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Showing results for 'autoimmune'.
Found 1,088 results
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Teeth correction needed as a VSG vet?
deedadumble replied to Fiddleman's topic in WLS Veteran's Forum
I have always taken pretty good care of my teeth. I have an autoimmune disorder in my mouth (lichen planus) that makes it challenging at times. One thing I started doing a few years ago is getting professional cleanings 3 times a year instead of two. I think it has really made a difference in my teeth and my flareups from the LP. It costs a little bit to have it done, but because my husband has changed insurance coverage due to job changes, I've rarely had to pay for that extra cleaning. I would recommend it to anyone that has neglected tooth care for a while. -
Post ESG diet advises?
Hop_Scotch replied to DavideGeneva's topic in Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty Forum
As with any weight loss procedure post op diet is usually dependent on the surgeon's or dietician's guidelines. There won't be any dumping but there should be restriction which can be as restrictive as a sleeve. My ESG post op diet was liquides for three weeks and moved on to puree then soft foods before progressing to normal foods. It was anyway up to four or six weeks before eating normally. There is a lot of inflammation and the sutures need time to anchor properly (scars healing) as well as the stomach folds time to 'meld'. The dietician who was attached to my doctor had the same food guidelines (once on normal foods) as for weight loss surgery, higher protein and low starch veges if room have a small amount of complex carbs. All limited to 1/2 cup per meal. My ESG failed...pretty much all but one suture had come undone or loosened. I did push the boundaries with food volume one or two times. The surgeon who did my surgical sleeve said some of the cause of the failure may be related to an autoimmune issue I have which causes inflammation and that stomach inflammation may have caused the stomach folds not too meld or the anchors to lodge properly. In Australia there seems to be a higher failure rate than USA (no hard evidence just the posts in facebook groups I am a member of). Failure may be due to non compliance with post op guidelines, lack of doctor skill/technique and for some no known reason. One person who suffered bouts of severe vomiting (due to illness) for a number of weeks early in the healing stages also had a failure. To be honest, I was all for ESG for the fact if was minimally invasive, lower complications and faster recovery, I was in denial for a long time that mine had failed, and would highly recommend the ESG to all and sundry. Now I advise caution make sure your surgeon has done many many many ESGS well over 500 (if possible) but certainly no less than (250), know their complication rates, failure rates and success rates (for patients beyond one year and two years). How many ESGs they had to redo, how many patients did a conversion to a surgical sleeve or other surgical option. Aside from the incision site discomfort my recovery was pretty much the same for ESG and gastric sleeve. For the ESG my stomach had rolling cramps for about two days, for the gastric sleeve I had stomach spasms when I first tried fluids in hospital this probably lasted a day. I had minimal gas pain with the gastric sleeve. My fears around the gastric sleeve surgery were unfounded. -
Autoimmune diseases & bariatric surgery ??s
Reign7780 posted a topic in Gastric Bypass Surgery Forums
Hi all. I am not very active here, but I am struggling lately and just have a couple of questions. I started back to university in January, which I'm so glad I was able to, but it has been exhausting and I don't think it really should be. I am also from Texas, so we are still going through some pretty awful stuff at the moment. My family (5 kids, my husband, and I) made it out unscathed for the most part and got very lucky we only lost power for about 8 hours. I was pretty scared of being without power so we risked travel on icy highways to travel to my mom's house since she has a generator. We left to come back home because I was afraid of our pipes bursting and the animals were alone, and unfortunately on the way home we were rear-ended due to some black ice. We are okay and it's probably all just cosmetic damage, but we'll need our entire bumper replaced. It has been so extremely stressful, to say the very least. We, fortunately, had power back when we came home and our pipes did okay through the freezing weather. I have been struggling with fatigue. My doctor has suspected an autoimmune issue for a while (years), and I finally saw my rheumatologist after an entire year of waiting. Well, my blood work shows markers so when I go back I'm sure there will be more tests. I do have hypothyroidism and my T3 is low (other thyroid levels within normal ranges), but I have never been tested for Hashimoto's, I was just put on Levothyroxine and have been on it since 2011. My vitamins are okay as far as I can see. I know I'm also probably dehydrated because I still struggle with eating and drinking properly. My question I suppose really is, does anyone here have autoimmune diseases who had the bariatric surgery, and did you/do you struggle still with fatigue? I am nearly 7 months post-op, so I was hoping to see an increase in energy levels, but that's just not happening. I am just always lethargic with little energy. I will add, I do not sleep a solid 8 hours due to pain, and I do know that that could also be making things worse. I would just like anyone's insight/suggestions/experience with this sort of thing. Did you improve with treatment? How long did it take to see/feel improvements? Thanks in advance. -
That it's not shingles My nurse practitioner doesn't actually know what it is, and ordered lab work to test for autoimmune disorders (I have family diagnosed with lupus and MS). Don't get me started on what happened today when I attempted to get to my appointment for her to discuss my bloodwork - 5 minutes late due to a payroll issue at work and poof - they had cancelled my appointment and suggested that I call and reschedule! Their words were "we are too busy to fit you in now". In all my years on this earth I have NEVER had a doctor's office do that to me! And this is a podunk town of maybe 18,000 folks, not some big city clinic. Apparently I'm not sick enough for them to see me even being 5 minutes late, but it's ok for them to make me wait upwards of AN HOUR every single time. I take my health very seriously and try my hardest not to ever be late. Maybe others do this on a regular basis but not me. I will have to cool off before I call and reschedule that appointment.
