Question:
I just heard a story about Gastric Bypass - Of course I know it's a story
But I want to know if anyone else has heard this and what everyone elses opinion is. Please don't bash me - I KNOW it's a story but I still think it is worth mentioning if only for the feed back. A nurse in my brother's church was telling him that WLS patients are at a higher risk of getting MS. Anyone ever heard this? My response was 1. MS is hereditary 2. I guess it's possible if you abuse your muscles by not getting the right amount of protein in but I don't think the surgery would have anything to do with that since someone who hasn't had the surgery could also not get the right amount of protein in and abuse thier muscles too. What do you guys think? — K T. (posted on December 9, 2001)
December 9, 2001
I believe this is false. People with multiple sclerosis have scar-like
"plaques" at multiple places in their brain and spinal cord.
These plaques interfere with the normal function of the nerve cells at
those locations, and cause the symptoms of MS (the muscle problems).
<br>
<br>
The cause of multiple sclerosis is still unknown, despite decades of
intense investigation. Most scientists believe the following: (1) Genes
govern a person's susceptibility to multiple sclerosis. (2) The disease is
triggered by something in the environment.
— Goldilauxx B.
December 9, 2001
I think it goes to a published paper on gastric bypass. It talks about if
bacteria breeds in the left over stomach piece that it can set you up for
an autoimmune condition to occur. Otherwise known as keep your follow-up
appointments. I don't have the paper in front of me but its online at
http://gastricbypass.netfirms.com/understandingsmallgastric pouch.htm
Its a real interesting article but very long. Talks about how to make your
pouch work for you and how to screw things up. I usually review it at least
monthly to stay on track.
— Helen B.
December 9, 2001
This is for the last poster: Helen. I could'nt get your link to work. I was
VERY interested in reading it too.
— Danmark
December 9, 2001
Yes, I couldn't get it either. Now I'm curious.
Kim
— K T.
December 9, 2001
Helen...great link, thank you for posting it. FYI... I have not seen
anything that links MS and WLS. I would take that story with a big grain of
salt.
— Michelle P.
December 9, 2001
So does this apply to DS post-ops?
— [Anonymous]
December 9, 2001
Helen inadvertantly left a space between gastric and pouch in her link.
Take the space out and the URL works just fine.
http://gastricbypass.netfirms.com/understandingsmallgastric pouch.htm
— kylakae
December 9, 2001
Thanks Kyla! I tried differnt common endings instead of "html"
and nothing worked. ;) I did'nt notice the space or I would have taken it
out. Guys are blind and don't notice little details like that. We see the
forest and want to cut each tree (I guess). lol
— Danmark
December 10, 2001
I have not found any thing that relates MS either, but I went to that
website posted by Helen and read alot of really scary info and negative
articles about this procedure. I am having surgery in a month and some of
the links on that site really have me afraid now. Anyone else read some of
the negative articles?
— Nicole F.
December 10, 2001
As a person who has been obese her whole life and as lived with MS for the
last 5 years I just had to read this article.
Did I miss something ? I don't see anything related to MS
only Myasthenia Gravis, which is a totally different disease.
If there is mention of MS, will someone point me to the paragraph.
— Kelly H.
December 10, 2001
Rubbish! This just another variation of the "My sister's husband's
mother's bother had wls...and died!" Pay no attention to such
stories.
— [Anonymous]
December 10, 2001
I went to the website, which is run by a Sue Widemark. I couldn't find any
info as to whether she herself has had the surgery. Some of the info is
interesting, some of it can be scary, but I think the underlying fact is
that we do have to adjust to a new lifestyle, and we do have to keep up
with our vitamins and supplements, or our health can suffer.
IMHO, she seems somewhat upset about society's inability to accept people
at whatever size we are. It is also about the abuse of the surgery, and
some problems that can occur with the WLS . Take what you need and leave
the rest.
MS is mentioned twice, the only real time is under "things to know
about WLS", which is accessed by going to the main page. I have no
hostility towards her, because we all have a right to our opinions. Hugs,
Donna in AL
— Donna S. C.
December 11, 2001
SORRY. I typed the article site wrong
http://gastricbypass.netfirms.com/understandingsmallgastricpouch.htm
It didn't talk about MS specifically but it did talk about another
autoimmune disease myasthenia gravis. There are tons of different
autoimmune diseases.
Instead of worrying about the possibility of getting an autoimmune disease,
I would prefer keeping my follow up appointments with my surgeon and stay
in touch with my body.
