Question:
Do you have one of these diseases?
Lupus, Sjogrens, Bechet's, and MS : Curious to know how many members have been diagnosed with these diseases after surgery. A. Do YOU feel it is a direct correlation to your WLS surgery and B. does your DOCTOR feel that is directly correlated to your surgery? and C. What kind of surgery proceedure did you have? — Karen R. (posted on May 3, 2002)
May 3, 2002
I have both Lupus and Sjogren's disease and of course the arthritis that
goes along with these illnesses. One of the reasons I qualified for WLS
was because of these co-morbidity factors(my BMI was 37.) I am now about 1
year post op. I still have both Lupus and Sjogren's but I can tell you I
have much less pain in my joints because of the weight loss. Lupus is a
strange cyclic disease that is hard to predict and to pin down a definite
diagnosis on due to its tidal (ebb and surge) nature. If you do have an
autoimmune disorder, take heart. There is a lot you can do for yourself to
feel better and a lot your doctor can do to help you stay on the straight
and narrow.
— Bobbi G.
May 3, 2002
I ask because some members here/ and other sites I belong to have posted
that some of these diseases are caused by WLS. So I figured if we had
10,000 members- I could find out among us, to see if that indeed true. But
as you say, in your case Bobbi, it actually was before surgery that you
were diagnosed- and that surgery has helped..... I just find this all very
interesting.
— Karen R.
May 3, 2002
I have Lupus and Sjogrens and also the arthritis that goes along with it.
I developed these seemingly, 2 and a half years after the surgery of
BPD/DS. Are they related? No one can say yet. Does my doc think so?
Well, the surgeon who did the BPD/DS said that recently more and more
studies seem to be pointing that way. I won't tell you that the WLS caused
my problems with these autoimmune problems but...I will also, not rule that
out as it seemed to be a strange coincidence. Hope more people can answer.
I am sure that most will say no that there is no corrolation. As of now,
I don't think that there are any definative studies saying that there is,
just suspicions. Hugs, Barb
— Barbara H.
May 3, 2002
http://www.angelfire.com/tn2/Patricia/ is a website made by Patricia
Berger, who developed Behcet's (that's the proper spelling, I believe)
after WLS. I think she was around 2-3 years post-op, but I don't remember.
Someone posted not too long ago and said that she had passed away. They
didn't give a cause. Her website is temporarily down, but should be up
tomorrow.
— [Deactivated Member]
May 4, 2002
I had Lupus pre-op and like the other Bobbi who posted previously, it was
one of my co-morbidities. Although the surgery and subsequent weight loss
have decreased the pain in my joints, the rapid weight loss also sent my
body into a shock and it responded with a Lupus flare up. I'd still have
the surgery if I were to do it all over again. Flare-ups don't last
forever, but the 112 lbs I've lost since Sept. are history!! All this
rambling does actually have a point :).... They are not yet certain what
causes Lupus, or the other diseases you listed. One theory is that it is
"lying latent" in a person and a shock to the system either
physically or excessive stress can "activate" it. So, as the
surgery and rapid weight loss caused me to go into a flare up of the
disease, it could serve the same purpose in someone not yet diagnosed with
active Lupus. Another thought is this; Lupus (and other autoimmune
diseases) are actually far more common than most people realize. 90% of the
people who get Lupus are women in their child-bearing years. This also
seems to describe the majority of people who have WLS. It may simply be an
unfortunate coincidence that these people are diagnosed with the disease
after their surgeries. They would have gotten the disease anyway. I hope
the answer to your question turns out to be one of these theories I've
mentioned. It would be very unfortunate to find out that WLS contributed in
some way to people becoming ill, when for so many it puts them on the road
to health.
— Bobbie B.
May 4, 2002
I was diagnosed with MS 4 years ago. I have been very fortunate, in the
fact that my MS is very mild. Since my surgery 6 weeks ago, I have not had
any problems at all. This has amazed me since I own a business and have
been working 7 days a weeks 12-16 hrs/day since about 10 days after my lap
RNY.
I am a strong beliver that a lot of my MS was attributed to a lack of
sufficent vitamins and minerals. My sister has been using vitamins since
the seventies and started me on a good regime of vitamins. My MS almost
went completely away after I took a lot of antioxidants, minerals and multi
vitamins.
Before my surgery I was told I need to take vitamins for the rest of my
life, and told the doctor that would not be a problem.
I hope this helps someone and gives you another persepctive on MS.
Good luck,
Don
— Don A.
May 5, 2002
Does any one ELSE know of people who developed one of these diseases after
surgery? Please post. From the responses posted it just seems (to me)
that WLS DID not cause these conditions, and I am just curious to know-
because I never once heard any mention of it other than from Sue Widemark.
Since she is very controversial- I took her comments with a grain of salt-
still- inquiring minds want to know!
— Karen R.
June 26, 2002
I was diagnosed with Lupus approximately one year before my surgery. Along
with it I also have a history of blood clots, osteo arthritis in my spine,
diverticulosis, GERD, and high blood pressure. I went back and forth about
getting the surgery, but the last straw was when I found out that my weight
was causing the athritis in my spine to develop more rapidly. I have been
over 300 pounds for 16 years and did not have any health problems until a
year ago. Since having the surgery 9 weeks ago I have not had any Lupus
flares. Right now I am in a period of remission. I have been feeling good
and have not been experiencing the aches and pains that I was experiencing
prior to surgery. I am at this time down 54 pounds and below 300 pounds.
I have no regrets with the surgery!
— Cindi Spurgeon
January 27, 2003
I was diagnosed with Muliple Sclerosis this past October. I had gastric
bypas with Fobi pouch in June 2001. I do not think that my WLS directly
caused my disease although I believe that the stress of the surgery
probably caused an relapse of symptoms. Specifically, two weeks after
surgery I began having seizures, weakness, numbness, tingling etc on my
right side. It took several months to get a diagnosis.
— Kerrie F.
March 31, 2003
Hi! I have been diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis (Kind of like Bechet's)
and my pcp feels that it is directly related to the wls. We haven't
decided on a treatment that works for me yet. He keeps telling me he
thinks all my symtoms will go away once I stop the weightloss. Guess were
damned if we do and damned if we don't!
— Tammy V.
August 27, 2003
My doctor suspects that I have MS. I am waiting for the final test
results. I had Open RNY 11/19/2001. We don't think it is a result of RNY.
— Joanne T.
August 27, 2003
It may be that anything any one gets will be blamed on WLS by the
uninformed and those who have wfor whatever reason any bias against wls
— **willow**
December 17, 2003
I AM 5 MO'S POST OP. I WAS RECENTLY DIAGNOISED WITH MYASTHENIA GRAVIS.
THREE NEUROLOGISTS, HAVE TOLDD ME IT WAS CAUSED BY THE STRESS THE SURGERY
DID TO MY BODY. HOWEVER MY SURGEON DISAGREES! TOOK 6 WEEKS TO FIND OUT WHAT
WAS HAPPENING TO MY BODY! I AM 60 YEARS OLD. HAVE LOST 68 LB'S. I HAVE DONE
WONDERFUL WITH THE SURGDRY! NO PROBLEMS WITH ANYTHING! JUST SAD THAT I HAVE
THIS MUSCLE DISORDER, WHICH KEEPS ME FEELING VERY WEAK. HAPPY HOLIDAY'S.
— miracle03
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