VSG & autoimmune diseases?

[gingeryank 37]

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!

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[gingeryank 37]

Where are you located? My rheumy is Dr. Juan Contreras in Frisco, TX. He is phenomenal.

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[theantichick 2,204]

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.

There are treatments. Most work best if there's just a spot (or multiple spots) when you have totalis or universalis the options get fewer. And the side effects from systemic steroids aren't worth it in my opinion. Sometimes it just goes into remission. And when my daughter starts biologics for her arthritis it's likely her alopecia will stay in remission.

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[illuminationlady 7]

Is Fibromyalgia an autoimmune disease?

[shrinkingkimber 200]

Is Fibromyalgia an autoimmune disease?

No but an underlying autoimmune disease can cause fibromyalgia.

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[LilReDiva 22]

I was recently diagnosed with sjogrens and am about 20 lbs from goal weight but the extreme fatigue and joint pain has put a damper on any workouts that I may have concocted in my head[emoji36] and that is very frustrating! I was banded in 2013, removal in 2015 and VSG 10/20/16. Fatigue started in 2015 but I thought once the weight came off I would start to feel better but had no idea that I had sjogren until about 2 months ago. So I am still learning what the new me looks like.

[thiasmom 18]

I have fibromyalgia and chronic pain syndrome along with dealing with depression and anxiety because of how my pain was BUT changing my eating habits and losing weight then having sleeve surgery has helped my pain. I can tolerate it much better I do have my bad days but their not weeks or months thank Goodness

[Blue Door 54]

I have myasthenia graves (MG). My neuro wasn't thrilled with the idea of surgery, but relented because I was having my paraesophageal hiatal hernia repaired at the same time as the VSG, and the hiatal hernia was severe enough to be life threatening if any torsion happened with it. I was very careful about what drugs I was given. I spoke with the anesthesiologist for a long time before the surgery, and he was very excited because he had a new protocol to use for waking people back up that is supposed to be especially helpful for patients with MG. It worked well and I didn't have any bad after effects from the anesthesia. In the hospital the nurse tried to hang an IV of magnesium, but when I told her it was on the list of drugs people with MG should avoid she very graciously said "you know best what works for your body. I won't hang it if you don't want it." I was very vigilant about questioning every oral medication and IV med they brought in, and I have had a pretty smooth recovery MG wise.

MG does make it very difficult to exercise with any regularity. I take advantage of my good days and try to get in some kind of movement even if its minimal. I figure a little is better than none!

[VeggieMonster 3]

Well, I have Ménière's disease. I was diagnosed at 17, I'm now 37. It affects the middle ear and causes extreme bouts of vertigo. In fact, I was deemed disabled 9 years ago because of it. My WLS can alleviate the results of the falls due to sudden vertigo, as at 350lbs falling usually resulted in broken bones or fractures. Now, very recently, I was diagnosed with alopecia. My eyebrows went missing overnight!! These are both considered auto immune diseases. I've fought so hard to have this surgery to feel somewhat normal/accepted and yet the battle goes on, albeit a different battle but nevertheless a battle. Good luck!!

I have both of those as well plus a few more autoimmune diseases just for fun. [emoji854] My Menieres has been a lot worse since my surgery 6 weeks ago. I'm hoping when I lose weight my balance will be better! [emoji1] How are you doing? I'm hoping I'll have hair someday, but at this point more is falling out. Best wishes! [emoji255]

[Sullie06 1,013]

One of my closest friends and my inspiration to take this journey myself has MG. She has been successful on her journey thus far. She's 3 years out and over 100 pounds down at her lowest weight, she is currently pregnant so she's gained some back but is maintaining her weigtloss well.

[AngieK72 69]

I have both of those as well plus a few more autoimmune diseases just for fun. [emoji854] My Menieres has been a lot worse since my surgery 6 weeks ago. I'm hoping when I lose weight my balance will be better! [emoji1] How are you doing? I'm hoping I'll have hair someday, but at this point more is falling out. Best wishes! [emoji255]

I have RA, Fibromyalgia, Diabetes and neuropathy (many more as well). Everything is the same with the exception of the diabetes. My numbers have been ranging from 70-160. That is excellent for me. I am only taking one pill for diabetes right now per surgeons orders. Luck to you.


[emoji1591]Angie

[UalreadyKnow 843]

@VeggieMonster just read your response, hope all is better for you! How long have you had Menieres for? It gets better, I promise!

[naturallyzee 292]

Hello all. I have an autoimmune disease called autoimmune hepatitis. I also have vitiligo. My overactive immune system attacks my liver. I take 100 mg of mercaptopurine daily. Prednisone if there is a flare up. Thank God that hasn't happened for a while. My doctor was excited when I told him I was considering the surgery. He actually did my medically supervised weight loss. I had to stay off my meds for 1 month before and after surgery. I had RNY 3/8. Things worked out fine for me.

5'8"
HW 330
SW 306
SD 292.8
CW 233.4
GW around 180

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[MrzT2bsleeved 1]

Anyone have Hidradenitis Suppurotiva(HS)?? Has weight loss helped??

[KateBruin 344]

I know this conversation started a few months ago but I thought I'd add my piece. I recently got diagnosed with spondyloarthritis. It's basically ankylosing spondylitis but they couldn't diagnose AS officially because my lumbar spine is fused. I started humira about 5 weeks ago and it isn't helping yet. I also have autoimmune thyroid but we aren't sure if it's hypo or hyper because my test numbers are all over the place.

I could possibly lose the weight on my own because I workout like a total maniac but losing weight will help my joints and reduce my other symptoms. Plus, I'm borderline on several other diseases and my GI thinks I'm basically "pre-crohns". I also have a worsening incisional ulcer that my doctor can't fix till my BMI is below 30.