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Weight Loss Surgery and Crohn's

My question is this: Have any of you with Crohn's Disease ever had weight loss surgery? I have heard that people with Crohn's cant have (safely) bariatic surgery. And that most doctors just wont do it if you have Crohns.  I have tried diet after diet and have had no sucess.  Its hard for me to eat a lot of healthy foods because they cause my Crohn's to flareup.  I havent talked to a doctor about the surgery yet, but wanted some feedback from anyone out there who might have had the surgery?
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Avatar universal
my wife has had crohns for 20+ years and her weight increased drastically with the medication as well.  She was able to get the bariatric surgery and has had great success with it.  She has lost close to 100 pounds and the crohns is the same as its always been.  She has not had any resectioning,  She was on Remicaid for years and is now taking Cimzea.  She is in the hospital now as I am typing this.  Not Crohns directly but issues with infection, dizzyness, fainting, blurred vision, fever, excessive fatigue...  but anyway...    the bariatric surgery went well and the Dr that did it had no issues with the surgery.  
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Avatar universal
Hi. I know this is being posted late but I have moderate-severe Crohns/Colitis and I recently underwent GASTRIC BYPASS. I initially lost over 70 pounds when I was diagnosed, but still weighed 230 at that time. Thanks to the prednisone and the disease itself I went to 350. I could not get it off, no matter what I did. I was originally going to have the vertical sleeve, but my insurance did not cover it. My team of doctors then had a major meeting about my particular case and needs and determined that the weight was killing me faster than the Crohns and that they would do the Roun-NY (gastric bypass) anyway. I am the first Crohns person who had this surgery at this particular hospital, and they are accredited as one of the best Bariatric programs in the nation. They are watching me closely, and ANY problems have to be reported immediately to them. So far though, no problems.

Luckily, the program leading up to the surgery itself helped to put my Crohns into the beginning stages of remission. For 8 years, I had to go to the bathroom on average of about 15-22 times A DAY, with multiple accidents! And it was always diarrhea. For 8 years! Now, 2 months post-op, I go once a day (was even just constipated for 4 days!!!) and I have no pain, no problems or dilemas with the Crohns. Now, that's not to say someone else would have the same outcome, or that this outcome is going to last for the rest of my life. And I do have a tendancy to have more vomitting issues than most, but it could be just because I eat too fast.

Anyway, because of the rarity of this procedure in Crohns patients, I decided to blog about it and my life with Crohns AND Gastric Bypass. You can check it out here: http://crohnsweightlossandlife.wordpress.com/ I urge you guys to come read it because it might help in your talking with the doctors.

ALSO...ccunurselmg, hang in there. Be WARY of having the lapband done and only do it as a last resort because there are more studies coming out that it actually can aggitate Crohns a whole lot more than they once thought. This is because the piece is on the outside and can rub and irritate the stomach and surrounding areas. Hang in there... the sleeve, I have heard, could be approved as a legit type of surgery for insurance companies within the year. :)

Hope this helps!
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Avatar universal
I have Crohn's disease and have been in remission after a resection for about 12yrs now. I am also about 100lbs overweight from the steroids so I feel your pain! I also suffer from anxiety and binge eating disorder and have been treated for them but still can't get the weight off for good.

you need a medical docs managed weightloss program, not WW, or jenny Craig, etc. 6 months with a dietician, and whatever else your insurance company wants.

I have fullfilled all the requirements needed but my GI doc and the surgeon will only allow me to have the vertical sleeve gastrectomy because of my history of Crohn's. I trust them both so I will not seek out someone else to do the lapband for me.

sadly, my insurance won't approve it yet. I am in the middle of typing out my appeal letter right now actually.

good luck and I hope you are feeling better!
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Avatar universal
I would consider the lapband in a heartbeat, if they would do it! I will ask when I see the doctor.. Right now, I do not have insurance, so it is out of the question for now.. just thinking (and dreaming) about the future! :)
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Avatar universal
I cannot image a bariatric surgeon doing the bypass.  However, you might ask about the lapband.  This isn't using the intestine as in the bypass.
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Avatar universal
I have been overweight all my life and have tried every tied known to man, including being on Jenny Craig for over 6 months... I find it hard to eat right when 1/2 the "good" food doesnt agree with me and gives me stomach aches.. Its like a catch 22.. I also find it hard to excercise b/c I get so out of breath and tired after 5 min. that I end up quitting.. I just feel like if I could have the biatric surgery, it could help me start over and live a healthy life with my kids and husband.. I havent talked to a doctor yet, so it might be worth a try!! :)
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Avatar universal
I'm in the same boat as you. When I had a resection surgery the day of surgery I weighed 128 lbs. After some time and numerous flare-ups, plus being on prednisone for a long time my weight spiked to over 300 lbs. BTW my crohn's WAS in remission until recently and I'm on Humira hoping that it goes back into remission. I highly doubt that ANY doctor would do a bariactric surgery on a patient that has their Crohn's disease that is fairly active. I had a heart attack last year and actually lost about 40 lbs. Yes it is hard but you can do it!!!! Again Good Luck!!!!!!!
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Avatar universal
I just know in reading information online that they usually will not perform the surgery if you have Crohn's disease.  My husband also is overweight, and has diabetes (secondary to prolonger steroid use).  His parents kept asking if he was going to have the surgery, and he doesn't want it anyway.  They also usually require you to do 6 months of watched diet (Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, seeing a dietician once a month).  You also need to meet certain criteria for the surgery, such as a BMI number and comorbidities.
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