Autoimmune disease from gastric banding

[monkeymama 0]

This is kind of long... I suffer from autoimmune disease and have heard that the band can be good or bad for it. Some docs won't touch you if you have it. The only article I can find linking it to autoimmune disease in a quick search is the one below

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.ezproxy2.library.drexel.edu/sites/entrez

We report 2 patients who developed sarcoidosis after the implantation of adjustable silicone gastric banding (GB) in Germany. Before implantation, no pulmonary diseases were evident in the medical history of either patient. The 1st patient suffered sarcoidosis 12 months after GB. He has been treated at a hospital specialising in pulmonary diseases. Because of the treatment with corticoids, the patient has regained weight after the initial weight reduction. The 2nd patient developed signs of pulmonary infection on the 7th postoperative day (after GB). Pulmonary sarcoidosis was diagnosed 4 months later after consultation with a pulmonologist.

On the other hand- this article states that it helps:

Bariatric Surgery Improves Asthma, Autoimmune Disease

WASHINGTON, D.C., June 2008 — Obese people with asthma, osteoarthritis or autoimmune diseases who undergo bariatric surgery may be able to say sayonara to their steroids and/or the other immunosuppressing drugs they use to treat these diseases within about 18 months of their surgery. This is according to new research presented at the 25th annual meeting of the American Society for Metabolic amd Bariatric Surgery.

And that's a good thing, as long-term use of these drugs can have harmful effects on health. Precisely how bariatric surgery can help resolve or improve these diseases is not fully understood, but losing weight may decrease certain inflammatory markers that are known to be elevated in autoimmune and inflammatory disease, according to study author Elizabeth A. Dovec, MD, a bariatric surgeon at Western Pennsylvania Hospital, a teaching hospital of Temple University School of Medicine in Pittsburgh.

The new study comprised 49 morbidly obese people who were taking steroids or other immunosuppressive medications to treat co-existing chronic autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), myasthenia graves (a neuromuscular disease characterized by weakness of the skeletal muscles) and lupus, or inflammatory diseases like asthma. In autoimmune diseases, the body engages in friendly fire against its own organs or systems.

More than 50 percent of the study patients were able to discontinue or significantly reduce the use of oral steroids and immunosuppressive agents within 18 months. Specifically, 89 percent of people with asthma who underwent bariatric surgery were able to discontinue their steroids. What's more, 33 percent of patients with the inflammatory skin disease psoriasis and 25 percent of those with myasthenia graves were able to stop taking their medication.

In addition to improvements in autoimmune and inflammatory disease, the study participants lost 65.2 percent of their excess weight, and 80 percent of the study participants showed improvements or resolution of many of their other obesity-related diseases, including type 2 diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea and high blood pressure.

"Patients with compromised immune systems [such as occur with autoimmune disease] or taking steroids for chronic inflammatory disease [like asthma] may have been excluded from bariatric surgery because they are at higher risk for complications related to their disease or immunosuppressant medications," said another study author, Daniel J, Gagné, MD, director of bariatric surgery and laparoscopic and minimally invasive surgery at the hospital. "However, this study shows not only that these patients can safely have bariatric surgery, but they can achieve significant improvements or elimination of many diseases." — Denise Mann

[Cocoabean 430]

Also if you haven't already you can go to the FDA's MAUDE site and look up LAP-BAND® and realize band. It will give you all the reported cases of side effects, complications and etc associated with the band.

MAUDE - Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience

Hope that helps you!

Way cool site! I see Allergan wants to lower BMI standard to 30.

Daemon, I hope you find the answer, is your bloodwork normal? My niece has systemic sclerosis. It is not fun. Perhaps removal of the band would help.

[lawismylife 41]

I am sorry that you are experiencing this terrible situation.

There is a contraindication on the band that says that those who have a family member with a particular type of Lupus or those with Lupus are contraindicated. That is because you have a higher probability of rejecting the band. But there are still people with that type of Lupus that get banded.

I saw a rheumatologist due to my concern that my sister has Lupus and I had an autoimmune disease when I was young (guillian barre syndrome). She advised me that there are no known links between getting the band and triggering an autoimmune disease. Plus, the extra weight is a definite risk for so many things, whereas the unknown of perhaps triggering something is just that, an unknown.

If there were multiple instances of what happened to you, it would have emerged within the 10+ years people have been getting the band. That is the scientific thinking.

Be well and best of luck to you. But don't blame yourself for getting the band and making you sick. There doesn't seem to be any proof that the band causes autoimmune diseases.

[spoiltmom 44]

Way cool site! I see Allergan wants to lower BMI standard to 30.

Daemon, I hope you find the answer, is your bloodwork normal? My niece has systemic sclerosis. It is not fun. Perhaps removal of the band would help.

It really is:) You can look up anything on there. I was given that site when my doc wanted to do tubal implants instead of tying my tubes. After reading on that site though I decided very much against it. I didn't even know it existed before that.

[Msjtimmins 1]

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!

[roziecakes 20]

I don't believe that the band would cause auto-immune disease, but as a sufferer of autoimmune Hashimoto's Thyroiditis and discoid lupus, I can tell you that flare-ups and problematic symptoms happen to me when I'm sick for another reason, or stressed out, and I believe that in some ways the band does stress our bodies at least a little; it's not the natural way for our bodies to be. I'm of course not against the band, since I have one myself, and I believe in my case the benefits far outweigh (pardon the pun) the risks.

