Question:
Anyone out there have the lap band and have trouble with Lupus, I'm having 1 flare

after another, Seems to be worse after having the band.Has anyone experienced this and if so what was the outcome? Thank You    — T R. (posted on May 4, 2010)

May 4, 2010
I had RNY and have Lupus. My rheumie said that your body will attack the foreign object (band) and it would cause problems. I had RNY in 2003 and was only just diagnosed with Lupus this past January (which now validates 30 years of strange health issues I have had) and also Lymphoma. Speak with your surgeon about this, and especially your rheumie. The explanation makes sense, since Lupus in a way is your body fighting itself. I have been in a flare for over a year now, but its starting to wane - my blood work actually looks pretty normal. Oh, and if you got the band because of the NSAIDs thing (you know, RNY patients can't take them) think again. I use them - just not often. I don't have any stomach problems from taking Alleve or Motrin in calculated doses.
   — Kathy

May 5, 2010
Good morning. I had VSG surgery in 2008. I don't personally have Lupus but my daughter who is 31 years old was diagnosed with Lupus 4 years ago. She has had ankle surgery, wrist surgery both from accidents that occurred, she chose to have lipo done twice which her specialist told her NOT to do and I can tell you from her experiences that anytime she has a surgery of any kind she has a major flare up of her Lupus that lasts for several months. Your body is already in a weakened condition and any type of situation where your body is trying to heal itself, the Lupus flares up. Knowing that Lupus is a disease where your body attacks its on tissues, this makes perfect sense. She can have a common cold that turns into bronchitus so easily and she will be fighting the symptoms for months. Having the lap band put in by surgery and it being a foreign object calls on your body to begin a healing process and of course the Lupus is going to fight the foreign object. I'm not saying it will last forever but, I do thing it will be a struggle for you for a period of time. No one can say really how long. My daughter had breast implants around the same time that she had lipo. Again, her specialist told her NOT to do this. Did she listen? Of course not. But, I remember that for about 2 years her body fought against her having the implants. She is fine now. But, it did increase her muscular pain for quite a while. I don't mean to sound like I'm telling you that you are doomed, I don't intend it that way at all. I'm just saying, that it's perfectly normal that your Lupus is flared up and you are experiencing an attack that will probably continue. I think with positive reinforcement and reinforcing to yourself that you made this decision to be healthier in the long run, you will be better equipped to deal with the pain and the flare up. In the long run, you will be healthier for losing the excess weight which also causes more pain with having Lupus. You may have to endure for now but perhaps positive reinforcement mentally each day will help you deal with it and you will be completely healthier in the long run. You will be in my prayers. I know watching my daughter go through these difficulties hasn't been easy. She has learned as time goes by that when she is in a flare up, she MUST listen to her body and rest. Take lots of vitamins, eat healthy and think positive thoughts. Her and I are signed up locally here in Oklahoma City to do a walk for Lupus. There is so much to be learned about it and it effects so many young woman today. My thoughts and prayers are with you. God Bless!
   — Jodi L.

May 5, 2010
I hate to tell you this, and I am not a doctor, but I am a nurse with a type of Gastric Bypass surgery. I also have Lupus. I have a major issue with any foreign objects that are presented in my body. So far staples, leads for a spinal cord stimulater, and drainage tubes after surgery. I get a flare up like no other, and until the object is removed I get sicker and sicker. I thought I was just imagining this but time has proven it to be true. I don't know if you can, but my advice would be to get it removed. My symptoms were fever, fatique, puss gunk from around any opening in the skin, and pain in my body. I just would have a flare up that didn't quit until I got the object out of my body. Good luck, and God bless.
   — tinalvn