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Amanda, I have auto-immune thyroiditis, everything is under control now, my levels are normal. I'm not banded yet but almost to the point of approval. I would go to Inamed's website because they do say that individuals with certain autoimmune diseases should not have the band placed. The key word is certain....not all auto immune disease are cause to NOT place the band. Thyroid issues aren't one of them. I remember Lupus being mentioned...I know there are more. I do wonder about it though. If antibodies are trying to attack my thyroid, wouldn't they attack the band? I've been told over and over by experienced bandsters, NO. I do plan on asking my surgeon again on Thursday to see what he has to say.

I had heard something like this--but I guess I was thinking it was more severe autoimmune disorders that would prevent one from getting the band--not that one is easier than the other. I have hypothyroidism, and my doctor did not say anything about it. I even asked him directly. "I have hypothyroidsim. Can I still get the band?" His answer was YES. I don't have any allergies--that I know of--except I swell really badly after a bee sting. My husband, however, has terrible allergies, eczema, etc. He might react adversly to a foreign object in his body. I think everyone probably has a slight autoimmune thing going on--even if it's a slight allergy of some kind. Anyway--I'm willing to take the risk to be able to lose some of this weight.

On the Inamed website, the information about the band it clearly states that ANYONE with an autoimmune disorder, as well as other issues listed, should not have the band placed. This was veryinteresting to me because being on this site I am more of a reader then a poster, and I was getting very discouraged about some members that had had so much trouble with their band and did nothing but slam the Mexico docs for their troubles and retroubles. Recently I found out from another memeber that this member infact has an autoimmune disorder. This bothers me since the thought of band erosion just scared me to death. I think the band is a wonderful thing, but yet maybe those of us that have it didn't realize that maybe preexisting conditions existed and that is the sad part. Luckily mine is working great and steady as she goes. Hope everyone has a great day. Paula

One of the nurses that works with my surgeon just told me that people with auto-immune disease should not have the band placed because their body will reject it. I said, "But I have an autoimmune disease, Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, and no one ever told me that meant I shouldn't have the surgery. Do you think that's why I had so much pain and swelling and had to have the band removed?" Nothing but silence so far from her and doc. Anyone else ever heard of auto-immune disease being a counter-indication for band placement? I'm sure feeling pissed if they let me go ahead with the surgery when they shouldn't have. I told them I had a thyroid condition, and I don't believe anyone ever asked what it was. Considering the two most common thyroid conditions are both auto-immune, this sure seems negligent to me. Any thoughts?

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!

Jodi, Have you been tested for autoimmune(sp?) disorders? They can be anthing from APS to Will's, but there are a couple types of arthritis and Lupus that can cause the symptoms you have, including the kidney trouble and depression. The only problem is that they can be tricky to find. Alot of Dr.s will chalk it up to being overweight and not look for underlying causes. And the blood test are not always accurate. For example the test for Lupus (ELSA panel) will come back negitive for 30% of people who have the disorder. If you can, take the time to see a good endocrinologist, and surf the web and see if the symptoms sound like you. Good Luck

Hello I have been on prednisone for a month now. 20mg day thats a pretty small dose I guess. I have gained 4lbs. I'm trying to just maintain my weight I know losing at this time is a battle I don't think I'll win. I must say though this medication has helped my symptoms greatly. I have a rare autoimmune disease of the skin and mucus membranes. I had awful mouth lesions and the drugs have worked. You have to weigh out the pros and cons for you for me the fews lbs have been worth it to feel soooo much better. I thank good I have my band I think that is my saving grace or I think I would have ballooned up by now. Good luck to you.

I wish I had time to really dive into this post considering I'm on thyroid meds for underactive thyroid, PLUS I have Sarcoidosis, an auto immune disease. And YES my port immediately became infected. But if Sarcoid or Thyroid would reject the port, why didn't it reject the whole band? I personally don't believe my thyroid or autoimmune had anything to do with it. I think my surgeon did sloppy work or just a fluke. Donali, Karen, Michelle, Diane, Penni, Francesca, Karen, etc... all eroded. Did they all have my same conditions? Uh, nope. I'm not being mean, I'm just too busy to get fluffy right now, but I mean well!

