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I am looking for others might question health problems that have occured since the lapband surgery. I am not trying to frighten anyone. I know this is a miracle for many of you out there. However, I have questions as to whether my body did not like the band. I developed puffy hands, raynoads syndrome and arthritis. As it turns out, one year after my banding, I am diagnosed with Scleroderma. This is an autoimmune disease and is in some ways related to silicone. (I am not saying it is related to the lapband). I am wondering if anyone else has had any of these symtoms. I will probably die from the Scleroderma in the future. I am undergoing 12 months of trial chemotherapy for it.... Anyone ?

I don't even know where to begin but I have spent the last year doing extensive research on this subject. I was banded 4 years ago and was fine for the first 2 1/2 years. I suddenly began having major health issues and six months ago was finally diagnosed with ...you guessed it...systemic lupus and scleroderma. No problems before and no family members with autoimmune diseases. I nearly died last August and I was very close to suicidal by October from the complications before any doctors could figure out what was wrong. I am now on long term steroid treatment, immune system suppressants and collagen suppressants. I have destroyed my skin, blood vessels and tissues with the steroids. I cannot tolerate ANY, I repeat ANY sun exposure without developing a full lupus rash all over my body and vasculitus from the scleroderma. My quality of life is horrible. I am scheduled to have the band removed on June 21st and I am praying that at least some of my symptoms resolve and I will be able to reduce the medications. Now for those of you who wrote in that you think this is just a coincidence...my husband had lap band 6 months before me and about 6 months before me he started having medical issues and guess what...he has been diagnosed with scleroderrma as well. While I was getting an EEG recently I told the technician that I had recently been diagnosed with lupus and scleroderma but before I could tell her anything else she began talking about her friend that also was just diagnosed with lupus 1 year after she had lap band surgery. I hadn't even told her about my lap band! Coincidence??? Hardly, I think the risk of silicon to the human body is as big a coverup as nicotine in tobacco was several decades ago. Am I angry? You bet but not at my surgeon; he did a great job. I'm angry at the people who managed to blame all the problems of silicon on the gel form in breast implants and got the FDA to claim that solid silicon is inert. Dr. Douglas Shanklin did lots of research in the field of silicon poisoning and actually treated (and cured) a coworker of mine in the early 90's. He retired from University of Tennessee Medical Group in Memphis last summer and from the cold shoulder I got when I tried to get information from UT, he must have stepped on a few toes with his research. Anyway, Daemon you are on the right track...see the rheumatologist. If you don't get any answers, try a different one. You will be your own best advocate. I would also recommend that you think bat getting that band removed. Good luck!

Hi David. This reminds me of a friend who, within a week of getting gastric bypass surgery, was diagnosed with ALL (bone marrow cancer). We know that the surgery did not cause him to have cancer, but we do feel the surgery caused his body to be weak and stressed, and the symptoms of his disease ALL to come out.... so perhaps that is the case with you. Maybe you already had an autoimmune disease, and the lapband surgery just caused the symptoms to come out sooner? Just a thought. I hope you figure out what's going on soon, so you can feel better.

I know this is an older question but just came across this and had to reply. Hopefully, this will help somebody! I had lap band in 2007. I did not weigh enough for bypass but had high bp, high cholesterol etc. I started having terrible abdominal pain about 6months to 1 yr later. My surgeon had left our area and could not find a dr to touch me. I became sicker and sicker. From renal failure, swollen joints to diagnosis of RA. I went to Houston and saw Dr Nowzardan (from My 600lb life). (He is WONDERFUL!!!) He did surgery on me the next day. He said that my autoimmune disease had attacked the band. He said it had slipped even though it showed on testing it hadn't. He also said the area surrounding the band was in bad shape... Since then, I have done research indicating any foreign objects causing autoimmune diseases. There are too many coincidences not to be related. Look up even breast implants. Since then, even my body rejects ear piercing. I have since been diagnosed with lupus. To the person that said a lady she knows with lupus is just fine. I'm so happy for her. BUT everybody is different! I have been very very sick with life threatening illnesses due to lupus. I know people who have died. Lupus, RA and many other autoimmune diseases are deadly. It is offensive to compare 1 person to the rest of us. I'm not too overweight but I fluctuate 20-30lbs due to prednisone. I have so much pain due to the extra weight. With all my health issues, I am going to see the surgeon to see if the sleeve could benefit myself. I did want to post my experience.