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Did anyone like the band better?
Swampdoggie replied to OldMomOf3's topic in Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums
I don't know that people were misled as much as new information I on has been discovered/revealed over the course of time. I'd been warned that the band was still relativelly new and as such there weren't the types of long term studies that would show it's performance over decades. Yeah @Cleos mom, the surgeon I know was only telling me the info about the autoimmune showijg up as a point of interest. She herself said there was no way to know if it was caused by the band or independent. She only said she'd noticed it. I myself had much worse gerd with the band than with the sleeve and I vomited dai l y. Not the sleeves fault. I just never learned to work with it. -
Oklahomans having Gastric sleeve this December?
Schnauzer3 replied to Schnauzer3's topic in Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums
Hello! thank you so much for contacting me! It went well. I am walking a lot, trying valiantly o keep up with the water & protein protocols, sip by sip! I am learning to follow the hour-by-hour meal and H2O planning I did wit the Dietician, so I get everything, otherwise , a lot of the day goes by and I am H2o behind, is that common at tis stage? I am a fast learner, and am in this to improve my health, so I learn more each day. Again, thank you so much for contacting me - any words of wisdom or advice? eliz I have Sjogren's and Psoriatic Arthritis, two autoimmune disease, which, along with their treatment, leave me immunocompromised. I am on ENBREL for te situation, which helps. But due to surgery, they held the med for two weeks prior, to my surgery -which got bumped a week, and now I am two weeks out, hence I am a month without Enbrel. Long story sort, I am always in pretty bad pain, unrelated to my surgery. On Monday I see my Ruematologist, she will evaluate me and probably restart the meds. Yippee! Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Eliz -
Leatha and Delarla have bands and both have autoimmune diseases. Both are very educated about this match. Neither one are on this board very often, so you may want to send them a PM and see what they have to say. And any experienced surgeon should give you a very honest opinion of this as well. Good luck!
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Autoimmune disease from gastric banding
lawismylife replied to Daemon's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I am sorry that you are experiencing this terrible situation. There is a contraindication on the band that says that those who have a family member with a particular type of Lupus or those with Lupus are contraindicated. That is because you have a higher probability of rejecting the band. But there are still people with that type of Lupus that get banded. I saw a rheumatologist due to my concern that my sister has Lupus and I had an autoimmune disease when I was young (guillian barre syndrome). She advised me that there are no known links between getting the band and triggering an autoimmune disease. Plus, the extra weight is a definite risk for so many things, whereas the unknown of perhaps triggering something is just that, an unknown. If there were multiple instances of what happened to you, it would have emerged within the 10+ years people have been getting the band. That is the scientific thinking. Be well and best of luck to you. But don't blame yourself for getting the band and making you sick. There doesn't seem to be any proof that the band causes autoimmune diseases. -
Autoimmune disease from gastric banding
spoiltmom replied to Daemon's topic in POST-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Autoimmune means your body turns on it's self. I wouldn't think a band would cause that. It may just be a coincidence that symptoms started around the same time. I know a lady who is 50 and has had Scleroderma and Lupus since her 20's. She is still fine and still working full time. -
rorysmom, Then obviously you do NOT think obesity is a disease, do you? Have you ever been obese? I certainly understand what you are saying about the other problems I mentioned--that they are things you can't help--like losing your eyesight, etc. I'm really passionate about this, so forgive me if I get slightly angry in tone... I have been overweight all my life. My mother tells me that she put sugar in my baby food (because my ped. doc. told her to). Along with this, she gave me honey Water as an infant. From studies I've read, all the fat cells that one will have in life is determined as a child. You cannot get rid of fat cells (unless you go the liposuction route); you can only shrink them. I believe that I obtained many fat cells as an infant. I exercise daily. In fact, in college, I jogged five miles/day and could never get below 175lbs. (I'm 5'5). Now, I jog 1-2 miles per day and take a powerlifting class 2-3 times per week. Along with this, I have an autoimmune disease, called hypothyroidism which makes it really difficult to keep weight off, much less lose it. I am not making excuses for all my weight gain--I have eaten too much in the past--and too many wrong things. BUT THERE ARE OTHER CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO WHY I AM OBESE--MEDICAL FACTORS--THINGS I DID NOT ASK FOR IN LIFE--AS A PERSON WOULD NOT ASK FOR CANCER. Please understand that if you have never been obese (which most doctors say is a DISEASE) then you really can't give any valid comments. Have an eye-opening day!