Perhaps your body is stressed out, and you are now experiencing symptoms of something you had all along? Also, more food for thought is that my doctor told me that although research hasn't really shown the causes of autoimmune problems, it does seem like there is a genetic link, so you basically have them your whole life; but for many, they don't experience symptoms until adulthood. Changes in hormone, lifestyle, weight, etc can make symptoms more apparent. I didn't have any symptoms of lupus until I was 26.

[onikenbai 33]

Hi, I'm a 28 year old male with a Realize Band. I was banded in Nov. 2009 (weighed 274) and now weigh approx. 222. I lost about 12 pounds from the initial liquid diet, and the rest of the weight loss has been from dysphagia that has been occurring with no fill in the band. I've lost about 35 pounds over the last couple months. I had a bit of fill toward the beginning (a few CCs), but that wasn't enough to cause much restriction. In the early summer, when my left sternocleidomastoid (neck muscle) became inflamed, I had my fill emptied. Most of my weight loss has occurred since that time.

Here are my symptoms:

-Neck muscle (sternocleidomastoid) inflamed and hurting

-Pain in knees and elbows...sometimes in various other bones/muscles/joints

-Pain in various places in my abdomen

-Dysphagia (hard to swallow even a couple bites of soft-serve ice cream...have to gag myself to get it out)

-ears hurt (have already been checked for ear infection; there is none)

-often have back pain

-Unusually dark urine

-heart stometimes feels like it starts beating too fast

-Blood pressure has been all over the map lately

-Massive headaches

I've recently had an upper GI. Also CT scans of my neck, pelvis and abdomen. I've also had an x-ray of my chest. Everything has came back normal. I'm in so much pain that I typically don't want to get out of bed. I'm a college senior, but am not taking classes right now because of this. I almost blew my near 4.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) due to taking classes this summer. I'm concerned that I have scleroderma and will die in my 20's or 30's due to complications related to that. They say not to assume the worst, etc., etc., but my symptoms do seem to match up with scleroderma (AKA systemic sclerosis). I've also read that even though much more women have it than men, more men die from it. I hope that I haven't ended my life before it even starts, but we shall see. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? Has anyone here been diagnosed with autoimmune disease(s) as a result of the procedure? I have an appt. w/ a rheumatologist on the 1st.

Regards,

David

My grandmother had scleroderma, my cousin has lupus, and I have fibromyalgia so I know my immune diseases. You're 28, which is in the late 20s to early 30s window when a lot of these diseases choose to present themselves. I doubt banding had anything to do with it and it's just one of those sucky dumb luck things.

I feel your pain. I've been sick since I was 11 and don't actually remember what it feels like not to be in pain. Getting through university when you feel like crap isn't the easiest and the biggest adjustment will be finding the balance of getting stuff done while having to put a lot more hours into taking care of yourself.

Don't assume the worst, but if you do have an immune disease it's not the end of the world as the treatments for it are getting better all the time. Plus it's an excuse to go forth and do all sorts of really cool things now while you have the ability. Everybody is always saying 'someday I'l..." but they never seem to get around to it. I know someday soonish I'll need canes to walk. If my body is going to be trashed in 10 years anyway, I want to have damn good stories to tell by the time it rolls around.

[cat lady 10]

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!

Please let us know how you make out after the band removal. Also how is your husband doing with his diagnosis of scleroderma? Is he thinking of having his band removed also or did he remove it already. Are his symtoms the same as yours. Hope you get some relief after the removal.

[frenchvanilla 0]

very glad I found this forum subject.

I have been banded for 4 years now,within 1 year of being banded I was diagnosed with hashimotos, and then a year later Alopecia ( I am now completely bald) I have now been told im insulin resistant....Im not a doctor but i sure think the band gave me these problems,I did not have one health problem before the band,I was fat but not sick!!!

I am scheduled to have my lap band removed November 9th 2012..

Im hoping that maybe removing the band will stop these auto immune issues,I sure would love to no longer be bald!

[JustJBK 18]

David,

I hope for everyone the band is not the cause, maybe it's just what brought pre-existing conditions to your attention. I wish u luck. Stay positive. And congrats on the GPA.

[elcee 3,340]

Good luck, let us know if it helps.

[frenchvanilla 0]

Good luck, let us know if it helps.

Will do!

[Rachel Turner Bland 1]

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.

[community 0]

I had a lapband surgery 8 years ago. I lost 40 lbs initially but then I started throwing up constantly. turned out I had severe GERD which has caused scarring of my esophagus. I have also developed a autoimmune disease called PBC, Primary Biliary Cirrhosis. This could result is me evidentially requiring a liver transplant. I recently went to see a homeopath and he is convinced my body is rejecting the band and it is the cause of my issues. I do believe him as I was overall healthy until about a year afterward. Do I think I could have gotten PBC anyway - maybe as it is genetic. Do I think that having a foreign item in my body caused the so called switch to be turned on YES. Of course there is no research on this as who will pay for it? Not lapband manufactures, not drug companies so there will be no research done unless a hospital takes it on as a cause to stop these surgeries. I am in the middle of researching having it removed and hopefully it wont cost me a small fortune and hopefully I don't gain all my weight back as that would also be bad for my liver. I know for many their health improves due to the weight loss but I now wonder at what cost.

[thinnerS 15]

I had the same exact issues a few months after I got the lapband. Went to so many doctors test after test . They couldn't diagnose me exact but I had all the symptoms of lupus. Two weeks ago I removed my band. So far all symptoms are gone. Remove your band if you feel you got these issues after the band. It could be silicone toxicity.