Has Anyone ever had the Lapband or gastric bypass?

Hi Nicki-
I haven't had it done, but I have had it discussed with both my gi and my hepatologist. I have non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (fatty liver with inflammation) and they thought I had hepc but I guess I was misdiagnosed. There is a big difference between lapband and gastric bypass and both have different effects on the liver. While some types of this kind of surgery are recommended as a treatment in some cases of fatty liver, I've never heard it being recommended for someone with autoimmune hepatitis.

I think there are some very effective diet options for people with liver problems that only the top docs know about. They have screwed up so much in dietary recommendations in the past, and many hepatologists are not up on what diets work for people with liver disease. For instance, a low fat diet kills me, while a low carb diet with moderate to high fat actually brought my cholesterol down and was the only way I could lose weight. Some people need to be on a carb heavy diet. From what I have heard from both my docs, bypass surgery would be detrimental to me personally and make my liver condition much worse. Lapband is ineffective in many cases and may break. You can still overeat with lapband or staples, though you may get sick and even die from it, from what they told me.

I have heard that sometimes certain types of bypass surgery would be helpful for my particular liver condition, I am not obese enough or sick enough for them to risk the surgery and possible problems afterward.

I understand that the drugs we take and definitely liver problems makes it very very difficult, if not impossible to lose weight. I would recommend you see a really knowledgeable hepatologist in a research facility, someone who really knows the latest information about liver disease and treatment and seek out their advice. I go to Borland-Groover and they are very up to date. I would let my other docs definitely have a say in this decision, especially your hepatologist.

Take care and I hope that you do talk to your other docs before proceeding. It has a very serious impact on how the liver works and you wouldn't want to end up much sicker than you were before and possibly unable to take your meds like you need to. Also, I question the use of methotrexate with any liver disease. I would seek a second opinion with a hepatologist (doc that specializes in livers) because from what I understand, methotrexate is contraindicated in anyone with liver disease and can cause liver problems. Please check with your docs on this as well. 19 meds is pretty hefty, I'm on 13 but only 8 that I take every day all the time, others when problems occur.

Nicki, I was interested to hear what you found out about this procedure. I'm guessing that this kind of surgery would not be recommended for a lot of us because of our lupus. I've gotten so overweight that I find myself thinking about this kind of surgery too, but I really need to just buckle down and try to lose some weight the hard old fashioned way, although it's very hard to do when you feel too sick to exercise much.

I think that we need to make a drug to help us lose weight. I AM about READY TO EXPLODE BUT HOW DO YOU YELL AT A NON HUMAN THING????
I am sorry, thanks for all your input. I guess I will just stay FAT!
Hope all is well with everyone else.

I quit smoking with hypnosis maybe to lose weight would work too!! I forgot that option, THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!! I sorry about my little break down last post just frustrated. I know you all know what I am talking about!!!! I was ready yesterday to go through with the surgery no MATTER the side effects. Now I think I will try a few other things!!!
My side kick, Lupie, just needs to let me make some decisions in my life, right along with her friend, Heppie!
Thanks for letting me vent. You are all the BEST!!!!

IALupus-

I am so glad that the surgeons were responsible and gave you detailed info and all.  I have lost a little over 60 pounds and have kept it off, going from almost 250 down to 180-85 in two months and kept every bit off and even got down to 175 at one point.  By the time they diagnosed me with diabetes I was pretty much on a diabetic diet already.  I have a very restricted diet and it is difficult to follow sometimes, especially where I live and now that I'm having problems even with artificial sweeteners!  Like can I have no joy whatsoever!  It's so frustrating, but now I've been at this plateau for a number of years now and any weight I'm losing now is due to my health worsening and not being able to eat, nausea, not digesting food anymore.  I did learn that as my liver gets worse I will lose all this weight I gained with my fatty liver and the fat will change to scar, at least that's what I was told.  What a way to lose weight.  So I take this diet thing very seriously because my liver is a necessary organ.  I hope that you can find a diet, hypnosis, whatever it takes to lose weight or at least to be healthy with your weight, which is most important, no matter what you weigh. Have you seen a dietition.  I haven't been but some people say they work wonders.  Thanks for the info on the sugar, wow 12 grams of carbs is like 36 tbsp of sugar!

