Weight Loss and Steriods

[DuckieXD 20]

For those of you who have had the sleeve were any of you on steroids? Im on 60mg of prednisone ( part of the reason ive gained 30lbs in the past year). How did that effect your weight loss after the sleeve? Im getting sleeved 5/31

[Kindle 8,667]

What are you on steroids for? Is it a condition that may improve after weight loss, allowing you to discontinue the pred?

Even if you have to remain on pred the weight gain from steroids is something you can control. Steroids dont magically make you gain weight.....it happens due to Water retention (which isn't "real" weight) and eating too many calories. Steroids increase sodium and decreases potassium, thus causing you to retain Water. To help with this, you need to eat a sodium restricted diet and either take potassium supplements or eat potassium-rich foods.

Since steroids can increase appetite, overeating is the other main reason for weight gain. Obviously this is the reason everyone gains weight....eating too many calories. The sleeve surgery will help with your Portion Control, but in the end it's all up to you how much and what you eat whether you are on steroids or not.

Has your surgeon or gastro talked to you about being on the steroids post VSG? They can cause gastric ulcers just as easily as NSAIDS which are "forbidden" by many surgeons after bariatric surgery. If you haven't already, I would discuss precautions to take for to help protect your sleeve from ulcers.

[Inner Surfer Girl 12,015]

Definitely talk to your surgeon. My surgeon said that steroids were the biggest cause of leaks (they basically dissolve the incision line).

[Kindle 8,667]

Definitely talk to your surgeon. My surgeon said that steroids were the biggest cause of leaks (they basically dissolve the incision line).

Very good point. We specifically take our patients off steroids when possible before doing surgery or they just don't heal.

[DuckieXD 20]

What are you on steroids for? Is it a condition that may improve after weight loss, allowing you to discontinue the pred?

Even if you have to remain on pred the weight gain from steroids is something you can control. Steroids dont magically make you gain weight.....it happens due to Water retention (which isn't "real" weight) and eating too many calories. Steroids increase sodium and decreases potassium, thus causing you to retain Water. To help with this, you need to eat a sodium restricted diet and either take potassium supplements or eat potassium-rich foods.

Since steroids can increase appetite, overeating is the other main reason for weight gain. Obviously this is the reason everyone gains weight....eating too many calories. The sleeve surgery will help with your Portion Control, but in the end it's all up to you how much and what you eat whether you are on steroids or not.

Has your surgeon or gastro talked to you about being on the steroids post VSG? They can cause gastric ulcers just as easily as NSAIDS which are "forbidden" by many surgeons after bariatric surgery. If you haven't already, I would discuss precautions to take for to help protect your sleeve from ulcers.

I have talked to my surgeon he feels like taking a medication like prilosec would help there not be any ulcers. Unfortunately my condition will not improve after WLS as it is autoimmune, my only hope of getting off the pred. is going into remission. That being said I do know that my weight isn't all attributed to the pred, but it has contributed to about 50lbs in the last year, that and overeating and the fact I had a sternotomy and was down for three months. Also due to my condition there is no way I could stop the pred before surgery.

[DuckieXD 20]

Im talking to someone who also has my condition from my support group who had the sleeve and she said that it actually helped her get off pred. so hopefully that will be the case for me too!!!!

[Kindle 8,667]

Good luck with everything. I've been on prednisone a few times since my VSG for cervical nerve impingement, but it's only been for short (2-4 week) durations and my doctor always puts me on Prilosec and sucralfate while on the pred.