Why I'm falling down...

The last 2 or 3 months, I've been having lots of falling episodes.  My knees are scarred from it.  I really just thought that it was from having lost so much weight in such a short period of time, not knowing how to carry myself "balanced" yet.  So, I didn't mention it to the doctor or anything, thinking it'd go away on its own.  I wasn't getting dizzy or blacking out, just falling out of the blue without warning.

My little sister and I are both nurses on the bariatric unit at Northeast.  My surgeon and his partner are up there daily, of course, and my sister worries about me more than I worry about myself.  So, she mentioned it to Dr. Pirrello, my surgeon's partner.  He told her that it could be a potentially fatal vitamin deficiency and that I had to get it taken care of immediately.  Who'd a thunk it?  My labs have all been perfectly normal thus far.  He said to start taking thiamine supplements because if it WAS the problem, it would fix itself.  He said people usually don't have the blood test done because it is so expensive and that taking the thiamine would fix the issue if it was the issue, and would not hurt me if it wasn't the issue.  After talking with my surgeon, he ordered the blood tests (copper and thiamine, also known as B1).  I got my results yesterday.  My copper level is fine, but my thiamine level is "critically low"!  So, now I'm taking B1 100 mg per day (it's cheap, less than $5/bottle).  I was already taking B complex and the rest of my supplements, but apparently not getting enough of this vitamin.   PLEASE take care of yourselves!  If something odd is going on with you, don't just ignore it like I was doing, talk to your doctor.  If it wasn't for my sister, who knows how bad it could have gotten before I would have paid more attention to it? 

Dena Glad your sister was worry about you and got the problem fix. You take care of yourself.

Hi Dena! Thanks for sharing this important piece of information!

Dear Dena -

Thanks for your post. It really brings home the need to take care of ourselves. I'll make sure to ask for the test at my next appointment.

I'm glad that God and your sister are watching over you.

Barb

I am so thankful that you are feeling better!  Dr. Farrell stressed B1 from day one.  He said it is critical and checks my thiamine levels quarterly.  I am so glad you got this taken care of!  Lack of thiamine can can numerous physical and psychiological problems that are potentially fatal.  The thing is it is so easily prevented.  Bravo for catching this! Love, Diane

Thanks for the heads up Dena and glad you discovered this in time!  

I've had some episdoes where i feel like I'm going to fall.  I guess I will up my b1 too since i cannot pop into the dr's for blood tests anymore. I'm glad you had enough knowledge to get this fixed.  I always put things off until they are the worse.  I've had some complications and it's because I wasn't proactive enough when the symptoms first arise.

Dena,      Thanks for letting us know about this problem.  Since I haven't had my surgery yet, this is something for me to watch out for and ask questions about.    Again, Thanks a bunch.      Nancy