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!

Anyone here know how I can find out about the correlation between autoimmune diseases and the band? I'm curious because I'm sure I read somewhere that the band may not be good for someone with autoimmune disease(s). I have autoimmune thyroiditis, my immune system is attacking my thyroid and trying to destroy it. I'm seeing a specialist and getting my levels in the right range. I'm wondering though, would having the band placed make my immune system attack IT? Since it is a foreign object in my body, I wonder if that would happen. I don't know how to find out. I haven't consulted with a physician yet about the band, still doing my research. If anyone can help....Thanks!

Hi Guys I'm a newie thinking of having a lap band - I have an appointment for the beginning of December. I have had hyperthyroidism and am currently in the realms of normality. I have had my thyroid eradicated with radio active iodine and will eventually fall into hypothyroidism. Lucky me, two autoimmune diseases for the price of one! The problem I have is that my weight is spiralling out of control and I need to do something to bring it back into line. Has anyone else with a thyroid problem been able to get a lap band done? On some doctors web pages they won't do lap band ops on people who have an underactive thyroid problem and on other sites they don't even mention it. I went down to 71kgs with hyperthroidism only to stack on weight at a rate of a speed train. I jumped two dress sizes (size 12 to 16) in two week. Stayed at a 16 for a couple of years only to fall out of control and everytime I walk into a cloths shop I have to get bigger sizes. I would love to hear from anyone else who has a thyroid problem and has a lap band or is currently scheduled for one. Regards Shimmycat;-)

I was born normal size, but never lost the baby fat. I have pix of me at 3, 6, 9, and i was still waiting to loose that baby fat. Most everyone in my family is overweight. not just 10 pounds but atleast 50. I have a autoimmune thyroid problem which nothing i do except surgery will fix and the doctors dont want to remove it as my thyroid works sometimes. Im not Lazy, i eat on the run and with my job have done it for years. Im Geneticly overweight (NOT FOR LONG)

Sounds just like what I had, GASTRITIS, different from Reflux Only detected through endoscopy which is how I found out I had it. Do you burp alot? Do you have a full feeling in your chest? Gastritis is not a single disease, but means inflammation of the stomach lining. Gastritis can be caused by drinking too much alcohol, prolonged use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or infection with bacteria such as Helicobacter pylori. Sometimes gastritis develops after major surgery, traumatic injury, burns, or severe infections. Certain diseases, such as pernicious anemia, autoimmune disorders, and chronic bile reflux, can cause gastritis as well. Symptoms of Gastritis The most common symptoms are abdominal upset or pain. Other symptoms are belching, abdominal bloating, nausea, and vomiting or a feeling of fullness or of burning in the upper abdomen. Blood in your vomit or black stools may be a sign of bleeding in the stomach, which may indicate a serious problem requiring immediate medical attention. Ask your Dr. about gastritis. I took prilosec for 2 months nad it got better.

Because Crohn's is an autoimmune disease, it is contraindicated with the band. This being said, I have systemic Lupus, which is also an autoimmune disease and I have been banded twice with no major issues due to the autoimmune disease. I think you'll find a difference in each doctor's opinions about this, so one may say no, the other may say yes. Depending on the severity of the Crohn's, it may be worth the risk to you.. or not.. Leatha

All I can say is that I was recently diagnosed with Sarcoidosis, an autoimmune disease that the American Lung Association recognizes as a lung disease. Nobody in my family has any type of auto immune issues. After a lot of research, I came across a report that links it to NutraSweet. Not only that, but I was so addicted to the stuff that I couldn't get out of bed without a stiff Diet Pepsi. I eventually switched to one can of regular Pepsi or Coke a day, and I just GOTTA have that soda. But now it's only one small can per day, while I had to have several buckets of the fake stuff before. Now I sleep at night. No more weird dreams, no insomnia. And I have a cup of real coffee, too, whereas before I'd have decaf with Equal. This isn't based on what anyone said, just my own personal observations.