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Weightloss and autoimmune diseases
NovaLuna replied to mredick49's topic in Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story
I have an autoimmune disorder called Eosinophilic Esophagitis where the white cells in my esophagus think my body is under attack so they multiply which causes narrowing in my esophagus and leads to choking. I end up having to have my throat stretched every 1-2 years. It's been a little over 2 so I'm definitely due to have it stretched again soon since I've been having more and more choking issues. The disorder causes acid issues at night and those were always really bad, but since my surgery it's actually been better. I now only take 1 acid reducer a night instead of 2. Different autoimmune diseases respond differently to weight loss surgery. I'd consult your bariatric surgeon and whatever specialist you see for your disease (in my case it's the gastroenterologist) to get an idea of what to expect, if anything, on how it'll effect your disease or disorder. I was just told it'll be a pain in the ass to do an EGD and a pain in the ass when I have my throat stretched. My gastroenterologist actually pouted when he found out I was having bariatric surgery! x'D -
I am 33 years old, live in Washington state with my domestic partner of 12 years. I have struggled with weight and weight loss for as long as I can remember. In 2007 I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease witch came with many years of stariods and a tremendous amounts of weight gain. With the gain came a pill for high blood pressure, gurd, rheumatoid arthritis, and asthma. After taking 20 + pills a day for my autoimmune diseases I came to the point where enough was enough. So in January of this year I met with my PCP and got the refural to my syrgon. It's crazy to think I'm 14 days away from the new and healthy me. My only wish if anything is to get off all the precipitation medications. The vanity will come along with it I'm sure, but to be truly healthy is my hope.
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Is anyone out there suffering from an autoimmune disease? If so, has the disease affected your weight loss journey? How so? I have a genetic autoimmune disease called Ankylosing Spondylitis. My overactive immune system attacks my spine, large joints, and eyes among other things. I got this surgery because of AS. I know it won't cure my AS, but I welcome any measure that will reduce the pressure on my spine. Ways my weight loss journey has been affected: AS causes chronic fatigue. Couple that with the fatigue we all feel following WLS, and it's a bear. I'm limited to two forms of exercise: walking and swimming. No weight training. Since muscle burns fat, that's a bummer. But I'm still hopeful. I've lost 36 lbs (pre op and post op combined, height 5'1, surgery Feb 25). I'm at a stall at the moment, and I would love to hit the gym with gusto. My body and mind/will are not in sync. I would love to hear from those with similar battles. Tell me all of this gets better? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App
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VSG & autoimmune diseases?
theantichick replied to gingeryank's topic in Gastric Sleeve Surgery Forums
@@Scorpion11 I got the best results once I got referred out to a rheumatologist. Not all of them are as good as mine, but that's the specialty that usually has the most experience with autoimmune especially when it starts affecting the joints. Prepare for huge amounts of blood to be drawn, and lots of xrays! And sometimes it takes a while to get a diagnosis. I didn't show any specific factors in my bloodwork, just generalized inflammation. I had to go off the steroids (the only thing that ever gave me relief) and deal with the pain for a few months (without even Advil) before the swelling in my hands could be seen. Then my doctor gave me a diagnosis of non-serologic (no bloodwork that specifically indicates) rheumatoid arthritis last year. I'd been seeking a diagnosis for the pain and fatigue for about a year - I understand the average time from symptoms to diagnosis is around 5 years, so I count myself lucky. Then a few weeks ago a new symptom (plus an old symptom my doc had ignored) pointed to a new diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis. Not much of a change in the treatment, but it did move us along to a biologic medicine faster than we would have gotten there with the RA. Good luck, I hope they're able to find out what's wrong with you!! Edit to add: BTW, the WLS won't be the ONLY cause if you do have auto-immune. It can't cause it on its own. But if you had an underlying auto-immune problem, and just hadn't seen symptoms yet, then the trauma and stress of surgery and recovery could have activated it. It's a fine distinction, but one I think is important. Stress and trauma are known to trigger or flare auto-immune. -
It's been a whole year now, where did the time go?!?
