Tlmarsh

In April 2009 I had lapband surgery. I had gained alot of weight after 10 years of health problems including back surgeries that kept me very sedentary. I started my journey at 226 lbs, 5'5" at age 55. With the lapband I got down to 170. I had lots of trouble with lapband, I was vomiting every day. My original surgeon blamed in me (in my head) so I made a complaint and switched surgeons immediately. I also had counseling throughout the time I had my lapband, to help work through the emotional side of compulsive eating. My new surgeon worked with me to help the lapband work properly. Finally in 2012 we decided I should revise to gastric bypass. Because my esophagus was so sensitive, he said I was not a good candidate for the sleeve. So, after having to GAIN back some weight for my insurance to cover the surgery, I had the bypass in April 2013. I have lost all my excess weight and now I weigh between 145-150. I have maintained this for at least 6 months now. 
 
I have had significant health problems since bypass. I am now 61 and 4 months after surgery I developed an auto-immune disease called Alopecia Universalis, where the immune system attacks all the hair follicles in the body and all hair falls out. It is a genetic plus environmental trigger disease and the surgery "could" have been the trigger. But I question whether changing the intestines could cause the immune system to become weak. I already had allergies and I knew my immune system wasn't strong. But since 80% of the immune system is in the intestines, I question changing them up. I just don't think medicine has enough knowledge about the complexity of how our immune system works yet. But would I not have had the bypass with what I know now? Yes. I think the weight loss is very important and has made my life so much better. 
 
Now I have severe GERD, which I never had before. I have had dumping syndrome, which I was glad about, since sweets were my only problem with overeating. So with no sweets at all, my weight has come off pretty easily and is easy to maintain. As long as I stay away from sweets and fatty carbs I do fine.