There are a couple of blood tests that have to co-inside for the diagonsis of lupus. also you have to have, I believe 5 systoms from a long list to be diagnosed with lupus. Leatha probably knows what I am talking about. Years ago when ever they could not figure out what a person had they called it lupus. Now they are aware of a whole field of autoimmune diseases. I for one have had 2 of the three blood tests quite elevated for the last 20 years but not the third one (double ss something or another) plus only 3 symtoms. I have been to 2 rheumatoidologists only to have them tell me I don't have lupus or any other autoimmune diseases. That 2/3 of the people with elevated blood test do not have a problem. Only one third will eventually get a AI disease. NO you cannot catch it . The reason they are concerned if you already have and AI disease is the chance your body will reject the band because with an AI disease your body fights against itself and does not have the good antibodies it needs to fight off inflammation or it will reject forgein things. You can miscarry really easy if you have an AI disease because your body rejects the fetus. So your body could reject the band with a AI disease. Which is different that having an allergic reaction. I have not read any where where the band could cause an AI disease. Also my DR refuses to band you if you have an AI disease. He looked at my blood work and said OK. I hope this isn't to long or confusing.

Ok, now I'm concerned. During one of my blood tests many years ago, they found antibodies to Lupus. Does that mean I have Lupus or that I've been exposed to it? I've never pursued it because at the time the reason for all the tests were due to my high risk pregnancy 17 years ago. They were trying to find a reason why my blood pressure shot up immediately after becoming pregnant. In all the medical questions I answered for the Dr and the psych, Lupus or autoimmune diseases were never mentioned. Should I tell my Dr next time I see him? I'm really wondering now if erosions are linked to autoimmune diseases like Lisa mentioned. I hate to say it because I don't like to be a worry wart or incite panic, but I bet it would be interesting to see how many people that had erosion also had an autoimmune disease.

Hey Jack, Thanks for your concern. I'm a nurse, so I'm well aware of what they're talking about, and what's involved in bypass versus the band versus DS; I've talked to several nurses at my work who've had the surgery and have been able to ask really detailed questions that the average WLS consumer might not think of. I have a list of 25 things I plan to ask the doctor during my consult. Apparently, the smaller the amount bypassed, and the earlier in the digestive process it takes place, the less malabsorption there is. (This "jibes" with everything I learned in nursing school, and has been verified by my husband who has a BS in Biology and who's counseled people on nutritional counseling). Obviously, ANY malabsorption is a problem, especially for someone with an autoimmune disease as I have. I need all the help I can get to keep my inflammatory condition at bay, which is why I take roughly 25 vitamins, mineral, and other various supplements a day. So that's an enormous concern. OTOH, not having anyone able to follow me after banding is a huge concern as well. Even the one doc up here who does fills is difficult to get in with and is talking about not doing them anymore; and he wont' actually touch the band, just do the odd fill. Yikes. There is literally no one within 2500 miles who would follow me and help me if I had a complication; I'm not sure people who don't live in Alaska quite understand how isolated we are up here, and how limited our health care choices are. It's really quite frustrating how limited we are. The lack of follow up care is scary for me, and why I'm reconsidering banding. The safest operation in the world becomes dangerous without proper follow up care. The money situation with us is enormously difficult. Without going into details that I'm uncomfortable sharing, there is no way I can have my surgery financed. I have to go through my insurance company or it will not happen. We've figuratively cut the fat out of our budget in order to support a family of FIVE on two health care worker's incomes (we're not doctors, just a nurse and dental assistant) in one of the most expensive states in the US. So it's not as though I'm not motivated; there is literally no way to do it (and I'm a persistent one). I can always wait until we move to Washington or Oregon sometime in the next 5 years, but how much weight will I have gained by then? (I don't wanna know). So it's frustrating right now. My insurance would cover me going to Texas for the band, but I'd have no follow up care. My new insurance (as of April 1) won't cover WLS at all. So if I'm going to do something, I have to do it now or else possibly wait several years. In the meantime, my mobility is failing, my comorbidities are getting worse, and my Sarcoidosis is getting worse as well, in part because of my inability to exercise and the stress of my weight on my lungs. (I was in the ER the other night because of a flare up, which led to a panic attack). Sucks to be me, doesn't it?