I agree that seems most logical. Anything that stresses your body can trigger an autoimmune disease. You probably already had the autoimmune disease and it just now showed up. Edited to add: I've read that if you have an autoimmune disease then YOU ARE NOT a candidate for banding.

I don’t have a BMI over 40 and I am “only” 215lbs. That’s a lot of weight for me. Ive had Rheumatoid arthritis since I was 17 (I’m 43 now) and all these medications and up and down depressing anxiety fits made me put on 80lbs. I had tried everything to lose the weight to no avail. Exercise is getting hard for me and last summer I barely could hike up a mountain. I couldn’t breathe and my knees almost gave out. There are so many things I want to do and I never thought WLS was an option because I was told I wasn’t “heavy enough”. But between the RA and my family’s history with obesity I went on a journey that started with helping my anemia first. I got a hysterectomy in March and now I am period free. Next I went to a clinic that does both surgery and medical weight loss. He explained he would do everything he could to help me and ordered tests. He told me that my quality of life and my joints would benefit greatly from WLS. I knew this but still thought I was not eligible as autoimmune disease do not count towards your approval. He ordered a sleep test and it turns out I have sleep apnea which has me getting an excellent shot at approval. I feel humbled and blessed to have this option. So my tipping point was last year and it’s been a slow crawl but I’m here waiting for a surgery date. For the first time in a long time, I am hopeful.

Is Fibromyalgia an autoimmune disease?

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 Sent from my Z981 using BariatricPal mobile app

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!

Was thinking. I had the endoscopy and it showed some gastritis. Surgeon suggested to come of my arthritis meds. Now I am in so much pain, stiff and joints locking up. Now if I get the Gastric Sleeve I will have a smaller stomach so it maybe easy to damage by taking any arthrites meds. My arthrites could be real bad in July seeing an rheumatologist, then only solution is going be an inflammatory, which can't take. Should I just forget surgery and feel no pain and irritate stomach because need take arthrites meds. Not sure what is best for my health. I know if lose weight won't be as bad on my joints. Any ideals what to do? Does anyone have arthritis or do you autoimmune disease or both? Did you have surgery how are you doing? Sent from my LM-Q710(FGN) using BariatricPal mobile app

Thanks, Penni. I had my current doc on the phone last night but had so many questions that I decided to leave this one till next time. I heard that people with autoimmune diseases have problems fighting infection. I wonder if Sarcoid is the same. They found masses on my lungs. My lung specialists said they don't treat it since it's laying dormant, but I heard that getting banded could actually wake up the disease. That would be the end of the line for me since the only treatment is Prednisone, which would bloat me up bigger than the Incredible Hulk. Thanks again.

I was told people with autoimmune diseases should not be banded. But I just read what the literature actually says, which is Contraindication #18: "people with autoimmune connective tissue disease such as lupus" should not be banded. Who is our autoimmune expert around here? Penni, Nightengale, Sandy... are you there? I have Sarcoid Disease aka Sarcoidosis. Dr. Lopez knew I had this before implanting the band. How can I find out if my autoimmune disease falls in this category? Why would Lopez give me a band if he knew I had an autoimmune disease? Did I max my quota of posts for the day? Love you!

