Question:
Is it normal to experience a long relapse after WLS when you have MS?

I was just diagnosed 9/03 with R/R MS and had my WLS in June of '03. I'm down 92 lbs. but my initial MS symptoms have lasted for about six months already. Does WL surgery affect the MS and how long should I expect to wait for some recovery from these MS symptoms so I can begin to enjoy my weight loss? I realize everyone is different, but what experiences can you share?    — Gudteechr (posted on February 12, 2004)

February 16, 2004
Hi Lisa, I have MS and had LapRNY a little ove 2 years ago. I was diagnosed in 1996 and prior to surgery had a relatively bad exasperation. Although I had improved before my surgery I did have to bring my walker to the hospital with me. After surgery I did have a new problem with neurological pain, but my medication controled it without a problem. How severe was your problem after surgery? Has it improved very much at all? The toughest part of having MS is that we never know when we will have a relapse or how long the problems will stick around. You could come back all the way or just a bit, or not at all. I will say that losing weight and starting and sticking to an exercise routine has helped me more that anything else ever helped. My only advice would be to concentrate on losing weight and working on strengthing your body. I no longer need to use my walker(I happily put it in storage!)but I do still walk with a cane. I still hope that one day soon I will be able to store the cane with the walker, but if I never can I will still be thankful for the advances that I have already made. People always are amazed at how much I work at exercising, but I just tell them that I just want to keep what I have for as long as possible. I have MS, it doesn't have me. If there is any question I can answer for you please feel free to write me at [email protected]
   — vmize