Opps I ment teaspoon but even with that they still do not match up. So I don't know. Still sad that one of those Quaker Breakfast square bars has 21grams of sugar in one bar!!!

I have been trying to eat better since I found out I am pregnant and have not gained any weight until this 3lbs in 3 days which resulted in a BP rise. Which means water weight.

Wow, you almost had me in a diabetic coma there... I didn't think doctor Atkins would let me have 48 tbsp of sugar! Thanks Rosie. Those "diet bars" are a joke. You waste all your carbs eating something that tastes like cardboard or worse. Meat, veggies, occasional fruit, only one slice of bread or similar amount of carbs, preferably with fiber. The weight control instant oatmeal by quaker is really good, its a little higher than 12 carbs, not much though, and has lots of fiber and a larger portion than there regular. I think they add fiber to it. Unfortunately here it is very expensive, so I just do quick oats and sugar free syrup or sweetener. Heck, I found out a snickers bar was not much worse than a nutragrain bar, can't have either, but its ridiculous.

This is so ironic! I was just talking to my uncle today. He had gastric bypass 8 months ago. He has done wonderful! He says he feels better than ever. I lost 140 lbs. on my own in less than a year; 2 years ago. I done really drastic calorie restriction and got up to walking four miles a day; then I had a major flare and am still on prednisone! I have gained back every single pound! It's so disheartening. I just don't know if I can do it again. It is so frustrating. I don't know if i've gotten lazy. I never have been in my life. I've worked since I was 16, went to nursing school and worked 2 jobs alot of the time. And now it's like a bath completely drains me. I sleep all day today! I do not know where to start to get myself back together. I will take suggestions. God Bless You all, Judy

MJLD said... I lost 140 lbs. on my own in less than a year; 2 years ago. I done really drastic calorie restriction and got up to walking four miles a day; then I had a major flare and am still on prednisone! I have gained back every single pound! It's so disheartening. I just don't know if I can do it again. It is so frustrating. (((((((Judy)))))))) I'm so sorry sis. You did SO good losing all that weight!! A big pat on the back to you. So sorry it all came back on you like that. . . maintaining is SO much harder than losing it . . . and losing it is huge task all on its own!! I've lost all my weight several times and then went way higher too (although I've never lost SO much weight as you). Since January, I have lost about 35 lbs . . very slowly . . . I lose a couple and then maintain and then lose a couple more. I'm hoping this very gradual weight loss will be more permanent . . . I've been gradually modifying my diet. Not so much for calories as for content. Have managed to gradually make changes so that now we are eating only whole wheat bread and past, brown rice, whole grain cereal, like 5 minute Oats and bran flakes. Really trying to use "whole" foods. Much more satisfying. I hope you will consider attacking this issue again. You can do it Judy!!! It won't happen as fast as we want . . . be we CAN do this one baby-step at a time. I have stopped beating myself up if I have an ice cream. I now make a conscious decision . . . if I decide to have a special treat . . . I eat it slowly and enjoy each bite. I stopped the negative self-talk after eating yummy pleasures and I "allow" myself to enjoy the forbidden foods every now and then. I'm really hoping that doing it gradually like this will be a life-style change that will permanent. It will take me three years to do it . . . but I'm hoping to have more energy when I'm not carrying all that extra weight around. If I put on a 35lb back pack right now, I couldn't carry it for 30 minutes . . . but I was carrying all that weight a year ago. That's a good motivation for me. Sorry for the blog . . . It's nice to know I'm in such good company. Your story inspires me to reach my goal!!! I hope you'll be posting soon about a success in beginning a new journey of healthy eating!! Thanks again for sharing!! Blessings!

((((Always Rosie))))) Thanx! It's funny, after posting last night I felt better about it. I gave myself a big pep talk and i'm starting over tomorrow. Maybe we can encourage each other! Judy