Question:
MY RIGHT FOOT HAS BECOME VERY WEEK AND SOMETIMES NUMB COULD THIS BE DROP FOOT?

I HAD RNY SURGERY ALMOST A YEAR AGO AND HAVE LOST 117 POUNDS I AM NOW 138 POUNDS. IM CONCERNED ABOUT MY FOOT. SOMETIMES I TRIP OVER IT. ITS ONLY BEEN A WEEK SINCE I FIRST NOTICED THE WEAKNESS AND NUMBNESS. SHOULD I BE CONCERNED?    — CARRIE1 (posted on October 11, 2006)

October 11, 2006
Drop EVERYTHING and get to your PCP. This could be something as simple as a pinched nerve, but don't wait......Congrats on your weight loss, 117 lbs is awsome!!!! Renee
   — Nee P

October 11, 2006
I HAVE THE EXACT SAME ISSUE!!!! AND YES, YOU NEED TO CONTACT YOUR PCP! FIRST FOR ME THEY RULED OUT BLOOD CLOTS...THEN HAD SOME OTHER TESTS DONE...THEY ARE PRETTY SURE THAT IT IS A PINCHED NERVE FOR ME...I HAVE BEEN TO THE CHIROPRACTER 3 OR 4 TIMES AND IT IS GETTING BETTER FOR ME, HOWEVER, THE NUMBNESS IS STILLTHERE. THE OTHER ISSUE THEY THOUGHT COULD BE A LOW POTASSIUM AND MAGNESIUM ISSUE...SO I HAVE BUMPED UP MY VITAMINS ... SO NOT SURE WHICH ONE IS MAKING ME BETTER! BUT YOU NEED TO HAVE SOME THINGS RULED OUT FIRST...BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME SERIOUS ISSUES THAT CAN CAUSE NUMBING IN THE FOOT!!! GOOD LUCK AND LET US KNOW HOW YOU ARE DOING!!! GOD BLESS!! BECKI
   — brosane

October 11, 2006
Carrie, Congrats on loss of surgery. Go see a foot doctor or an orthopedists that specializes in the foot. Its so funny how we take care of all other parts of our bodies and neglect our feet. There could be a pinched nerve or something. About 20 years ago polyops burst in my foot which caused numbness and they had to go in and clean them out. So not only should we check the vital parts of our bodies -- don't forget the feet.
   — the7thdean

October 12, 2006
You need to have your B vitamin levels checked. B1 Thiamine to be specific. Are you taking any B vites beyond a B12 sublingual? If not, this is most likely where the problem is from. We tend to have a serious issue with B1 deficiency once we are post-op. I take a Stress B Complex daily and have since surgery almost three years ago. A B vitamin deficiency will also cause memory problems and a variety of other symptoms. Do some online research about deficiency in B1 (Thiamine) and see what you come up with and if it sounds familiar. Does your doctor even test you regularly for this? Does he test for Vitamin A, D, E, Zinc, B6, etc? He should. Lack of A can lead to blindness, lack of D will contribute to loss of bone density, etc. Good luck. Sandra
   — Arizona_Sun

October 12, 2006
I had this problem and it was a B12 problem. My B12 was in the low 200's whichis within th enormal ranges, but it wasn't enough for me. I went to a neurologist and was diagonosed with Neuropathy (from my previous diabetes) but the numbness was worse and was crawling up my left leg. I could not stand on my heels, my foot would just flop and I could not stand on my toes due to the numbness. I now takea B-12 short monthly and a sublingual daily. The doctor said we can not get too much B-12. What our body doesn't need is fluffed off in our waste. I can now walk around on my heels and can wear heels (one of my goals when losing weight)!! Go and talk to your doctor and get your B levels checked. Remember normal for one is not normal for another. Christ's peace, Connie aka Teal Rose
   — Tealrose

October 12, 2006
Go see your doctor. Don't increase or decrease your vitamins until you've seen your doctor--too much is as dangerous as too little. Also, keep an open mind... this may not be related to wls at all. Best wishes.
   — mrsidknee

October 12, 2006
Yeah, my hunch is riding with the others who are suggesting you get your b levels checked. Thiamin deficiency especially can cause irreversable nerve damage, although if you get it checked soon enough you can be okay. Found that out early on when my sublingual b complex didn't have B1 in it! Yikes! Either way, whether it is neuropathy, foot drop due to a pinched nerve or whatever, you need to get into the doc asap and have them do a complete workup. One thing to remember is that for many of us being so overweight has taught us to ignore problems with our bodies because we've lived with pain and discomfort every day. So it's easy to ignore things until major stuff happens. If you come in with a question like this, stop and supposed someone else asked it of you and then think of what your answer would be. Usually we tend to assign more urgency to other's problems than our own...which isn't a good thing. I'm glad you checked in here, now check in with your doc! :)
   — Dinka Doo