I read the posts about sleeve vs bypass for people with RA a few pages back and wanted to comment. I have non progressive autoimmune disorder and I test positive for RA have a few flairs a year with long emissions. My liver reached max tolerance for acetaminophen in 1993 and my kidne us actually failed from years of ibuprofen use. I had serious side effect from methotrexate and both biologics I tried. Because there weren't any better options I have been on narcotic pain medication for most of the past 12 years. And yes, prednisone is my best friend and my worse enemy. I have a gastric sleeve and am now just past 5 weeks post op. The pain was reduced within a week, though it took two more weeks to Tauber down from 20 mg of long-lasting oxytocin and 24-30 mg of dilaudid (4-12 mg every 4-6 hours) i have been completely off narcotic pain meds for over two weeks. I was aware that a bypass was more likely to improve my autoimmune disorders blut it was just too drastic of an alteration for me to wrap my mind around and my surgeon believed that the sleeve would give me some improvement. . In any case I think some of the improvement is because of the high Protein diet as my pain impoves when ever I up my protein and severely decrease carbs, but there is something more going on because I feel better every day. Sorry about the length. Hopefully this thread will survive the recent "kerfluffle".

Sorry, I am a. Retired special. Educator,...oh yes how I remember all the illnesses from our kids LOL.....not sure we can take ( my surgery is Feb17) but I take Liposome Vitamin C from the Dr. Mercola website....I have autoimmune issues already, people were around me all holiday season, sick, really SUCK....I DIDNT CATCH A THING!!! I am not suppose to be near I'll people !!!!

did blood work 2 times, the second time especially for anemia, everything is fine. even did an insulin resistance test, and i have hyperinsulinemia, but it doesn't explain my symptoms, my endocrinologist told me that my pancreas will get better in time without therapy, she said she could give me therapy, but that in time my body would fix that on its own. even did the ANA test for autoimmune diseases, it showed nothing. but i feel worse with every passing day. i just pray i get better now, cause i have no idea how i am gonna live like this.

Ok I am copy/pasting exactly what I put on your other thread. It is NOT all autoimmune diseases so please stop incorrectly telling people that; --------------------------------------------------------------------- Again, that's not true. It doesn't say ALL autoimmune diseases, it says connective tissue diseases. Directly from your link: "You or someone in your family has an autoimmune connective tissue disease. That might be a disease such as systemic lupus erythematosus or scleroderma" Not all autoimmune diseases are connective tissue diseases, in fact the majority of them are not. Their warning does not cover all autoimmune diseases.

Banded on Thursday 12/30/10..... I have lost 9 lbs since. Just had some quick stabbing shots of pain just past center under my left breast..... wondering what that could be... and hoping it isn't anything bad... I was at 340 when this started over a year ago and very inactive due to an autoimmune disorder and the weight. I have cheated some and paid for it, but am back on the liquid diet that we all love so much. Those protein shakes are so good... yuck... anyway, Thursday will be 2 weeks.

I’ve got an autoimmune disease too. Taking prednisone and methotrexate. It’s really, really difficult. We have to persevere though. I’m going to try focus on some of the tips from @allwet

No, I don't have a bug. I feel like that every day. I watched my friend wake up one morning, and she's the same way, but she has Lupus. I wonder if it's my autoimmune disease. I think my Vet needs to put me down.

