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Sorry autoimmune issues seen to go together for me ive am hoping weight loss will help with the brain fog and tiredness but I do take a ton of b12 it helps some. All b12 supplements don't work the same for me b 12 2500 mcg from walmart dissolved and b 12 10 000 mcg shots work best for me.

I am not sure the surgery is going to help my metabolism, but I am hoping that if I can get some pounds off, I will have more energy. My energy levels are so low given my age (42). Also, I found out only in the past year (after having it for 10 years) that I have Hashimoto's. It's an autoimmune thyroid disease. Most long-term hypothyroidism is Hashimoto's. In any case, I've been trying to give up gluten and when they removed my stomach, part of what they removed was irritated. I am thinking it was gluten damage. My former endocrinologist did not think telling me I had Hashimoto's was significant because to him it was synonymous with hypothyroidism. However, my primary care physician said that in many auto-immune disorders, giving up gluten and possibly dairy and sugar improve the condition. I knew I would not be able to give up dairy, especially now. They say you can drink soy milk, but it's not as much Protein. Prior to surgery, when after many months of not eating gluten, I would have something (pasta, etc), I DID notice that it made me crampy and I was more prone to diarrhea. But, giving up gluten did not help with my energy and that has been the main thing bugging me.

I am in Colorado. My "Bariatric Center of Excellence" is relatively new at Parker Adventist Hospital. I am now 6 days post-op, and nothing dreadful has happened so far, so nothing I say here will be worthy of a lawsuit. The hospital opened its "center of excellence" with Matthew Metz a few years ago. That is when I first heard about the sleeve (vs. lap band and bypass). I had a baby in the summer of 2010 and nursed for a year (until July 2011). After that, my primary care physician said that I could start a physician-guided weight loss. She switched me from a low dose of Zoloft (given for "baby blues") to a low dose of Welbutrin, because the latter has been helpful in reducing appetite in some people. Well, after six months of Welbutrin and exercise, my weight didn't really go down. In January 2012 I "discovered" that I have Hashimoto's (an autoimmune form of hypothyroidism). I was a little annoyed because I had been going to endocrinologists for 10 YEARS and nobody ever mentioned that! It sort of makes a difference because my primary care physician said that auto immune diseases are known to respond favorably to gluten free, dairy free and sugar free diets.... I mulled this over for months and in June I started avoiding gluten. It did not help my weight or my energy levels, but it did help with digestion-related issues. So, at that point, I decided to get to a seminar at Parker Adventist re: the surgery. I wasn't terribly thoughtful about researching the "best" doctors or anything. So, I started the process with Dr. Metz. Simultaneously, my current health care provider, Cigna, reduced the number of bariatric classes needed from 6 months to 3 months. That really lit a fire with me. (In hindsight, is going through the process faster, better? Not sure. I may need to ask if I can attend the classes I didn't get because I feel like I would benefit from the info...even now.) So, everything was going along chuggingly and one week after my last class in December...AFTER I had a surgery date with Dr. Metz for December 17th, I got a call saying that Dr. Metz had left the practice. HUH???? A cautious person would have cancelled the surgery, but our health care provider was changing January 1st to a lesser PPO and I knew that I would not be able to afford the surgery in 2013. So, after a brief visit with Dr. Joshua Long (who had been on staff since August), I had the surgery scheduled with him on the 17th. Neither here, nor there, but you really don't have a "relationship" with the surgeons anyway. Dr. Long did deviate from standard procedure with me based on two things in my health history/family history. He scoped me prior to surgery because I had a bleeding ulcer as a young adult and he just wanted to make sure everything was good in my stomach. (I didn't think I had an ulcer, but I still felt it was relevant to surgery and so did he.) He also gave me anti-coag shots to take home with me because my dad's side of the family has a huge issue with blood clots and since I had never had ANY surgery before, I couldn't say if I would make clots, too. But, getting back to the point of not really having a relationship with the surgeon...I don't think Dr. Metz would recognize me if he saw me on the street and Dr. Long does not appear gifted with remembering faces, either. On the other hand, the NUT, the social worker and the rest of the gang, DO seem to know me and I think post surgery, they are probably more important to my day-to-day life. BTW, I should mention that I have battled my weight my whole life, so it wasn't just having one baby that triggered my decision to have surgery. Like so many others, I felt battle weary and with a BMI of 42 at age 42, I didn't think things would get better without taking drastic measures. Sorry if I hogged this thread on low-BMIs, but Iggy caught my attention with the "Bariatric Center of Excellence" thing. Clearly, if you read her story, it means very little and you can still have a poor outcome.