You just don't know until you get to see a band surgeon. The liver is very close to where they will be working, both with the lapband or gastric bypass. They may want you to go on a pretty strict diet immediately prior to the surgery to help 'shrink' the liver and get it in a healthy state. This makes your surgery much less risky. As far as health concerns. I have had several episodes of DVT(deep vein thrombosis - blood clots in the extremeties) and one episode of Pulmonary Embolism (blood clot in the lung). I also have Systemic Lupus which is a chronic autoimmune disease. Luckily, I don't have severe symptoms with that, but it's always a concern. You can go from healthy to dying before you can blink an eye, so I hear. I was the first ever to have a vena cava filter implanted at the same time as I had my lapband done in order to prevent any possible clots from moving to my heart or head or lungs. I was turned down by the first doctor I chose because he didn't want to take the risks with my health concerns and the fact that I had to take blood thinning drugs for the rest of my life. Luckily, I did find someone who had already banded someone else with the exact same problems as me and my surgery was successful. Will I ever have complications due to these issues? Maybe. Will I be better off having lost my excess weight if I do? You betcha! We can only live for today, right? Today, I choose to be banded and to fight the good fight where my health is concerned. Tomorrow, I may have to change my focus. Good luck!

Inamed's literature says that "connective tissue" autoimmune diseases are a contraindication for the band. Sarcoidosis is not a connective tissue autoimmune disease. Dr. Lopez knew I had Sarcoidosis before placing the band, but it's not supposed to be one of the problem auto immune diseases for the band.

