Leg cramps!

Hi gang! I had my surgery on 5/9/05 and things are going very well! But I'm just now getting to the point where I can sleep for more than a couple hours at a time. The problem is, when I sit up in bed, I am getting these horrible leg cramps, not in my calves but in my thighs. I imagine the liquid diet has played a bit of havoc with my electrolytes, but I have tried to the 64 oz of water in everyday. Has anyone else had this problem? Do you take/have you been advised about taking potassium? Etc.... Your input welcome! Joe D Distal RNY 5/9/05 Dr. Iqbal 446/420/199

Congratulations on your surgery, Joe! You've already lost 26 lbs.? GOOD for you! If I were you, Joe, I'd call my PCP and tell him/her about the leg cramps. In my understanding, leg cramps are caused by low calcium and magnesium. You should clear it with your doc before taking any new supplements, though! Don't want to hurt new pouchie! Keep up the good work and good luck! Becky Jean 263/239/140

Hi Joe D@mn - that sounds painful....in your thighs! Never had cramps there, but I did have some a few times in my calves - the bad kind where you can hardly get out of bed and hop around, crying OH OH OH OUCH!!! This only happened to me about 3 times so I didn't call anyone about it, and haven't had any in a couple of weeks now. In answer to your specific question, no, I was not advised to take potassium or anything else. Take care, Caren

Hey, Joe! We had surgery on the same day, and I've been having cramps in my thighs too. At first I was scared it was caused by blood clots, but my PCP reassured me it wasn't. I never bothered to ask him what the actual cause of the cramps are. If you find out, please let me know too! I hope they ease up for you! BTW, Way to go on the weight loss! Have you seriously lost 26 pounds since surgery? WOW!!! Great job! I'm excited over my 8 lb loss! lol Take care, Ashleigh 251/243/140

Joe, I had this problem during a sudden weight loss when my potasssium bottomed out. This is bad for your heart so really you should call your doctor. I was able to take K+ and soon the problem resolved. For immediate relief you need to get in position where you can lean over a table or the end of the couch. This will stretch out your thigh muscles. Walk and don't drink too much water, it can wash away your minerals if you drink too much. Hope this helps and you are feeling better. Brenda

In my opinion, Electrolytes did me no good. My doc believes in having a G-tube in his paitents for 4 weeks post op, to releave preasure and for protien and other goodies to be flushed back in. Since its going to my old stomach i can flush my G-tube with Gatorade, to give a little energy and electrolytes. Despite that I had the werst calve muscle cramp(charlie horse) ive had since highschool, when i used to play football. Im a tough guy but after 3 mins of extreme pain, i finally broke down and started yelling like a baby for help. My family thought i poped my staples or something. WoW, guess im in the same boat, gonna call the Doc in the morning, until then gonna puree a bannana into my protien shake and if i cant keep it down that way into the G-tube it goes. Weird My open surgery was less painful than that leg cramp.

I have not had surgery yet but my wife tells me I would need calcium. I know what cramps are I get them in my calves and also my thighs at the same time. Sometimes I would flex my toes out and up and also use lamaze until the pain would subside.