Hello!

Wow, this all sounds too familiar!  I have experienced these issues as well as many more, but let me address these.  My symptoms began at about 6 years out too.  I had the tingling, twitches, shock like feelings in my legs and hips and being very tired.  I kept thinking that a nerve was damaged during my surgery.  I also started tripping and falling down.  After several complaints to my primary doctor and having my vitamin levels checked (all ok on that front), I was referred to a neurologist.  The neurologist ordered an MRI of my entire body.  I was diagnosed with Cervical Stenosis of the spine.  I was told that spinal fluid was not flowing properly and needed surgery ASAP.  The surgeon was specific in saying that my condition would not improve, but would not get worse.  The surgery went fine and I do have to say the shock like feelings have gone away.  My tripping has improved. I still get the twitching and stiffness and now cramping in my legs.  I feel like the issue with us WLS patients, is that some of these symptoms cross over and it is difficult to diagnose, so doctors will treat each symptom.  Because I have had so many symptoms, I now can say I have has so many procedures and surgeries.  I had a hernia and had that surgery, luckily they were able to remove the excess skin at that time.  A hysterectomy because of fibroids that started off with the complaint of exhaustion and anemia.  Then the back surgery.  It is a difficult road, but I would do it again to be 150 pounds less!  I wish you luck and freedom of pain. 

Deborah

That would be me.  I was a member here for four years and posted diligently.  I am 5'10 and went from 263 to 155 in 2011, I reached goal nine months after my surgery.   I was a model patient at first.  It changed my life.  I joined an organized sport, I got a trainer, I worked out 6x a week and did numerous 5K's and 10K's.  I went from a size 22 to a size 8.  I had some regain about 19 months in and went to 164 but I stayed the same size, I assumed most likely due to my weight lifting regime and workouts.

Fast forward to 2013.  I started going through a divorce (married 23 years with three kids).  I accepted a wonderful PR job that almost doubled my salary.  It involved taking clients to lunch frequently, happy hours 2-3 times a week, tons of schmoozing with potential and current clients.  I loved it.  I felt like I was "visible" for the first time in my life, as I had spent the majority of my 20's and 30's married and having kids and frankly, being fat and unhappy with myself.  

My divorce drug on for two years and was very ugly.  I now have a restraining order against him.  He was very unhappy about my weight loss, my newfound energy, my new job.  He is now engaged to someone who weighs probably a good 50 lbs more than I ever did at my highest weight.  I have a great boyfriend, very supportive, tons of fun, we are always on the go and traveling and spending a lot of time in the water, on the beach, in a boat, etc.

I've gained back 30 lbs over the last three years.  Very gradually.  I am as unhappy with that as I was at 263 lbs.    I am wearing size 12's and they are TIGHT.  I have a closet full of wonderful clothes I cannot wear, and I feel like I want to hide from the world.  My great job?  The company was bought out and my position was considered extraneous and was eliminated.  In the midst of all that, I started suffering from fainting spells related to the WLS -- or apparently its a common side effect a few years out.  During one of those spells,  I passed out at a restaurant and hit my head hard on the counter, resulting in a skull fracture and brain bleed that landed me in ICU for a week. 

My problem is not food or exercise.  I logged my food for the last three months and I routinely average about 1500-1700 calories in food intake -- I can eat pretty much anything except fried food and ice cream, but I generally will not eat more than a few bites of pasta or bread, ever, and I still fill up quickly.  I lean towards veggie omelets for breakfasts, salads, fish and chicken -- anything I eat that is "bad" for WLS patients makes me feel bad, so I don't eat it.  My problem is alcohol.  I am back working in the same industry I was before, and I know I drink too much -- it doesn't affect me adversely most of the time, I have a high tolerance (probably because I've built it up) and I am rarely, if ever, hungover.  And to be honest, I don't see it as a problem that I am drinking, I see it as a problem that I am gaining weight, which I know isn't the right approach.  I'd even be willing to cut my food intake by 500 calories a day and exercise more if I could do what I wanted to do and lose the weight anyway.

Has anyone else experienced this?  It would be very difficult for me to say I would never drink again.  I don't see it happening.  I don't drink at home, I don't drive when I drink, and I'm rarely actually "drunk."  

I give myself a 10# buffer  If I am up 10# I know to back off the food.  It has worked for me and I am nearly 12 years post op.  I really don't do anything special for my food intake.  I just eat small quantities.  I would suggest an excercise plan even if it is just walking.  

I am right there with you guys...one week to go till my 40th reunion and now I want it gone again...I am trying shakes for a few days...hope this helps...good luck to all of you....

The thing is to get as many vitamins back in.....I mean I am not a doctor but I have absorption issues to a medical condition and at first folks thought it was my bypass. My NUT was very good about guiding me that to ALWAYS get vitamins. The meal replacement shakes have a daily dose of vitamins in them and it doesn't hurt to get as many as possible when low. I was told to use dry vitamin D, and when my labs run low to take more...there is no high dose limit from what I have read...I take 5000 IU and my labs are barely level, so its a thing to be aware and regular docs don't always monitor. The B-12 can be high as heck in the blood stream-- I am ALWAYS high, like WAY over and I get those nerve things you talk about....it COULD be something else not related to vitamins. If you were diabetic before the surgery it is POSSIblE to still get neuropathy after the bypass.....depends on lots of other factors....I have been through it with many non bypass doctors related to this so it's good to get other specialist involved on your team....neurology will want to see you connected and working with a bypass doctor.

In terms of the vitamins ask your NUT there are prebiotics that can help absorb them easier...I take one that was recommended call NOW plant enzymes that i was told to get on the purity website, its not expensive. like 8.00 a month or so that I eat before my meal.....The heavy legs and stuff like that could be anything from an artery problem to a muscle problem so it's good that you are getting back on track with the vitamins and starting to build your support system. 

It's nice to know we are not alone. I can make my mistakes in twos....one is making the mistake, the next is beating myself up cause i  made the mistake, you know?  There are always solutions....some not as fun as others, but it sounds like you are on the right track. Stay in touch!