Sajijoma replied to Sajijoma's topic in General Weight Loss Surgery Discussions
Thank you all. When I first started out on this path I didn't believe I'd really make it to this point. Honestly I thought if I could just get below 300, I'd be happy. What I have gotten back this year has been amazing! You get out of it what you truly put into it and I plan to keep on chugging with my many hurdles til I reach that final goal line. I can see it's possible now and I want people to know that it really can happen and will happen, but you have to get up and put up the fight every day even when you are sick or injured or depressed. It's hard and when you backslide to a bad habit you need to pick yourself up, give yourself a scolding, and get back on the right track. I got more bad medical news yesterday afternoon about my heart and my autoimmune diseases being more aggressive than we would want, but I'm fighting to stay "sober" and stay on my plan and keep chugging forward. You may never be a size 2, honestly at 5'9 it's just not reasonable for some of us, but you can be so close to your goal a year from when you start...just start and see it through! ❤️ I went from a 34w/36w to a size 12/14 in one year!!!!!! -
Is Anyone Else Dealing With Lupis, Or Any Other Autoimmune Disease? Please Help!
madintx replied to LauraTarry's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I have connective tissue disorder , fibromyalgia, sjogrens, hasimoto, and most of my problems are autoimmune related ...the doctor told me that after surgery, i would have to call him before going back to steroids for a pill that helps with the effects of the meds in the stomach. other than that, I am good to go... by the way, my surgery was on the 3rd and pain has been good, not bad at all. -
Completely Undecided.
LisaMergs replied to okiegirl1980's topic in General Weight Loss Surgery Discussions
I'm not too certain if you mentioned having arthritis, but as I do suffer from it- both rheumatoid ( an autoimmune disease ) and osteo, as well as migraines. I didn't mourn the thought of not having certain foods, rather the loss of my best friend, ibuprofen. I literally lived on it- 4 at a time. The point is- I would not make your decision based upon the ability or inability to take it. I'm 5 months post op RNY, my RA has NOT FLARED (I fear the word remission still- will revisit that at the one year mark) and the only two headaches I've had post op were easily managed with a single Tylenol. So one never knows how many things will get better post op. Choose your surgical tool based upon what you think will hold you the most accountable and offers you the greatest chance of success. And, of course, you feel most comfortable with. Good Luck! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App -
Autoimmune Issues and VSG?
Heyher replied to Tjohnson322's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I have been doing great. Was sleeved on 2/26 and down almost 70lbs. It is amazing how much better my joints hurt. Still have morning aches and stiffness from the fibro, but I don't think that will ever go away. I had a minor ms flare up in late may to eat June. But I think that's partially due to me not being 100% diligent with my Vitamins. An absolute must for autoimmune diseases. It is amazing how much weight loss can help improve symptoms. Not sure if there is any medical studies to back up drastic weight loss and improvement in autoimmune symptoms, or if this is sort of a placebo effect, but this surgery has helped me so much!!! -
Autoimmune Issues and VSG?
gamergirl replied to Tjohnson322's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Hi there! I just created an autoimmune support group for us! Please follow and post there. I keep losing this thread because it's not in a forum. I sure hope to see all of us there. Here's the link http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/groups/show/269-autoimmune-sleevers/ -
Autoimmune Issues and VSG?
IrishEyes replied to Tjohnson322's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I am 6months post-op and recently diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis. I give myself weekly shots of methotrexate and seems to be helping. I still have some joint pain and it makes exercising challenging BUT I canNOT imagine how much worse I would feel if I still had those 65lbs. I feel so much better in my skin. I no longer have sleep apnea which is HUGE. Here is the challenging part, I HAVE to make sure I get all the protein and fluids in (vitamins daily and B12 shots monthly) or I have low energy. Its difficult for all of us but I think its even more crucial when dealing with autoimmune issues. Please keep that in mind. I had a problem taking Rx pills for psoriatic arthritis with my little tummy. Thats why i do injections and its the best choice i made. Very, very small needles. Easy to do and only once a week vs 2 pills a day. Life is truly sweeter now. I really wish I had surgery years ago. You all are going to be sooo happy! Its not every day you turn your life around. Enjoy the journey. -
It's pretty easy, eating the wrong things out of convenience is just as bad as eating things you "have a love affair with" out of desire. Having some health and autoimmune issues didn't help either. Not to be critical, but not everyone fits in the cookie cutter that you are placing on obese people.
