr. Robert Marvin with Obesity Surgery Specialists in Houston. I spent a lot of time thinking I wanted the Duodenal Switch, but then decided that I should try the least invasive procedure to start - and hopefully it will work for me. We'll see... I have been overweight since I was born. :baby:9 lbs 11 1/2 ozs. Went to a weight loss doctor several years back - did the lose and gain back thing...:phanvan I am currently flirting with 300 lbs at the age of 48. I have had rheumatoid arthritis since I was 27 and suffer from a "relaxed esophagus," which I am told is sometimes a side affect of the rheumatoid. For those of you that don't know - rheumatoid arthritis is not an arthritis - it is an autoimmune disease. Don't know if the relaxed esophagus issue will be a stumbling block for the procedure or not. I do know that the medications I take for the rheumatoid - as well as the rheumatoid itself - can retard the healing process. Well, there's my book. Look forward to reading the input from all of you. Thanks, Bobbi.

By BMI I most likely qualified for bypass, however, I recently had some autoimmune issues and was put on Prednisone. With bypass prednisone is not allowed ever so I ended up with the sleeve.

This is a very BOLD statement and thread to make when you are not a trained doctor. It is very easy for us to misinterpet information to fit our ideas of what it means. Fact: Doctors do suggest lapband on patients with autoimmune disoorder

Hi, I would absolutely LOVE to see Alaska! All the wildlife. Yes I am a July sibling lol. July 8th, 2019. I am doing well. Went from start 203, surgery 198 to 166 today. I could... should be better.. I am 53, an do enjoy a little wine etc. I feel so much better. I have fine but a whole lot of hair. At 3.5 month I did have some come out more than I wanted. It appears it may have slowed down now at 4.5 months, I think me and my husband are the only ones to notice. I am going to cut my hair medium length in the next couple days as it isn’t as full. I started bariatric vitamins months prior to surgery, I take the bariatric vitamins, biotin, hair skin nails with vitamins, sublingual d3, sublingual b complex, collagen, msm, protein either shake or powder daily. It is frustrating. I guess it is normal to lose up toll 6 months. Hoping it doesn’t last that long. My nails are ruined from my psoriatic arthritis so I couldn’t tell you if that is affected. the issue with my liver was 10 years ago when I was just diagnosed with my autoimmune disorders. That is why I try to double check everything from my doctors. I made certain I hit my goals. It is confusing because some say you cam only absorb a certain amount at a time. I added peanut butter powder, collagen powder to my shakes etc. So all of that may have been a waste. hope you hair loss stops ASAP as it sucks. No other way to say it. Hope you are hitting all your goals!

Contraindications: The LAP-BAND® System is not recommended for non-adult patients, patients with conditions that may make them poor surgical candidates or increase the risk of poor results (e.g., inflammatory or cardiopulmonary diseases, GI conditions, symptoms or family history of autoimmune disease, cirrhosis), who are unwilling or unable to comply with the required dietary restrictions, who have alcohol or drug addictions, or who currently are or may be pregnant. This is from lapbands site http://www.lapband.com/en/learn_about_lapband/safety_information/ I don't know if FM is inflammatory or auto immune, but I know that many have developed FM post-banding. Ask a lot of questions.

Oh my gosh I have so much to say about this! You're going to feel that way and it's not going to go away necessarily anytime soon. There are so many factors at play right now. You're going to mourn the loss of your old life comma the food used to eat, the drinks you used to drink, even the way you interacted socially with others. You're also dealing with massive hormone dumps for the fat loss. This is also very normal and I promise you it will get better over time! I am almost a year out I had surgery April 29th of last year. The first few weeks actually did not bother me it was after that after the puree stage and the soft foods and and all of that comma that I really started to have issues with morning my old life. Once I finally started going out to social events or going out to dinner with my family or my husband, that's when it really started to bother me. The best thing I can tell you to try to counteract that is go look in a mirror. You are not going to see it a lot yet but in two or three months you're going to see such huge changes in yourself that it lessens the blow. Even to this day, almost a year out from surgery I still get low comma I still get depressed and I wish I could eat that bowl of spaghetti or drink that glass of red wine but when I get upset and I get frustrated I look in the mirror or I go and I take a picture and I use an app to put a picture of Me 3 days before surgery next to what I look like at this exact moment and the difference is shocking. And it's shocking enough that I suddenly don't really miss it all that much anymore. The biggest thing for me is how much pain I was in prior to surgery. I have several autoimmune diseases and I live the last three years of my life on immunosuppressive drugs, Tramadol, Tizanidine, various other medications related to pain relief and management of my diseases. When I could get up and attempt to function in my life it was through the use of insane amounts of coffee period and that was only to be able to get me out of bed to be able to get me to work so that I didn't lose my job. I had literally nothing left at the end of the day for my husband or for my beautiful little boy. So whenever you get down and whenever this just starts to feel like it's too much remember what it used to be like remember how far you've already come and how much further you're going to go. Remember that this is totally worth it in the end. oh my gosh I have so much to say about this! You're going to feel that way and its not going to go away necessarily anytime soon. There are so many factors at play right now. Your going to mourn the loss of your old life, the food used to eat, the drinks he used to drink, even the way you interacted socially with others. Your also dealing with massive hormone dumps for the fat loss. This is also very normal and I promise you it will get better over time! I am almost a year out I had surgery April 29th of last year. The first few weeks actually did not bother me it was after that after the Sent from my SM-G930P using the BariatricPal App

Do you have Fibro? I do know some people that have had a band and have it. But the manufacturer (Allergan) states that bands are contraindicated in Patients or family members with a known diagnosis or pre-existing symptoms of autoimmune connective-tissue disease such as systemic lupus erythematosus or scleroderma. Also it's not recommend for anyone that needs or takes NSAID's. Due to the possibility of developing Ulcer's That being said, I know people that have also developed Fibro after being banded. Good Luck !

What about getting approved? I am at 36 and change. I am 5'4 and have no co-morbidities. I have 2 autoimmune diseases and have had 0 success with diets, "lifestyle changes" and so on. I even took weight loss meds that had me injecting myself. Obesity runs in my family and at this point, 8 family members, including my sister and niece have gotten the surgery. My grandmother's cause of death was obesity. I went to an information session and they looked at me like I had 3 heads. Losing 80lbs at my age (43) and shotty joints is nearly impossible and I am having a hard time enjoying my life. I see the GI doc soon, as I have bouts with Gallbladder issues and I am hoping this is the deciding factor. What did you all have to do to be approved for this surgery? Any information would be helpful! Thank you.