Well...if it makes you feel better I am not using any of the fancy stuff now. I have to take synthroid for my thyroid. That is a problem that will never go away regardless of weight loss. I have an autoimmune problem called Hashimoto's. Any way grinding up pills and putting them in other things just tastes nasty. I am really surprised that you had to ask for prescription pain meds when they released you from the hospital, though.

It could be the meds but not from the pain aspect but from the dryness. Many medications ( especially that nausea patch) dry out the eyes and mouth. I have Sjogren's, an autoimmune disease that is dry eyes and mouth. When your eyes are dry, your vision changes. Your tears create a film that is important to the health and working of your eyes. There are lots of stories like yours of Sjogren's patients going to their eye doctor saying I can't see with these glasses but when he tests them, it varies, depending on the moisture level of their eyes. Also right after surgery, you are dry. During the surgery they did put ointment, yes, kind of like Vaseline, in your eyes to keep your eyes safe ( no harm to your corneas) during surgery. It is the same stuff I use daily. Anesthesiologist are responsible for caring for those kinds of things during surgery. Hospitals are generally dry air atmosphere, you aren't drinking, and yeah you may have an iv but it isn't your regular condition. Your mouth is dry, your lips feel chapped, and the same goes for your eyes. Another factor if you have any double vision, is that some medications can affect the muscles around your eyes. They don't affect all muscles but those tiny muscles and it is a great affect if you aren't eating. You use those muscles to adjust your eyes gently and focus. Think of what you do when you squint. That is those muscles doing their maximum work. So wait and see if your vision how your vision is after a few days.

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

I took them all into consideration because I have lupus and take a lot of meds too. I am not approved yet but feel I made the right decision because I need this weight off as soon as possible. I am in a lot of pain and it is hard for me to move around because I am so stiff. So the doc said this would be best and that we would just adjust all they meds. I am sorry I can't be more helpful about post-opp, but I am still waiting for my approval and haven't taken the post-opp class yet. You can finding lots of good info by reading posts from others though. Welcome, and it is good to have another person who understands the difficulty of having an autoimmune dissorder. By the way when was your surgery?

I would like to share my lapband experience. I was banded in 2003, at a weight of 245 lb. I initially lost 75 lb in about the first year, but only after several balancing acts that was adjusting. I was either too tight to eat anything solid OR I had little to no restriction. Fast-forward to now, weight is (was) 220 lbs. Started working with a new doctor. 6 adjustments and 1 EGD later I had enough of the band. I was revised to the sleeve 3 weeks ago (Nov 6). Re: Risks- The sleeve is a more involved and invasive surgery. This naturally makes the risk of complication higher than the band, at least in the short term. Leaks seem to be the worse complication from the sleeve, but it is very rare. I don't have data to support but I'm pretty sure you are only at risk for a leak for a certain time period after surgery. On the other hand, many complications from the lapband can occur at any time post surgery. Scarring, erosion, slipping, and possible autoimmune response can all be pretty serious. Re: Recovery- My recovery was longer after the sleeve than wih the band. Of course I was 9 years younger then. After the band I was fine to go back to work after a few days. This time with the sleeve I had 2 full weeks off and then 1 week part time before returning full-time. I know some people can return to work after a few days with the sleeve, I personally did not feel well enough to. Re: Weight loss not as much?- Thise who are successful with the band can lose down to goal, but is generally slower than with the sleeve. Again looking at the long term, many with the band re-gain, and often end up heavier than when they started. Not sure about statistics with gaining back after the sleeve, but I would guess it is not as much. The band does work for some but unfortunately does fail many times. Do all the research you can, connect with people from both "sides" and see what you feel is the best choice. Good luck on your journey!

I have 2 autoimmune disorders ( rheumatoid arthritis RA, Sjogren's Syndrome) and this was something I asked the doctor about at the information meeting. Celebrex is a Cox-2 inhibitor while also an NSAID. It is easier on your stomach than Motrin and the other NSAIDS. That said, it would be better to ALWAYS CHECK WITH YOUR WLS DOCTOR. I am pre-surgery and have to stop all of my RA meds but in the book they gave me, it says I can use Celebrex when my stomach incision is healed. If you think you have RA, please go see a rheumatologist as there are medications that can prevent the further damage of your joints. Those are biologics and are fine to do once your surgery is healed but check with your WLS doctor. Mine said I can go back on those 3 weeks post-op.

They happen for many reasons including physician error, patient error, medical issues (like the autoimmune issue) and perhaps bad luck. One and two are the most common issues.