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Antiphospholipid syndrome-lapband
newstacy09 replied to hope@50plus's topic in Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story
I have active RA which is an autoimmune disease and I have the lap band. My drs did not have a problem with it and neither did the surgeons. I had to stop my medications 3 weeks before and wait until I was healed completely to have it again. I was worried that I wasn't able to get banded, but I was. I don't know much about your situation, but just make sure that you work with your doctors. If they say no, I wouldn't do it. They are there to help you look after yourself. Good Luck! -
Antiphospholipid syndrome-lapband
ardelia replied to hope@50plus's topic in Tell Your Weight Loss Surgery Story
I found the contraindications on the lap-band page and it does not specifically mention APS; however, it does mention autoimmune connective tissue disorders as contraindicated with the lap-band. I'd ask a surgeon or even call the toll-free number and ask someone at Allergan. The LAP-BAND® System is not right for you if: You have an inflammatory disease or condition of the gastrointestinal tract, such as ulcers, severe esophagitis, or Crohn’s disease. You have severe heart or lung disease, or any other disease that makes you a poor candidate for any surgery. You have a problem that could cause bleeding in the esophagus or stomach. That might include esophageal or gastric varices (dilated veins). It might also be something such as congenital or acquired intestinal telangiectasia (dilation of a small blood vessel). You have portal hypertension. Your esophagus, stomach, or intestine is not normal (congenital or acquired). For instance, you might have a narrowed opening. You have/experienced an intraoperative gastric injury, such as a gastric perforation at or near the location of the intended band placement. You have cirrhosis. You have chronic pancreatitis. You are addicted to alcohol or drugs. You have an infection anywhere in your body, or one that could contaminate the surgical area. You are on chronic, long-term steroid treatment. You might be allergic to materials in the device. You cannot tolerate pain from an implanted device. You or someone in your family has an autoimmune connective tissue disease, such as systemic lupus erythematosus or scleroderma. The same is true if you have symptoms of one of these diseases. -
@@rose1504 Definitely get your Thyroid checked, and not just TSH and T4, but T3 as well. I have Graves Disease (autoimmune thyroid disease), this kept me slim my whole life, till 2014 when it did 180 degree turn, and I was piling on weight at a frightening speed. I went from 60kg to 101kg between 2014 and March 2016. I also developed astonishing sweet cravings during that time, which made a mess of me. Graves is Hyper-thyroid. I had every symptom of this disease, except of bulging eyes and goitre. There is also Hypo-thyroid (under-active), Hashimotos etc which also can really mess with metabolism and general well being. Good luck @@rose1504 I hope you don't have thyroid disease, as I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy ...... Had my both ear Daiths pierced 3 weeks ago, to see if they would help my thyroid migraines and severe headaches. They (the acupressure point piercings) helped me tremendously! I was living almost daily on very strong pain killers. Now, I don't take them, and so those piercings really helped me. I have a huge stock of heavy duty pain killers at home, and now I forget all about them. So, Good Luck with all your tests. Please let us know how you went.
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Hi to everyone, I am Diane also new to this site with problems. I was banded September of 2003. I believed it would save my life and still believe it does for most of you. I am just one that it did not work for. I had the chest pain with each bite. I finally had the band deflated and have not been throwing up, but in July of 2004 I began to have other health problems. My fingers swelled up, I became extremely exhausted and had arthritis to the point of not being able to pick anything off the floor. November of 2004 I was diagnosed with an auto-immune disease. Most docs say it is not related to the Lap-band, some feel it (could be related). I have been afraid to have the band removed as the disease I have caused scar tissue mostly in the skin but also in my other organs... I am afraid that the band is now burried and that it might be surrounded by blood vessels. My disease is very rare and I am on a TRIAL 12 month chemotherapy regime to save my life as it has progressed to my lungs. I guess I am looking for others with Lap-band/autoimmune problems or support to have the band removed. Thanks for any comments you might have. Diane
