Sleeve gastrectomy and pbc

[Sara978]

Hello everyone

I am a new member on this website. I was diagnosed with pbc on May 2021. I have non-alcoholic fatty liver and is thinking of getting sleeve gastrectomy surgery but I am a bit worried about the complications of the liver. Has anyone here undergone the same surgery? Kindly share your experience 😊

[KimRenee]

Hi Sara, First of all I’m sorry you have to deal with this disease. However, the good news is that you can do it. I was diagnosed January 2015 with PBC and NAFLD disease as well. Plus Auto immune hepatitis. I was on steroids for the AI Hepatitis for 3 years and gained a ton of weight. It felt like I was not only dealing with all the fatigue, itching, etc, and encephalopathy symptoms of PBC but I couldn’t seem to get out of my chair. By January 2019 I weighed over 300 lbs. I have always been about 30 lbs overweight since my 30’s. (I am 65 now and have probably had these diseases for 30 some years, as I also had stage 4 cirrhosis of the liver when I got my diagnosis!). Due to liver disease I also had diabetes, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, yadayada!Anyway long story short my Hepatologist at KUMC recommended gastric sleeve surgery. He referred me to a bariatric surgery clinic whose surgeons have operated on patients with cirrhosis and liver diseases.

Best thing I ever did. So after thinking about it for a few months I went to the bariatric center’s introduction class in April 2019 and made the best decision of my life. It took till January 2020 before I was ready for surgery. They did tests of all kinds including psychological testing. Plus teaching what to eat before and after surgery etc. In fact I lost 44 pounds before my surgery January 16, 2020. All together I’ve lost 176 pounds, don’t have diabetes, high BP, high cholesterol, or sleep apnea. I still have the symptoms that comes with PBC, such as fatigue. But the BEST part is my Liver function test numbers gradually improved to becoming NORMAL a couple of months ago for the first time and have stayed normal!!! The surgery was like any other abdominal surgery that I’ve had in the past. Was in the hospital a couple of days and was sore about a week after surgery. They start you out on soft foods and gradually increases every week. I have about a 3 ounce pouch, so my diet mainly consists of protein, with a little bit of veggies, and a starchy side a few times a week. I mainly stay away from flour, sweets, and fatty foods. I also drink one protein drink a day. I thought it would be hard to lose weight because of my age and health condition, but It really wasn’t.

I highly recommend this surgery. Other than my my fatigue, I feel great and love being smaller!

Sorry such a long post, but I wanted to make sure you get the best information to help you decide on the sleeve. Below is a link to the weight loss clinic I used so you can get more info. I also joined their Facebook group, which helped hear others journey and meal ideas. My best advice is to do your research so you can make the best decision for you. Bless you and good luck in whatever journey you decide to take! Hope this helped.

kcbariatric.com/

Before and after pic

One year after surgery.

[Cressy in reply to KimRenee]

Congratulations and very well done. I think you are an amazing and very brave lady. Looking good too x

[KimRenee in reply to Cressy]

Thank you very much, and I wish you all the best with this crazy liver disease. The most important thingsI’ve learned is to give myself Grace on those days when it’s hard to get anything done and keep positive! Good luck to you on your journey.

[Kearny]

Hi Sarah! Well I have not had a sleeve put in which I suspect it’s for weight loss. I do know that people who have weight loss surgeries don’t absorb nutrients and vitamins as well as people who haven’t had a weight loss surgery. They simply can not absorb them as well. So, talk to you red doc about the additional costs.