For the ones that has had the leaks, do any of you have autoimmune problems? Or on any medications that may cause you not to heal as well? I have autoimmune disease and take predisone. I am terrified of having a leak, but the dr saids since I stop other medications I should be fine. Just wondering if they said why you imparticular may have had a leak.

I have neuropathy as a result of an autoimmune disease I had. When I have pain in my legs it can be very hard to get to sleep and before surgery I was able to manage on Tylenol PM. After surgery, I asked our pharmacist and she recommended Children's Liquid Benedryl. It has the same effect as the Tylenol PM, but in a liquid form. Works for me and can actually use less than the pill form,

I have fibro as well. Aquacize is a great work out for anyone with an autoimmune disease.

I have an autoimmune spectrum disease which causes chronic inflammation in my joints; if I can't my meloxicam I can't move too well. I had to decrease my pre-band surgery dose of the NSAID by 50% which just gets me by, though barely. I have to take Prevacid daily to protect my stomach. On a few occasions, my surgeon has allowed me to take an Advil liquigel which did not have any negative effects. When I had my gall bladder surgery in August, my band did not need to be unfilled. I have heard of people needing their bands unfilled for surgery, however my surgeon said that for me it was not necessary. Good luck, feel better!

My surgery is this coming Monday, November 19. I am not nervous yet. Right now I am just mourning food. I know I will miss it so much. I went for my final preop appointment yesterday and my surgery was nearly cancelled because I had gained weight. I have an autoimmune disease (AS) and am in an active flare for which I have been taking high dose prednisone (50 mg taper) since August. Prednisone always packs the pounds on me. Anyway, I had lost the 5 pounds I needed to get the surgery scheduled but since scheduling, I had gained 10 lbs. The surgeon understood my circumstance and agreed to do the surgery still but the NP at his office made me feel totally horrible! I am eating as clean as possible until my surgery to hopefully lose a few pounds. I am now off prednisone so hopefully that will kick start some loss before Monday.

Both glad to hear that it was not cancer and sad to hear that it is an autoimmune issue. We all wish you the best on your continued treatment.

I decided to post here since some of the new folks may have alot of questions they need answers to. I'm no expert, mind you, but I am over 10 months having my sleeve. I have been through most of it..had a leak, a stricture and have had my share of heartaches during this whole process. To date I've lost 91 pounds. Keeping that in mind, I'll tell you I could be much better off by now if I had done what I was told. If you think the sleeve will fix emotional eating,,you are very wrong. I met the Labor day challenge but have not met the halloween challenge and here is why. I'll get the excuses out of the way..had family problems, a very defiant and stubborn but much loved special needs child, had serious illnesses in my family including a tiny newborn who developed IVH and a sister who was involved in a bad car accident (lost my parents in a car accident so this was especially stressful), have 2 sons in college we are struggling getting through school due to my husbands layoffs from work, my stepdaughter got pregnant,,,again and she's only 18 and alone..there's enough drama with that one that caused alot of sleepless nights so insomnia sets in, losing my hair by the hands full, still can't buy another house since we lost the one we had when I became disabled with an autoimmune disease,,recently went to a sleep study where not only did I find out my sleep apnea has not improved but they found issues with my heart. So off to the cardiologist I go..waiting on the tests results. My whole body aches and I went into deep depression which I've struggled with for years but it has gotten bad. So there is a starting list of reasons for screwing up..the list could go on and on. I turned to my favorite fixer,,food. I've eaten out at fast food restaurants, drank sodas, eaten pizza, candy, ice cream..living that lifestyle like I didn't ever have surgery. What I got was more depression, anxiety and only 8 pounds of weightloss since Labor day. You may think,,well hey you still lost weight but that's only because my stomach is not quite large enough to hold alot..if I was further out who knows how much I could hold and how much I could gain. I spent 3 hours at the bariatric center yesterday having melt downs and they rushed me into see the psychiatrist as well as the nutritionist. After talking to them and saying everything out loud..I woke this morning as it is a day of reckoning for me. I WILL start over, I will succeed and accomplish what I set out to do. Please hear me people, if you have emotional eating problems..get help. I've been in therapy for years but have talked around relating my problems to eating and vice versa. I knew I had the problem but always have excuses and that just doesn't work. You will not succeed if you do what I did. You will not be happy with the results. Take charge and do this thing full force and keep in mind that you have to make lifestyle changes. You cannot continue to eat whatever you want and expect good results. I am usually a positive person and try to keep upbeat and laid back. I pat people on the back and say it'll be ok but I just can't do that anymore. So if you decide you want to have this surgery you need to prepare yourself and make the changes that come with it.

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?

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.

