steroid therapy and the band

[chabutter 0]

Hi everyone, I have had four cortisone shots in the past year, am on Naproxen (a popular Nsaid) and have done prednisone for two weeks several months ago. All of this is due to rheumatoid arthritis. I am waiting for the answer from my insurance company currently for the lapband.. and have tried so many things to get my weight under control and to get the scale moving before I get the band. I am young as well (will be twenty one very soon)

This is definitely NOT the primary reason for my weight gain, Ive always struggled with it since early childhood, and was successful enough to lose seventy pounds before my diagnoses with chronic illness. Boy was that disappointing when i gained it all back plus some.

I am not sure if my weight not budging is because of the prior steroids or not... It could be metabolism issues from lack of mobility. I have no education about them. I was wondering if anyone on this board has been on steroid therapy and have still lost any weight on the lap band?

Thanks for your help

-cha

[wannasew 0]

Chabutter

Steroids & the Band...I have had Cordizone shots & also have taken several doses of Prednisone...I had already been banded...Had no problems, but it DID slow the weight loss. I also take 2 aleave each and every day...probably not the BEST solution,,,but certainly better than the pain...

I have been banded for almosgt one year, and not able to much in the line of exersize...I have now lost 76.6 lbs and 85.5 inches...

I hope this will help

Blessings, Debbi

(and I am a whole lot older than you...53 years old...)

[vinesqueen 2]

Hello Cha, I've been thinking about this all afternoon, thinking about how to address this.

I believe that the steroid use will greatly slow down your loss, when you are taking the medication. I know that different people react differently to steroids... some feel great and do really really well, and others feel like crap. I fall in the "feel like crap" camp when I have to take it.

I know that when I am on steroids my appitite goes throug the roof, and I want to eat and eat and eat. The band being a restrictive technique should help with this, since you are physically restricted from eating.

Good luck, and be kind to yourself.

[Divamom 1]

One of my docs first questions in his initial survey was, Do you take steroids? From my knowledge and experience doctors will not do the lap band surgery if you are on steroid therapy.

You need to research this further, is this long term therapy? short term therapy? You'll have to find a doctor and see what happens. Although, when on steroids weight gain is a huge side effect. Good Luck in your searching.

Leah

[Elisabethsew 50]

Long tern steroid use makes people prone to Water retention and weight gain. I have gotten cortisone injections and take Aleve twice a day but have not taken a course of oral steroids. I have a friend who goes on prednisone for months at a time and she was banded over a year ago. She's lost 100 pounds and has 30 to go to goal. Talk with your surgeon.

[leatha_g 4]

NSAIDS on a regular basis are definitely a contraindication for having the lapband. It is widely suggested that they can lead to or exacerbate erosion. Please discuss this with your potential surgeon.

[chabutter 0]

Hey everyone thanks for ALL of your advice/suggestions and help.

My steroid therapy is usually short term (two weeks of prednisone) with months or possibly even years apart from taking it. It all depends on how my joints are acting up -- which is always extremely unpredictable unfortunately.

The doctors never said anything about my NSAIDS.. I have read about the dangers of it, but I think they doctors think that my chronic foot and ankle joint inflammation in combination of my weight will cause even more problems before any possible stomach problems. Their goal is to keep me out of a wheelchair. I am too young for joint replacement surgery. especially in the foot, and at two hundred and fifty pounds - ya dig?

I think its extremely interesting from what I understand from the responses -- if the challenge is really not the drug, but the drug causing how much one consumes, maybe the band will be helpful -- im definitely willing to take that chance becuase I dont really have any other options.

I appreciate all of your stories. Slow weightloss is better than no weight loss or weight gain. I guess I will have to have even more nutritional guidance and support.. maybe even rejoining weight watchers would be helpful.

Thanks all