LEG CRAMPS--"CHARLIE HORSES"

The last few months I haven't had much sleep--leg pain wakes me up. At first I thought I might be low on potassium and started eating bananas and taking potassium pills. That hasn't helped. Nothing I do makes them go away--I used to be able to just stand and straighten my leg for a short time and they would subside. I don't go to the doctor until Nov. 21. Any ideas?

When I get leg cramps at night, it's usually a sign that I'm getting dehydrated... Here's a link to an article about various causes: http://orthopedics.about.com/cs/sprainsstrains/a/legcramp.htm

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm, that could be. I sometimes drink all my water in the same hour. The link says you should spread it out. I know I drink too much coffee too. Thanks for the reply.

That's usually what happens to me... Too much coffee (which will dehydrate you) and not enough water... If I wake up with charlie horses, I know it's because I overdid the coffee and underdid the water...lol

Usual suspects in order are: dehydration (as Becky mentioned), calcium, magnesium or potassium. If you drink regular coffee, you should try to get at least one extra glass of water per day per cup of coffee to offset the caffeine on top of your regular intake of water. I get leg cramps some nights if I move my foot the wrong way. I get enough water and usually suspect potassium. Need to get my level checked. When I was hospitalized in June, I was low. Kathy

I was recently having a conversation about leg cramps with my sister - who is also had WLS. She's 4 years out. When I asked her if she experienced weird leg cramps, she said yes, and that she never had these leg cramp problems until after surgery. Me either. By weird leg cramps - I mean in the front of the leg - above the ankle, below the knee. There doesn't seem to be a muscle or much there to cramp up, but it does, and the pain is worse than any back of the leg cramp. Standing, streching... nothing seems to help. It feel like an anaconda has a grip on your leg and is squeezing the life out of the front of it. All my lab result come back normal - never low in any area. I ate bananas and broccoli for extra potassium, it didn't seem to help. I do not have a doctor appt coming up for a while - but will certainly ask about it and what to do about it. Good luck with yours!

Thanks all. I'll try more water. I think I already take plenty calcium, mag and potassium. I upped it a couple of weeks ago.