Hi Mark, Well, you asked, although I don't think you're going to like your response. I have a teenage son, so I know how they are, and basically in my experience, they'll only seek out and pursue what's important to them. My son didn't apply to colleges until he could choose what colleges to go to, and he only did that once we backed off and stopped having conniption fits when he mentioned things like becoming a male model or a rodeo clown; once we did that, he went gangbusters, and in fact I'm sitting here with his apps to Harvard, Princeton and Georgetown. (And with his test scores and grades, he stands a good shot at getting in). He's now frantic, desperate to get into the best schools and major in political science. Why? Because we backed off and let him choose his own destiny. What I read in your post is that your son's weight is more important to YOU than to HIM. If you push him, you will only make him rebel; he has to want to lose weight to make any lasting changes. He can't do it for you. And I'm afraid that if you shame him or make him feel bad about being fat, you'll only damage his self esteem. And good self esteem is, I believe, really important to taking the steps necessary to have a permant weight loss occur. If it were me, I'd just encourage him to exercise with you every day (heck, it's good for you, too, and you're setting a good example) and have only healthful foods in the house. You don't say what your food situation is like at home but if his "normal sized" sibilngs are allowed to eat junk food and he's judged for what he puts in his mouth, that again could shame him. I'm not saying you are doing this, and I hope you're not; but my grandparents did it to my mom, and she ended up weighing way over 400 pounds. So I'd just have healthful foods in the house, encourage regular exercise -- stressing the health benefits of regular exercise, not whether it leads to weight loss -- and as he feels better about himself, his body, etc. he may very well opt to "do something" about his weight. In the meantime, those changes will go very far to help him stay healthy. Studies have shown that a fat person who eats healthily and exercises (and yes, we exist) his similar risks to heart disease and cancer as a thin person. So while it's healthier to be thin, it's healthy to be active and eat nutritious foods, too. Regardless of one's weight. I'm a little confused, though. Were you thinking of kicking him out of the house because of his weight??? Please tell me I misread your post, because that seems unconscionably cruel. The only reason I could think of to kick my kids out are illegal activities, flagrant disregard for the rules, or being in their 20's with no real goals in life. He's still a kid, and needs your guidance and support -- not your shame. What would kicking him out of the house do? He wouldn't be exercising with you and would have to get a job which would cut into work out activities; also, he probably wouldn't be eating particularly well if he's like most teens left to their own devices. I only see it as a lose lose situation. And really, so what if he's fat? I've lived 40 years on this planet in a fat body (I'm arranging my surgery for next year) and in that time I have married my high school sweetie, birthed and raised three lovely, intelligent, insightful, saavy children who love their planet and each other. I graduated from nursing school at the top of my class while raising three kids and running a business. I've been a childbirth educator, labor coach, Girl Scout leader, volunteer for numerous organizations, and helped at my children's schools. My life is one hardly deserving of shame. But it was my parents telling me that my weight didn't matter -- that my character did -- which led me to strive for everything I could have in life. My weight, until recently, never got in my way. I worked out several days a week, I backpacked around Alaska, California and Washington state, I swam in lakes, rivers and pools, I bicycled, I even rode a Vespa scooter. The only reason I'm having trouble now is that I'm 40 and have an autoimmune disease; the combination of my weight, aging and the Sarcoidosis have finally started to catch up with me. I hardly consider the last 40 years "killing myself". But all of the crazy stupid diets I went on probably DID do some damage, which is why I stepped OFF the dieting treadmill and just focused on eating well and exercising. I didn't drop a pound but I felt really good. Your son is only 18, not 40, and establishing a healthy lifestyle -- regardless of what that does to his weight -- is far more important than buying into your obsession with his size. What he needs, in my opinion, is good information about healthy eating, exercise, and good role models. And he needs the space to decide how he wants to live his life. Now, if he's depressed, or has no real goals or anything, then by all means get the kid to a counselor. If he's eating crap, make it clear that he can't do that in the house and make him read "Fast Food Nation". But otherwise, his weight problem is HIS weight problem; I'm afraid you need to back off and deal with your own issues about his weight, and let the kid find his way. The more you pressure him, the more he will rebel, and it may cost you your relationship with him. Sorry to be so hard core, but I've seen parents do this to their kids -- out of love, don't get me wrong, I know you must love him very much, and your concerns are well justified -- and it never ends well. The best thing you can do is tell him you love him, that you're proud of him, and if he needs help he can come to you. And in the meantime, try to get him to exercise regularly so you guys can have quality bonding time together. Best of luck, Mark. I know it's tough, but really, as bad as it is being fat, it could be so much worse, you know? Try to focus on the good things about him to build his self esteem; he'll address his weight problem when he's ready. (BTW, I'm assuming he's been to a doctor and been checked out for any kind of endocrine problems??? Obviously that's the first order of business). Take care, and if he is interested in finding out about the lap band, then I hope he would post here and get his questions answered. But I wouldn't recommend pressuring him to have the surgery because there seems to be SOOOOO much that's all about compliance and working with the band; if he's not behind it 100% (or more), then I fear he could really damage himself.

I'm sure hoping it's not going to be an issue for me, Sonia. I have Sarcoidosis, which is an autoimmune disease -- very rare, where the white blood cells form granular lesions in various parts of the body (in my case, my lungs). It's possible to react to anything -- I mean, I react to hypoallergenic metals, go figure -- but the band (and other things put into people's bodies) is supposed to be non-reactive for the vast majority of people. What I seem to remember reading on the Inamed site is that it's contraindicated for people with connective tissue autoimmune diseases like Scleroderma. Here's what I found at their site. It's contraindication number 18. "You or someone in your family has an autoimmune connective tissue disease. That might be a disease such as systemic lupus erythematosus or scleroderma. The same is true if you have symptoms of one of these diseases. " My assumption -- and based on responses from surgeons I've talked to it's correct -- is that it's only some AI diseases that are the problem. I suppose it's possible that anything we do to the body can cause a flare up of an autoimmune disease, and I'm prepared for that. But it's my thought that in my case, shedding weight will make dealing with my Sarcoidosis much easier. Wish I had more information for you, Sonia. I'm interested, though, in whatever you can find out.

