I just got off the phone with a dear friend who had heard about my recent WLS.  He is also morbidly obese and said he checked into WLS surgery.  He told he was told because of his lupus, he was told he was not a candidate.  But I remembered seeing this forum as I was browsing through all the options OH has to help us no matter our age, surgery type , or medical challenges.  I definitely intend to lurk here and send him the information on OH so he can do some research of his own.  He lives in Ohio, and I'm not sure how willing he is to travel or how far.  I appreciate all of you for sharing your stories, your challenges and victories.  I would hate for him to give up just because one doctor told him he wasn't a good candidate.

Can't help you.  I've had small amounts of protein in my urine for nearly 14 years.  All my docs shrugged it off for years.  I had to find a new rheumie last year and he decided to send me to a nephrologist for follow up.  The neph suggested it could be because of my weight (I'm currently pre-op) and I took that moment to see if he would be on-board with WLS.  Sure enough, he was.  He changed my blood pressure med from hydrochlorothiazide (a diuretic) to lisinopril (an ACE inhibitor) and said that might help.  Sure enough, I now don't have protein in my urine.  He says it's the 60 pounds I've lost.  I say it's the BP med change.  I've lost significant amounts of weight before yet still had the protein in my urine. 

So, I'm not much help.  I can tell you that just because there is protein at a single urine sample, doesn't mean it's a significant amount when they measure for the 24 hour test.

Good luck!
TS

Thank you for your quick response.  I will talk to my rheumatologist  about  it and why surgeons are cautious about the lupus . My lupus is considered mild and never had a flare up yet. I do have more problems with fibromyalgia which I was diagnosed with the lupus. So I don't think there should be a problem with having the surgery it's just the surgeons here. But I will speak with my doctor first and thank you for the info. on the proton-pump.

Thanks  for the info. I was not sure if  the sleeve would be o.k. I am looking into having surgery done in Mexico due to the surgeons here in my hometown of california refused me because of lupus. I was pretty limited on surgeons because of my HMO insurance. Also what is a proton-pump inhibitor.

My rheumie was fine with the RNY or the sleeve.  I never was even remotely interested in the band...but according to the manufacturer, people with even just a history of autoimmune disease in their family should not have the band.  I prefer the idea of the RNY but was going to get the sleeve because of my nephrologist.  Fortunately (for me, not my nephrologist) the insurance won't pay for the sleeve.  So, everybody has agreed with the RNY.  Higher risk of espohageal problem more likely with Sjogren's syndrome than lupus, but still a possibility. 

-Elli