DR Gerson was a genius thats why the FDA killed him the man cured cancer his daughter Charlotte is still promoting the diet what a woman

IM still on my Raw living as much as i can on it but had to find a soy based protein to up my levels daily  RAW protein is a life saver put it in foods and watch your body heal it self !

thepinkrabbothole.com

I had RNY bypass surgery two months ago, I have been on 5 mg of prednisone for over 20 years for rheumatoid arthritis & polymyositis, I had no problems except for fatigue. I had a stress dose of steroids for surgery then had to taper down to my usual 5 mg.

The problems I have had are becoming lightheaded & fatigue, it has gotten much better but am still fatigued. My surgeon thinks it might be my body & cortisol level so I have split my prednisone dose to half at night & half in the morning, this has helped some.

I had the DS, and I did not lose my disability, since my issues are systemic.  I have Lupus and Fibromyalgia.  SMO was listed as a disability initially, but the systemic issues don't go away.  If SMO is your only disability, I'm guessing weight loss could affect that. If you have obesity-related co-morbidities, and they go away after surgery, that could well affect it too, unless there is something else that keeps you from working.  I still have flares, but I haven't had one that put me in the hospital since my surgery.

Social Security has a great program called "Ticket To Work", where you keep your full benefits during a nine month trial work period. If that's successful, then your benefits are reduced to make your income equal to what you were getting on full disability.  If you make more than you're getting after your TWP, then your benefits go away, but if your disability flares up again, iti s easier to get full benefits reinstated.

There's lots more information on www.ssa.gov.  I know about this, because I'm participating in the Ticket To Work program.

It was my intention to get this surgery so I could get off disability, and get back to being productive.  The other health issues I have are  more manageable since the weight loss.

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Pretty good, actually.  I was just talking to my cousin and told her I hadn't had a major flare since I lost my first 75 pounds!

Back before my DS, the only thing that would work for me was prednisone, and you know how that makes you blow up! Now, Plaquenil is doing a great job for the lupus, and Lyrica is doing a great job for the fibro!

Of course, I think the weight loss helped them both, although I have to be careful not to overdo on the exercise.  Mine is limited to aquacise, mostly walking the 4 foot warm water pool at the hospital's health and lifestyle center (read: upscale health spa), and using the water's resistance to boost the effectiveness of leg lifts and such. Since I'm only 5'5", my entire body is immersed in warm water while I exercise.  The only way I got in was that they do have clinical memberships, which your doctor can help you sign up for, and that's only $55.00 a month.  I never checked to see if my insurance would cover it, since it is a prescription, but I don't think they will. Otherwise, the membership is over $200.00 a month, plus there's an initiation fee.  It is really a nice place, though, cedar lockers, a sauna, steam room, Jaccuzi and Olympic swimming pool as well as the warm water pool.  They also have exercise classes, equipment, an indoor running track, juice and snack bar (great fruit smoothies!), and *free* coffee!

I'm gearing  up for skin removal, Phase One (lipo to get the fat deposits out of the hanging skin) and Phase Two, actual skin removal from my thighs.  I know, it's trauma,  which could set off the mother of all flares,but my PCP, Rheumy and DS surgeon all agree again, that the benefits outweigh the risks.  No more infections,  which actually can and have set off flares,and I will actually be able to go without the blasted capri-length body shaper! That's why I'm trying to tone as much as I can, so the surgeon will have some nice muscle to re-drape things around.

I'm going to try to get to this board more often!

So.. did your weight loss help with your lupus...I'm assuming you have SLE and not some other type, correct?

Just FYI -

My surgeon is no longer practicing as well. He actually did more high risk patients (super morbidly obese) and probably bypassed more than they would ever do today. His focus was on a patient never having weight regain - I have to eat like you do as well. You are not alone

If you are having problems with weight loss - there are digestive enzymes that your doctor can prescribe for you that help with absorption. I would try that before IV nutrition.

Also, I find that no-one understands my walk. I had a girlfriend who happened to have surgery and then was diagnosed with a number of auto-immune diseases. She apologized to me for not understanding- her attitude towards me prior to her diagnoses was to "suck it up" girl and get it together. Now she also suffers from pain and debilitating fatigue. She says now she understands. I now don't expect anyone to "get" it and do the best I can.

Good luck with your walk

Fellow lupie

B

Don't forget to factor in the emotional aspects of this flare! I found that flares tend to be around times when I have a difficulty saying no. But then again, it can as simple as exposure to certain drugs or environmental conditions (eg. UV light fixtures). Hang in there - you can conquer this one too!

B

My, My, My. You have been through a lot. Congratulations on your survival and recovery!!!

After all you have been through - be patient with yourself. The puzzle of lupus is that it can affect any organ.

Did you mean you have lost 105 lbs or weigh 105 lbs? Rest, rest, rest.

B

Hey PY - my best suggestion is know yourself.

I was diagnosed with lupus in 1999 after my son's birth - although I had been struggling with symptoms for years. I had weight loss sugery Nov 2004 - a radical version of  RNY I knew that it would be difficult to revise my eating/lifestyle habits of 45 yrs, so I chose a surgery which virtually had a history of no weight regain but could have chronic malabsorption issues.

I have friends who have had RNY and virtually gained all their weight back!!!! I couldn't face that possibility. Choose one that you can live with for the rest of your life. My advice in terms of lupus - rest and exercise, exercise and rest. Choose a surgeon who listens, and who has a good track record --- talk to some of his patients who have had the surgery and ask about his after-care. Do his patients participate in a support group? (My surgeon made it mandatory)

All the best to you

B