connection between sleeve surgery and motor neuron disease / ALS?
Hello, I ran across this thread because Im having VSG surgery in 3 weeks and was doing research for myself, however my father in law had gastric bypass surgery several years ago and after about 1 1/2 yrs post surgery he was diagnosed with an ALS type condition. He was never fully diagnosed because they couldnt figure out what was causing it but it mimicked ALS. I have no idea if he was malnourished or not. Unfortunately we just attended his funeral 4 days ago. He had about 1 good year after his symptoms emerged before he started infusions. He survived for 10 yrs before the Infusion's stopped working. Was wheel chair bound and unable to feed himself at the end. So sorry for your brother and what he's going through. I sure hope they find a connection! I believe you may be onto something. I always thought that was weird myself.
Unless anyone has neurology/bariatrics clinical training it would be hard to say if any of the wls can cause ALS.
I am mostly known for the last 12 years, even though I've been a member of OH for almost 21 years and almost 21 years post lap rny and 12 years post open rny reversal.
For one, no one can assume that if they have any of the wls that they won't have complications while not typical, can happen such as absorption issues post vsg and post adjustable gastric banding.
Also people can be faithful in their vitamin intake and still experience really bad neurological complications from vitamin malabsorption, while it's more common in those of us who had rny or ds, it's not unheard of with the other surgeries.
Have I heard of people getting ALS due to any of the wls prior to this post that I've just read today?
No.
Would I say is it possible, maybe. I know more people end up with seizure disorders and MS that seems a little high compared to people who've lost a lot of weight without surgery.
I ended up with long term/short term memory loss, my brain actually shrunk and I have a lot of "white matter" for someone my age. I also ended up with bilateral tremor for years due to the malabsorption issues but while my rny could of been responsible for that, I do have a family history of Huntingtons which is strictly genetic, which I found not to have, as well as no Parkinson's.
I had my rny and reversal at Fairview University of MN in Minneapolis with the same surgeon which like Mayo, we are lucky that are multiple top notch medical facilities and physicians here.
My rny was primarily reversed due to the multiple gi bleeds that I had multiple times. I was a light smoker, no caffeine drinker.
But I am hesistant that while i caution people to go into their bariatric surgeries as mentally healthy and physically health is possible, we all are humans and aren't perfect.
Even in the olden days we were warned about complications in 2001 when I had my rny, no matter how compliant a patient is. And I know patients at this stage, thousands of people who've had bariatric surgery now and some people ended up with transfer addictions to alcohol and drugs and smoking and never got sick and i also know people who died due to end stage liver disease from alcohol abuse post wls and drug over dose.
I think everyone has to assess for themselves of whether or not it's worth the risk of any of the wls but know that again even if a certain complication is associated with one or 2 surgeries, any of the bariatric surgeries it's possible to have the same complications, i.e. malabsorption, ulcers, neurological dysfunction but the reason why people have wls is they are assessing risk of surgery compared to potential risk of morbidity and mortality of a patient remaining morbidly obese.
For most of the patients it is worth it, for those who it is NOT and trust me I know what that feels like and that's why I remain in the community for long term support, there should be support specific groups online for bad outcomes, I know there is for those of us who've been reversed for example who've had rny, but because vsg isn't reversible but people can still get major complications, i.e. like I've said before with ANY of the surgeries, I'd check to see if on here or anywhere else, online if there is support.
For those *****gardless of what surgery you had, ended up with ALS, MS or seizure disorders or complications like mine, I'm sorry you are going through what you are and know it's not your fault, you didn't know. We make decisions trying to do the best we can with what we know at the time.
I have said this on here before, 3 out 5 in my immediate family had a gastric bypass, I had a parent who had it 2x times, rny in 81 open, then revision in 2002, with my surgeon, my sister had rny a day later after my dad's revision and I'm NOT the only bariatric surgical unicorn in my family, my dad is still SMO, having wls twice probably bought him time at the age 76, my sister who's 18 months younger than me is in perfect health, can eat what she wants, just has to exercise intensely and I would've died in 2010 without my reversal and my weight fluctuates wildly without being thin the last 14 1/2 out of 21 years and I learned the hardest way possible there was worse things than being fat, even fat after wls and complications from rny performed by a surgeon who is nationally recognized for excellence as he should be.
But again, it bears repeating, we do the best we can, with what know at the time because none of us with awful complications, a lot of times they couldn't have been predicted or prevented, they just sometimes happen and you or if it's a loved one going through this deserve support and empathy. Peace