I am in Colorado. My "Bariatric Center of Excellence" is relatively new at Parker Adventist Hospital. I am now 6 days post-op, and nothing dreadful has happened so far, so nothing I say here will be worthy of a lawsuit. The hospital opened its "center of excellence" with Matthew Metz a few years ago. That is when I first heard about the sleeve (vs. lap band and bypass). I had a baby in the summer of 2010 and nursed for a year (until July 2011). After that, my primary care physician said that I could start a physician-guided weight loss. She switched me from a low dose of Zoloft (given for "baby blues") to a low dose of Welbutrin, because the latter has been helpful in reducing appetite in some people. Well, after six months of Welbutrin and exercise, my weight didn't really go down. In January 2012 I "discovered" that I have Hashimoto's (an autoimmune form of hypothyroidism). I was a little annoyed because I had been going to endocrinologists for 10 YEARS and nobody ever mentioned that! It sort of makes a difference because my primary care physician said that auto immune diseases are known to respond favorably to gluten free, dairy free and sugar free diets.... I mulled this over for months and in June I started avoiding gluten. It did not help my weight or my energy levels, but it did help with digestion-related issues. So, at that point, I decided to get to a seminar at Parker Adventist re: the surgery. I wasn't terribly thoughtful about researching the "best" doctors or anything. So, I started the process with Dr. Metz. Simultaneously, my current health care provider, Cigna, reduced the number of bariatric classes needed from 6 months to 3 months. That really lit a fire with me. (In hindsight, is going through the process faster, better? Not sure. I may need to ask if I can attend the classes I didn't get because I feel like I would benefit from the info...even now.) So, everything was going along chuggingly and one week after my last class in December...AFTER I had a surgery date with Dr. Metz for December 17th, I got a call saying that Dr. Metz had left the practice. HUH???? A cautious person would have cancelled the surgery, but our health care provider was changing January 1st to a lesser PPO and I knew that I would not be able to afford the surgery in 2013. So, after a brief visit with Dr. Joshua Long (who had been on staff since August), I had the surgery scheduled with him on the 17th. Neither here, nor there, but you really don't have a "relationship" with the surgeons anyway. Dr. Long did deviate from standard procedure with me based on two things in my health history/family history. He scoped me prior to surgery because I had a bleeding ulcer as a young adult and he just wanted to make sure everything was good in my stomach. (I didn't think I had an ulcer, but I still felt it was relevant to surgery and so did he.) He also gave me anti-coag shots to take home with me because my dad's side of the family has a huge issue with blood clots and since I had never had ANY surgery before, I couldn't say if I would make clots, too. But, getting back to the point of not really having a relationship with the surgeon...I don't think Dr. Metz would recognize me if he saw me on the street and Dr. Long does not appear gifted with remembering faces, either. On the other hand, the NUT, the social worker and the rest of the gang, DO seem to know me and I think post surgery, they are probably more important to my day-to-day life. BTW, I should mention that I have battled my weight my whole life, so it wasn't just having one baby that triggered my decision to have surgery. Like so many others, I felt battle weary and with a BMI of 42 at age 42, I didn't think things would get better without taking drastic measures. Sorry if I hogged this thread on low-BMIs, but Iggy caught my attention with the "Bariatric Center of Excellence" thing. Clearly, if you read her story, it means very little and you can still have a poor outcome.

Have they checked your thyroid like done an entire panel not just a t4? For years I was exhausted all the time and unable to lose anything, turns out I had an autoimmune disease killing my thyroid. It took my gyn to figure it out the pcp didnt. Ask for a full thyroid pannel to make sure it's working alright bc if it isn't it knocks your metabolism way down

if you read the book "ultrametabolism" he explains why its so hard to lose weight when you are having an inflammation crisis. check it out. you may also want to look into the autoimmune paleo diet or even the whole30 diet. both of these food plans can greatly reduce inflammation in your body. good luck!

you are so right to wait on the Vax. My friend Donna who i adore's skin issues flared up so bad after her vax. She said her dr is seeing an influx of patients that have Autoimmune problems coming in. I feel so bad for her. my hubby got the vax, he was down for 2 day. So, i'll just wait. Sophie you are soooooo talented.

Sounds like it. I can walk a bit, being off my med's (several autoimmune diseases) has made it really hard to exercise. I can grind some med's but not all. I'm getting there slowly but steady.

Awesome! I have ZERO trouble avoiding meats. I was a vegetarian for a really long time, but I was the kind of vegetarian that would load up in starches (Mac n cheese, Pasta, etc.) instead of veggies. Even pre-op, I've only eaten chicken. I don't remember the last burger or steak I had...it could be never! I get so discouraged by my nutritionist's plan for significant amounts of meat first, THEN veggies. I'd so much rather fill up on Beans and vegetables. I actually have an autoimmune disease that responds very well with no gluten, so I've had to eliminate most of that, too. I'm really hoping that the post-op diet I'm on right now will reset me for a cleaner way of eating in the long run. I do loooooove good cheese, though! Sent from my iPad using BariatricPal