I've never actually heard about RA being a contraindication until you posted that. I know I've read on here about at least one person who had a band even though they have lupus. When I went to my seminar I specifically asked and was not told I couldn't have it. The PA I saw was aware I have RA as well. (Of course that could be why she made sure to tell me to research the sleeve. I also have to get clearance from my rheumatologist, which I haven't even talked to him about yet. I did do a google search for contraindications, and they do say autoimmune connective tissue disease, but I wonder if thats a CYA disclaimer? The idea of the sleeve just makes me nervous, there's no going back or changing my mind once I get it. That freaks me out a little! I guess I'll be calling and asking about this sooner rather than later. Thanks for your help, and I'm sorry you're having problems! I hope its possible to sort it all out

Ok..update. Becoming not so numb. They took at pea size chunk out of my gum! Didn't hurt when it was done...but I am starting to feel it ...I will be sore in the am....too bad I talk for a living! I'll let you all know what comes back! Maybe it isn't an autoimmune disorder. But..if it isn't ..then I am back to square one ...oh well....I will cross that bridge when I get to it....

Autoimmune disorders like RA are considered a contraindication for the adjustable gastric band. I had 5 happy years with my band before having it removed in April 2012 (due to stenosis from 20+ years of silent reflux). I had the vertical sleeve gastrectomy in August 2012. I'm having a hard time adjusting to my sleeve, but I'll to list the pros and cons as objectively as I can. THE BAND Pros: Adjustable Reversible Reduces hunger & appetite Provides early and prolonged satiety No malabsorption of macro or micronutrients Cons: Slower weight loss (average 1-2 lbs/week) Small, gradual fills can delay weight loss until enough saline is put in to create optimal restriction Contraindicated for people with autoimmune disorders Risk of esophageal and/or stomach dilation, slippage, and erosion Risk of reflux, especially if the band is too tight Need for frequent aftercare visits (fills, unfills, checkups) Certain foods can be difficult to eat SLEEVE GASTRECTOMY Pros: Faster weight loss Greater weight loss (but it's really too soon to trust the stats on that) Reduced need for aftercare visits Supposedly eliminates hunger (due to reduced production of grehlin, the hunger hormone), which has not been the case with me Supposedly makes it easier to eat a wide range of foods (again, not the case with me) Cons: Not adjustable Permanent - not reversible Can cause malabsorption of miconutrients (vitamins & minerals, especially Iron, folic acid, B12) Reflux is so common that PPI's are routinely prescribed to sleeve patients (and long term use of PPI's can also cause anemia) Risk of dumping syndrome (from rapid gastric emptying) Risk of staple line leaks (very painful, can be life-threatening) The good news about my sleeve surgery is that I've lost 20 of the 30 lbs I regained from losing my band. The bad news is that since surgery, I experience extreme spikes and dives in my blood sugar, which is apparently the cause of the ferocious hunger I experience about one hour after I eat, no matter what or how much I eat. So far no one has been able to fully explain or resolve that problem, and it makes my daily life a misery. Also, I experience dumping when I eat anything with more than 5 or so grams of sugar in it. I've become very anemic and have to take an iron supplement every day. A hemoccult test showed that I have some kind of a gastric bleed, so tomorrow I'm seeing my gastroenterologist in the effort to find out if the anemia is caused by the PPI I'm on (omeprazole) or the gastric bleed (from ulcers, a perforation, or something else). I can't take it lightly because my mom had colon cancer, so I'll probably have to have a colonoscopy to identify the source of the bleed. Now, having said all that (and clearly not being a happy camper), I do know many people who've been sleeved and are delighted with their weight loss and the lack of side effects and complications. I just wish I was a member of that club. Jean

So....I have an entirely different problem. I have an autoimmune problem where I don't make salvia or much gastric juice. I HAVE to drink when I eat or I can't swallow. It's a pain in the arse. I really have to be careful when I eat so that I don't drink too much. If i get distracted it's easy to do. I am happy to say that I haven't yet had a dumping episode. (Knock on wood.). But i have noticed that sometimes I get hungry sooner than i should. So if you don't have to drink while eating, i'd suggest you don't.

Examples of autoimmune diseases are lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, Sjogren syndrome, type 1 diabetes. The theory behind the contraindication is that someone whose immune system attacks its own tissues is vulnerable to having their immune system "reject" the band (which is made of biocompatible materials that don't bother people with a healthy immune system).

Well thank goodness I dont listen too hard to rumors!LOL!: " Are chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia autoimmune diseases?" Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and fibromyalgia (feye-broh-meye-AL-juh) (FM) are not autoimmune diseases. But they often have symptoms of some autoimmune disease, like being tired all the time and pain