VSG & autoimmune diseases?

[gingeryank 37]

We need a spoonies group. I found out a couple of weeks ago that what we thought was rheumatoid arthritis is psoriatic arthritis. I asked my rheumy what she thought about bariatric surgery and the timing, since the change in diagnosis means moving to biologics (methotrexate failed, and sulfasalazine is helping some but not a lot). She was very enthusiastic about it. She says that leptin affects PsA inflammation factors directly, so losing all that stomach tissue that secretes it is a help all on its own. Fat cells also secrete factors that contribute to inflammation. So I'm going to have the surgery before we start Stelara. That way I can keep taking the sulfasalazine until 3 weeks before surgery, and then start the Stelara as soon as I'm healed enough from the surgery (she said about 3 months, maybe as long as 6).

While I don't expect the surgery to cure my PsA, I know that losing 100 lbs or so will be very helpful to my joints, and with the hormone changes, it might help the biologic work better. I am looking forward to being able to be active again. My PsA caused me to have to abandon bedside nursing and my plans to become a nurse practitioner. While I am glad I had the option to go back into healthcare IT (I was an IT analyst for years, nursing was a mid-life career change), and at this point won't try to go back to direct patient care (biologics will make it too easy for me to pick up infections), I still want to get active again. I've been a couch potato for the last couple of years with the fatigue and pain, and it's not as fun as it sounds.

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[gingeryank 37]

@@theantichick

I think a spoonies group is an excellent idea. I had VSG to help with my AS symptoms. Like you, I know it won't cure me. But the surgery is already helping tremendously.

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[shrinkingkimber 200]

I think a spoonies group is a good idea too! @@theantichick, I'm also on sulfasalazine in addition to my Remicade. I found the facts you shared very interesting!!

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[askurnick 38]

I was diagnosed with both PsA and RA. While the RA is considered mild, the PsA is severe. My sister has Lupus, so they're monitoring me closely to see if Lupus comes up in bloodwork.

My joint pain is horrible. I had my biologic on 4/11/16 and it's starting to wear off already. Having osteoarthritis on my left knee doesn't help either. My insurance won't approve a new injectable for my knee so I have to try my last med that failed and hope it works now that I'm down 27lbs.

Next week I call the rheumatologist to let him know that the biologic wore off too soon. He said if that happened he was going to readjust all of my meds. I'm on methotrexate, folic acid, dyclofenac twice a day, and 10mg of prednisone twice a day.

My rheumatologist was behind this surgery 100% as well. He said less weight on my joints will definitely help with the meds working better.

- Anne

[theantichick 2,204]

I was diagnosed with both PsA and RA. While the RA is considered mild, the PsA is severe. My sister has Lupus, so they're monitoring me closely to see if Lupus comes up in bloodwork.

My joint pain is horrible. I had my biologic on 4/11/16 and it's starting to wear off already. Having osteoarthritis on my left knee doesn't help either. My insurance won't approve a new injectable for my knee so I have to try my last med that failed and hope it works now that I'm down 27lbs.

Next week I call the rheumatologist to let him know that the biologic wore off too soon. He said if that happened he was going to readjust all of my meds. I'm on methotrexate, folic acid, dyclofenac twice a day, and 10mg of prednisone twice a day.

My rheumatologist was behind this surgery 100% as well. He said less weight on my joints will definitely help with the meds working better.

- Anne

Auto immune runs in my family too. I have an aunt with MS, a grandfather with psoriasis, a cousin with internal scleroderma, a grandmother with rheumatoid arthritis, a sister worth lupus, and a daughter with both alopecia and non- radiologic SPA.

I just shut my computer down for the night due to a storm coming in, but tomorrow I'll set up a spoonies group.

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[theantichick 2,204]

http://www.bariatricpal.com/forum/1258-sleeved-spoonies/

It's down in the support groups under social groups. I made it open, so pass it along.

We will probably need a better logo and banner, I just threw up what I found easily on Google Images.

Spoonies Unite!!

[Scorpion11 99]

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?

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Gingeryank, thank you for sharing your post. Hope you feel and get better.

After reading your post I believe my wls has been impacted with something similar to you but I'm just learning about my new symptoms and kept wondering why I haven't been as successful as others, aside from my injuries but also my pain which your posts rang a bell in my head.

Reason why I've come here to search if anyone else with the wls was experiencing and autoimmune disorders since their wls.

I need to find a specialist to help me find out if I suffer from any autoimmune disorder. What sort of doctor did you see for your autoimmune??

I had my WLS Nov. 2013 and due to low back and knee injury I was never able to workout nor do weights. I've lost of total 55 lbs combined pre/post surgery.

I've gained a few pounds but have go up and down and have been able to maintain so that's a good thing. And even though I'm losing pounds I'm still losing inches slowly but still happening.

I'm on the site today to research if any other have experience a sudden autoimmune disorders. I most certainly felt the fatigue after the wls but progressed and here and there when not feeling would go see me my primary doctor with symptoms of feeling achy flu like symptoms and she would order lab work and few times lab shows high wbc and she would tell me it could be S virus I'm fighting and just to rest up.

More recently I've suddenly got a fungus on my toes nails, mainly the big toes, I'm very clean/shower etc and was dumbfounded to learn I had this toe fungus and unclear how I got it. Then I started getting these weird scaly red bumps that itch like crazy on different part of my body, they itch more at night. So I then went to see a dermatologist and prescribed Jublia for my toes nail and a fungus lotion for my body rash. Well 5 months out and I still can't get rid of both the toe fungus or rash that conf and go.

