Sick again! Can GB affect immune system? - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

Linda in MN · 01-12-2009, 04:00 PM

Hi all,
I'm sick again! I had a cold/bronchitus for three weeks over Thanksgiving and into December. Now this. I ran up a fever yesterday and now my throat is very sore and swollen. (no stuffy head) I wonder if I have strep.
Anyway, it seems I'm sick more than normal since I had GB in October. Can the surgery affect your immune system? I've been getting in my vitamins except for my calcium which gave me some problems early on. I'm now getting partial doses of calcium and trying to work up to the full dose.

Any input appreciated!

Corrine · 01-12-2009, 06:36 PM

I'm sorry you've not been feeling well Linda. A couple of my recently bypassed friends have had the same bouts of colds etc. that they just don't seem to be able to shake off.

When you think about it, our body went through quite a trauma. Bad enough we had to go through major surgery but when you factor in that for a few months, we're on a seriously low calorie intake, what we do consume is hardly a balanced diet - it's surprising that we don't all have your problem.

Glad to hear that you're on top of your vitamins but you might want to consider adding 500mg vitamin C and maybe a low dose zinc. But check with your doc first.

Linda in MN · 01-12-2009, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corrine

I'm sorry you've not been feeling well Linda. A couple of my recently bypassed friends have had the same bouts of colds etc. that they just don't seem to be able to shake off.

When you think about it, our body went through quite a trauma. Bad enough we had to go through major surgery but when you factor in that for a few months, we're on a seriously low calorie intake, what we do consume is hardly a balanced diet - it's surprising that we don't all have your problem.

Glad to hear that you're on top of your vitamins but you might want to consider adding 500mg vitamin C and maybe a low dose zinc. But check with your doc first.

Thanks, Corrine. It is just frustrating because I finally felt good enough to start exercising last week and got in three good workouts. Now I'm down again. I think I have strep. I have all the symptoms of strep. Yuck! I'll see if I can get some more C down tonight. It hurts to swallow. My menu today has been a fruit (protein) smoothie and SF pudding.

lealphachienne · 01-12-2009, 07:06 PM

I was reading and talking to a few infectious disease docs....cuz our guts are very small and we don't have the normal amount of good bacteria, plus our nutrition is suspect...we can be more prone to illness. I've had 8 major infections since WLS....and only sick with minor colds pre-WLS....perhaps no quite a cause and effect...a strong correlation.

Linda in MN · 01-12-2009, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lealphachienne

I was reading and talking to a few infectious disease docs....cuz our guts are very small and we don't have the normal amount of good bacteria, plus our nutrition is suspect...we can be more prone to illness. I've had 8 major infections since WLS....and only sick with minor colds pre-WLS....perhaps no quite a cause and effect...a strong correlation.

I wonder if a regular course of probiotics would help this? Everyone in our house takes this after they finish antibiotics to help replenish the good bacteria that gets wiped out with the bad. Come to think of it, I don't think I took very many after I was sick last time. I got busy with Christmas things. (also, our capsules are HUGE. It was scary taking them while I was still in the midst of dealing with a stricture...)

JustJoy · 01-12-2009, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Linda in MN

Hi all,
I'm sick again! I had a cold/bronchitus for three weeks over Thanksgiving and into December. Now this. I ran up a fever yesterday and now my throat is very sore and swollen. (no stuffy head) I wonder if I have strep.
Anyway, it seems I'm sick more than normal since I had GB in October. Can the surgery affect your immune system? I've been getting in my vitamins except for my calcium which gave me some problems early on. I'm now getting partial doses of calcium and trying to work up to the full dose.

Any input appreciated!

Speaking as one who has had several surgeries (not WLS yet), yes surgery can weaken your immune system. It also takes a long time to get back to "normal" after surgery. I'm only guessing but I would imagine that something as radical as bypass surgery would do so even more.

If it's okay with your doc I would recommend the nasal Zicam to help kick the colds. I swear by it but only the nasal form, the others don't seem to work for me at least. I'm betting some extra C would help too but I'm not a professional so speak with your doc about it.

I sure hope you don't have strep, that's just awful.

Take care of you.

Joy

Corrine · 01-12-2009, 07:46 PM

I've been taking daily probiotics since 1 week out of WLS. That was just a chewable from GNC.

I then went on to PB8 from vitacost and that's what I take today.

I've just searched RNY and probiotics and found this interesting article - http://www.owlo.com/files/December_2007_Newsletter.pdf The yogurts with live cultures are good but they don't contain enough to help much.

AND - I also found this: Experts Recommend Culturelle to Boost Immune System During Flu Season | Business Wire | Find Articles at BNET

Although it pushes Culturelle, I think the basic message about the benefits of taking a quality probiotic is the same.

I have used Culturelle a couple of times - the last one was when I had stomach flu over Christmas and the New Year. I then revert back to my usual PB8.

The cheapest I've found is Culturelle with Lactobacillus GG -- 30 Vegetarian Capsules - www.Vitacost.com

PB8: Nutrition Now PB 8 Pro-Biotic Acidophilus -- 120 Vegetarian Capsules - www.Vitacost.com

coptergirl · 01-12-2009, 08:01 PM

I haven't been sick at all since GBS, but caught a wallop of something over the weekend and even my eyes are watering - I swear my head will explode any minute. Not only are we now malnourished, we also have malabsorption. Where a normal person takes one Centrum a day, I take three. I was at the OB today for further follow up tests, and she freaked out that I took that many and the fact that I take 10K IU of vitamin A daily...until she continued reading my chart (I am a new patient, so I was understanding), and found that I had had GBS, and then the whole scope of our conversation changed. She checked my fingernail beds and everything for signs of malnutrition...

So these very 2 things can have a drastic effect on our immune system. I sure hope you feel better!!

Danielle · 01-13-2009, 11:46 AM

Linda-
Hopefully you will be feeling better soon! I had GBS in July and I swear my immune system is still down. I have been sick with bronchitis, flu, cold, flu again. I swear I catch everything I am exposed too. It may not help that we live in MN. This cold weather today is kicking my butt! Losing over 100lbs has really effected me when it comes to being in this cold weather. No more padding. It's only about -18 today!