I have been doing my nightly researching and came across something that woudl really address only long-term band users (probably those that got banded at least 5 years ago) but am sounding if off you guys. Some sites say that because of the silicone in the band, autoimmune problems could THEORETICALLY result. THe full quote is here: Silastic reaction- it is possible that the material of the Band could create some type of body immune reaction that stimulates a separate disease process such as arthritis or Systemic Lupus Erythematosis (SLE). However the Band is made of a silicone elastomer which is completely non-reactive to the body tissues, as far as it has been possible to determine. The same type of material has been in use in a number of implanted medical devices over time, and no problems with tissue reaction have been demonstrated. Here again, the early data is reassuring but no true long-term information exist There was another quote I believe right on Inamed's site, but I can't seem to locate this. Has anyone heard of someone's body actually rejecting the band? And causing autoimmune problems to boot? I am going to post this on an Australian band mailing list, since I believe they have had the band alot logner than the States has. Sonia

Hi folks, I'm Vickie, a pediatric RN living in Alaska. I found out about the band several years ago but heard lots of negative things, so I never pursued it; all I knew is that I didn't want bypass surgery. Meanwhile, the pounds kept creeping on (where do they come from? ). So here I am, nearly 40 years old, 300 pounds, and I'm gaining a few pounds a year. Getting around is getting harder (which makes being a nurse interesting to say the least) and, since I have an autoimmune disease (Sarcoidosis), it makes it really tough sometimes. I've pretty much decided I want the band (concerns about my Sarcoidosis notwithstanding -- especially my worries about the coughing I do every day possibly dislodging the band), but the only doc who does it up here has done about 15. So I'll have to travel, and of course with that comes lots of arranging and such. Also, my insurance company in their "infinite wisdom" (snerk) wants me to have a six month weight loss trial with a doc. Because, you know, I haven't been on enough diets, right? One thing that does concern me, besides the Sarcoidosis, is that as it stands, I only eat about 1500 calories a day on average. Thanks to genetics and a history of crazy dieting, in order to lose weight I really need to consume no more than about 1000 cals a day. Can I really do that with the band?? So, that's me. Married to my high school sweetie, mom of three teens (heaven help me), brand spankin' new nurse, Birkinstock wearin', granola crunchin', folk music lovin' hippie freak who has worked hard to accept my weight over the years. However, since it's getting beyond vanity into mobility and health issues, it's time to do something. Thanks for listening. I'm looking forward to making new friends and learning a lot. I'll try not to talk too much. Vickie in Alaska

About a year ago, I had one of those really funky dreams that I wasn't able to shake for a couple weeks. It was eerie, almost a nightmare. In the dream, I learned that my desire and addiction to Diet Pepsi was actually making me fat. I dreamed that diet sodas and foods actually chemically cause people to be fat. The dream had all sorts of analytical data incorporated into visions of diet soda and fat. I woke up the next morning completely freaked out, thinking Diet Pepsi had sabotaged my entire life. I haven't had a diet soda since. I started drinking regular soda, but I'd never have more than one a day. Meanwhile, I have an autoimmune disease. So far, there's no known cause of my "Sarcoidosis" but I read a study that implicates Nutrisweet as the culprit. And at the risk of another hijack, my wound is looking much better. I have another whole post devoted to it, and I'll be posting a new picture tonight to show everyone how well it seems to be doing. Thank you for asking about me : )