Now another issue, with last 3 weeks I've been experiencing major pain/aches on my finger/hand joints So I started to research cause of fungus, joint pain and lean be yo possible autoimmune disorder and possibly to also see rheomologist for joint pain.

What I've learned to eat for home all natural remedies is to eat fresh garlic and add apple cider vinegar to my diet/food intake which helps with detoxing our digestive system without killing our natural bacteria.

I've also recently started to shed lots hair like I did 4 month after my wls.

Since I had my surgery I also learned that it may cause autoimmune disorders and I believe my wls may be the culprit as I eat well and healthier more than ever and all these symptoms started after my wls.

Today I go see my endrocongist and wil inquiring with her of yo refer to an autoimmune doctor, not sure if she handle these condition as she's treating me for my hypothyroidism which I became after wls and for my type 2 disburse which I had prior to my wls

Thought to share my experiences and not sure if 100% related to wls but didn't have any of the issues before.

I hope everyone feels and gets better and will share anything I learn as I go.

Take care!

[susie66 58]

I have alopecia totalis and it was the latest treatment that caused me to gain 50 pds and ultimately decide on WLS.

[theantichick 2,204]

@@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.

Edited April 28, 2016 by theantichick

[theantichick 2,204]

I have alopecia totalis and it was the latest treatment that caused me to gain 50 pds and ultimately decide on WLS.

My daughter has alopecia totalis, started when she was about 12. We tried the topical creams and treatments, but I drew the line at systemic steroids and we focused on getting her the best scalp prosthesis we could. She did incredibly well once she moved to a vacuum wig and a couple of years ago her hair started growing back. She ditched the wig about a month ago (she's 19 now) and is growing in a full head of hair with only one thin spot. Now she's been diagnosed with an auto-immune arthritis, so we're heading down the rabbit hole on that one now.

Hugs for going through it, it's terribly traumatic.

[KristenLe 5,979]

My Mom has alopecia as well. She's worn a wig my entire life. I didn't realize there were treatments and a possibility of growing hair again. That's very cool.

[susie66 58]

I have alopecia totalis and it was the latest treatment that caused me to gain 50 pds and ultimately decide on WLS.

My daughter has alopecia totalis, started when she was about 12. We tried the topical creams and treatments, but I drew the line at systemic steroids and we focused on getting her the best scalp prosthesis we could. She did incredibly well once she moved to a vacuum wig and a couple of years ago her hair started growing back. She ditched the wig about a month ago (she's 19 now) and is growing in a full head of hair with only one thin spot. Now she's been diagnosed with an auto-immune arthritis, so we're heading down the rabbit hole on that one now.

Hugs for going through it, it's terribly traumatic.

I hope her arthritis isn't too bad. So happy her hair grew back. Mine has been gone for 24 years. I tried an experimental drug last year. I did get some regrowth but also gained the weight. I stopped taking it because of the weight gain.

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[Jilly69 13]

Hi Gingeryank & rest of this group: I too have Ankylosing Spondylitis, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fibromyalgia along with a gammit of other things. I am not sleeved yet but will be having surgery in July. I hope it will help with many things. I too have suffered with many of the same things you have. In fact I don't know anyone else that has Ankylosing Spondylitis. I went to doctors for 14 years before I was diagnosed, most of the doctors told me it was all in my head. I cannot take Humira, Remicade or any other of he Biologics as it makes my pain a 100times worse, I am on Arava and a few other things thought. The strangest thing I find about this disease is that I have lost 2 inched of height in 3 years.In the beginning when ai was finally diagnosed, I gained about 30lbs from all the medication they were giving me which didn't help. Even if getting the sleeve helps loose most of my excess weight and put less stress on my joint I think it will help with the pain and also the fatigue that this disease causes. I wish everyone on this thread pain free living...Jill

[gingeryank 37]

Hi Gingeryank & rest of this group: I too have Ankylosing Spondylitis, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fibromyalgia along with a gammit of other things. I am not sleeved yet but will be having surgery in July. I hope it will help with many things. I too have suffered with many of the same things you have. In fact I don't know anyone else that has Ankylosing Spondylitis. I went to doctors for 14 years before I was diagnosed, most of the doctors told me it was all in my head. I cannot take Humira, Remicade or any other of he Biologics as it makes my pain a 100times worse, I am on Arava and a few other things thought. The strangest thing I find about this disease is that I have lost 2 inched of height in 3 years.In the beginning when ai was finally diagnosed, I gained about 30lbs from all the medication they were giving me which didn't help. Even if getting the sleeve helps loose most of my excess weight and put less stress on my joint I think it will help with the pain and also the fatigue that this disease causes. I wish everyone on this thread pain free living...Jill

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[gingeryank 37]

@Jilly69: So much of what you wrote resonated with me. Thanks for sharing. I was sleeved 2/25. I've lost 55 lbs and have 21 left until goal. I, too, have failed biologics. I take something for pain and fatigue, but both have improved since my weight loss. The fatigue is still a real challenge, but overall, I feel so much better. I wish you much success. P.S. You wrote that you didn't know anyone else with AS. I was like you. I lead two FB groups for folks with AS, and I'm a member of many others. Message me if you'd like, and I can try to get you to the right place.

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