The theory that an autoimmune disease can be caused by an overgrowth of
bacteria in the unused portion of the intestinal limb sounds like it can be
taken care of if caught. Bacteria responds to antibiotics. Who better to be
on the look out then our surgeons and ourselves.
I am sooooooo glad I had the surgery, I wouldn't change my decision for
anything. I'll just stay informed, be aware of my body and keep my follow
visits.
— Helen B.
December 11, 2001
I have never heard of such a silly thing. I have lived with M.S for 18
years and have never heard this one before. Cydnie is right on with her
definition of M.S. although it is just some scientists belief that it may
be a heriditary disease. No one else in my family has ever had symptoms of
the disease. If this surgery could cause M.S. to develope or get worse why
in the world would my neurologist think that having this surgery was a
great idea and write a referral letter for the insurance company? I'm
sorry but I think that a specialist in this disease would know if there was
a possible problem with the surgery!!!
— [Anonymous]
January 18, 2002
1.MS has not been PROVEN to be hereditary. True, sometimes people from the
same family have MS but not a proven fact. 2. MS(Multiple Sclerosis) affect
the central nervous systom. Sometimes causing weakness, in the muscles
because of the scaring of a nerve that control that certain muscle.
I was dx'd with MS in July of 1998 and hve been told by my doctors that it
would be okay to have the surgery.
Hope this helps,
Sherri
— Sherri R.
January 18, 2002
Okay I had to pipe in here for a minute on this one. As someone who
developed Lupus and Sjogren's 2 years after surgery, I have heard both
sides of the argument both relating them to the surgery and other doctors
saying couldn't be so. Do any of them know for sure? Probably not. Seems
the jury is still out on this question just like the MS question. If I
knew for "sure" that this is what caused my problems, I would be
on here every day saying STOP to pre-ops. I don't do that because, as I
said, there is a 50% chance that this did not cause it in my mind. Wierd
timing? Maybe. Please just keep in mind that there seem to be all kinds
of things that happen post surgery that you are sometimes not told in
detail from the docs. Some good, some bad. This is why you come here. To
hear the truth both good and bad. The docs just don't know some of the
things that happen to us but "we" post ops do. Especially when
it comes to pshycological things. Feelings. You are better off on here
asking.
As for Ms. Widmark, keep in mind that she is very very anti surgery. Even
with all my problems, I am not antisurgery. I am antiignorance. I just
want people to be well informed beforehand so there are as few surprises as
possible for them. Good luck in your search.
— Barbara H.
January 18, 2002
Ahh unfortunately people are diagnosed every day with horrible diseases.
Now when they have had WLS someone will try to tie the 2 together. It
doesnt appear to be a common problem, or there would be a furor over it.
Now I started posting to Sues email group. After seeing how negative it is.
She had a failed VBG and had it reversed. I encourage other successful post
ops to join her group, to provide some balance from her sky is falling
attitude. After all there are tons of happy healthy post ops out there. We
MUST be represented!
— bob-haller
January 19, 2002
I found it fascinating that someone posted about auto-immune responses to
this surgery. Two and half weeks after surgery, I developed a lump in my
arm that was red and sore to the touch. Within 4 days, I had two more
lumps. I called my surgeon and asked him if it was surgery related. He said
no, but to see my PCP immediately, as it could be an infection. My PCP
didn't know what they were, and refered me to a dermatologist. There I
learned that what I had was Erythema Nodosum. There is no known cause and
I was told it was an AUTO IMMUNE reaction, and it would go away in several
weeks, with no ill effects. Both the dermatologist and later, my surgeon,
INSISTED it was not related to the surgery. I thought it rather odd that I
would develope this at the age of 44, never having had it before, only 2+
weeks after this surgery. Eventually, I had close to 10 lumps, but finally,
the last one went away this week (I'm 7 weeks post-op).
— Cyndie K.
January 19, 2002
MS is not from abusing your muscles its a disease of the central nervous
system. No one knows yet what causes the disease and there is not cure.
Some scientist believe that it may be hereidtary but there is no proof.
I've had MS for 18 years and I'm the only one in my family with the
disease. My neurologist gave his blessing for me to have this surgery and
he is an expert and does alot of research on the disease. If you are going
to get MS it will be whether or not you have this surgery but if you have
the surgery and get the disease it will be so much easier to handle without
the extra weight. If this person is a nurse and believes this theory than
she needs to do some more research before she opens her mouth.
— [Anonymous]
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