Raynaud's Syndrome and WLS

I was wondering if anyone else here developed Raynaud's disease after they had WLS?

I developed it 2 years post op and while not dangrous it is freaken annoying as HECK!!! From my understanding it is an autoimmune disease that can be brought on by stress (i guess WLS and losing a few hundred lbs can be considered stress). Anyway I'm just interested if this is common, or just a rare coincidence, as in Raynaud's can happen to anyone, and it just so happened postop WLS for me.

Someone on the DS forum has their hemotologist saying that low ferritin/iron levels can bring on RS, and while I did have low iron at one point, I fixed it with suppliments.

Scott

Auto immune disorders seem to be all the vogue these days. Multiple Sclerosis, Celiac Sprue...any time someone brings up auto immune disorders it sends a shiver down my spine cuz there is apparently no cause and no cure...

I'm sorry to hear you're suffering from this. I went through testing for Celiac some time ago. Stress (they're saying) brings on certain diseases and yes, just going through surgery can be stress enough to bring things on...But then a good car accident is stress enough too...sigh...

Good luck to you.

You know it's funny you should mention a car accident. I had one just before this RS broke out, and I had to have 1 disk fussed, I ahve another two that are herniated....so it might not even be WLS related...YESH!!!! and the freaken guy only had a minimum policy...talk about getting screwed!!!!

scott

How old are you? Onset is often mid-30's as was mine. My oldest (38) has had symptoms for several years now, but he's still in the stage of thinking he hasn't found the right socks/ gloves yet. He doesn't especially believe in genetics.

Not so good since his dad had heart attack #1 at 39, appx the same wt, ht, eating habits. And he died at 49.

Anyway, my Raynaud's is dx as primary, no other AI issues. Whew.

So, if you are mid-30's, check around in your family and see if someone else has it. I probably had it for 10 years before I knew it had a name!

I have been diagnosed with it since WLS  ... about a year and a half out... Not sure if the weight loss encouraged it but my mother has had it for several years also!    It is very annoying!  I work in a dental office as a hygienist... and you know the Dr. keeps it COLD in there to begin with so I struggle all day with numb fingers and toes.... even my nose!  I feel chill bumps on my scalp alot too!  HA :D  Just something to deal with I guess! 
Hope you have a great weekend!

Candice

Hi Scott,

Funny you should mention this.  I'm 5 years out and have had trouble with cold feet and hands for a couple years now.  My fingers will go numb and white and cold as heck for no reason sometimes.  I haven't been diagnosed...but I've self-diagnosed it.  I have been diagnosed with carpal tunnel in both wrists and thought it was related, but the neuro guy said no...it sounds like Raynaud's.

It is annoying and painful at times.  Oh well - it's better than being fat if it's WLS related. 

you know ....it is much better then being a few hundred lbs overweight......at the same time.....YE**** IS STILL ANNOYING...lol.

Yeah my neuro guy said it's not related to my back injury, and I haven't found a doctor yet that will say it's related to WLS.....even though my suspition is that it is related to one or both of those events.

YES MICHELLE....I'm in my mid 30s....and i know it can come on at any time....but still ....I'm always looking for background causes.
Scott

I also developed RS after WLS.  Then a year later Alopecia universalis..now this is a real bummer.

Hey Scott -

I mentioned before that I have Raynaud's.  I have probably had "weird symtoms" since I was 13.  I'd break out in severe hives everywhere from the cold, wind, quick temperature change, and when I sweat.  Thank the good Lord that this has pretty much worn off  90% because I suffered for years.

Anyways as long as I could remember, I've had low-iron.  It is not the result of too much bleeding or fibroids or anything (docs ask this) - I am too "normal".  I do however hate meat most times???  Well, with the weight-loss my iron stores got depleted and my doc opted for infusions to finally nip this long standing issue in the bud.

A couple of months back  I woke up and couldn't walk.   The front of my head hurt and I had horrible pain in my foot which eventually swelled. I was in so much pain (head, foot, and then pain seemed to shift around in my soft tissues) that I couldn't sleep  I did't injure my foot - - - this was crazy.  I developed circular rashes on my body but especially the leg in which my foot was swollen.  I was running a low grad fever for days.  My body took hours to wake up for a couple of weeks - I'd have to do all sorts of therapeutic things to get my body up.  Surely my life was over as I knew it - right???

Well I have a wonderful internist who saw me over and over and had other docs look at me.  He was on vacation and called me every day.  This "illness" kept getting a bit better each day.  He tested me for autoimmune disease because my body was no doubt at war with itself.  I was prepared to be diagnosed with Lupus or MS or something and live more fully because of it.  NOTHING in my blood results except for a slight an elevation of something which can indicate an infection.

Bottom line is I think that all of these mystery symtoms I have are connected.  I have been to an excellent hemotologist  Kevin Troy, M.D. (on Park Ave in NYC if you are interested).  Rockefeller University too has checked me thoroughly years ago - they said I had mishappen ovalytes and discharged me from their Leptin study because my iron took a strong dive while on their liquid diet???  Dr. T. and my internist said BS and nothing was wrong.  I'd run into problems though with iron during pregnancy and that was Dr. T's only concern.

So I don't know what the hell is wrong with me so I live as if nothing is.  I keep getting my infusions, eat healthy, exercise and do whatever I can to be in the best condition physically. I will will take care of "things" as they come along and maybe they won't come along.

Rarely, my fingers, a finger gets numb - I just say WTF and it eventually goes away.  Sometimes I'm freezing and all goosebumped when noboby else is and that is just me.  I feel healthy and fine  . . . . . and thank God, my eating got better after posting on the DS board.  I feel in control again.

Take care Scottie and live, live, live.

Leila

Forgive my ignorance but is there any actual test to detect RS? I too thought I had it for several years then mysteriously it disappeared. I am wondering if all bariatric surgery patients go through a cold stage. We have lost our fat coat which kept us warm for many years. Once our body adjusts to our new body composition the symptoms go away. I am 8 years out and I still get cold easily but it is not as severe as it was from years 2 -6.

Paula