Question:
Leg Cramps?
I had my RNY surgery 6/24/08 & every morning I wake with Leg cramps. I would get them before my surgery, but not daily. I know I get plenty of liquids & protein in daily. Has Any one else have/ had this problem with any suggestions? — buckwiggin (posted on September 3, 2008)
September 3, 2008
yes, I am almost 17 months out and my levels are good but i started eating
a banana a few times a week and that seems to help.
— Alvernlaw
September 3, 2008
You may be low on either potassium or calcium. I also had this problem
after VSG and try to eat a banana every now and again and that seems to
help.
— GlitterGal
September 3, 2008
You may need extra potassium, try a banana a day and also go to a good
"liquid" vitamin / mineral supplement like VEMMA. It's great for
"restless leg syndrome and leg cramps. Also has 1000 IU vit. D3. Go
to www.TrySomeVemma.com Good luck !
— [Deactivated Member]
September 3, 2008
yes banana's are great unless you wake up with a roaring
cramp AKA ""Charlie Horse" we keep a bottle of potassium
at our bed side. If my charlie is REALLY bad I'll chew it up.
It is tasteless kinda like eatting a piece of chalk but at that
time who cares. Gotta have relief!!!!! It will work almost
with in seconds. you are low of potassium. Banana's will
hopefully keep you from getting low but if you do just
take one tab.
Sure helps us. I keep a bottle in my glove box for those
long drives which always seems to bring out these little beast.
donna
— BJW12
September 3, 2008
Make sure you are getting enough potassium. Sodium and potassium do a
balancing act in your body. If you have too little potassium it can cause
muscle cramps. Too much and it stops your heart.(Potassium chloride is the
drug they use for lethal injections) Check with you doctor and he may
prescribe a potassium supplement. Bananas, beans and potatoes contain good
potassium, and it may help to eat more beans, as they are recommended for
post surgery.
— Dusty Ray Vaughn
September 3, 2008
Sounds like you are low on potassium.....start eating banana's and that
will help....you might want to get a blood test done to test the rest of
your electro lights.
— pphillips4720aol.com
September 3, 2008
I see a lot of people referencing Potassium, but have look at your
Magnesium levels as well. It could be a deficiency of both, as it was in
my case. Easily solved with a relatively inexpensive bottle of each.
— Shirley D.
September 3, 2008
I had this problem start too after surgery; I bought some potassium pills
at WalMart and am taking one a day - the cramps are gone, you might wanna
try potassium, you're probably potassium deficient.
— Gina S.
September 3, 2008
This is something that you need to contact your doctor/surgeon about. If
you were getting leg cramps every once in awhile, then it probably be from
more muscle overuse, sweating, dehydration, or an off day foodwise... but
every morning over a long period of time makes me think that you've got
some kind of problem related to hydration or electrolyte balance
(especially potassium and sodium). So please do check in with the doctor
as you may need some kind of supplement and possibly labwork.
Home remedies for leg cramps: Bananas, Vitamin B12, and Tonic Water
— mrsidknee
September 3, 2008
I am 6 days pre-op. I also get let cramps as well as arms. The dr states
it is from dehydration, as someone else advised. also when my feet get
cold I can get them. I try to put on socks to sleep and this does help
some. good luck. however speak with your dr as this was prior and more
now..
— panda2381
September 3, 2008
Kristin, you definitely should contact a doctor and have some blood work
done. I get leg cramps, also, but my potassium levels, etc., are all good.
I sometimes think it's from walking before bedtime, but I don't know for
sure. If your potassium is low, though, it is very dangerous and can cause
you to have a heart attack...not trying to scare you, just want you to see
the importance of having the blood work done...please check! Let me know,
though, if the doctor knows of any other reasons you could be having the
cramps! Good luck!
— BrendaMS
September 3, 2008
I have an on again off again Magnesium deficiency. (Even before WLS) And
I can get the MOST wicked muscle spasms in my legs...It starts in my feet
or toes...and when i try to stretch them out my calves start up and if it's
a bad episode my inner thighs begin from the knee aaaaaalllll the way
up...It feels like my legs are squeezed beween a vice grip. I am paralyzed
until it stops...sometimes 15-30 minutes of excruiciating pain...I have to
scream for help and my family knows exactly what to do....They grab my
Twinlabs calcium with magnesium and Vit D3...The magnesium stops the cramps
and keeps them from restarting within seconds of chewing one up...Bananas
help too....Magnesium and potassium are both similar electrolytes that have
similar side effects when you are low...Usually either potassium or
magnesium will help....Propel has electrolyes too (potassium, I believe)
...So I make sure to drink them on days I am doing a lot of walking,
swimming or exercise that may lead to muscle cramps...That's usually when
they are worst. But you might go in for labs and request a full vitamin
check. There are other things that can cause leg cramps...I say that
because electrolye cramps usually start at the end of the day or during the
night when you put up your feet and yor muscle begin to relax and
rest...Since yours is in the morning after they have relaxed...I find that
a weird time to start if it's electrolytes...But I could be wrong. It could
just be that you are getting a lot more walking in and your muscles are
just stressed.... My experience with those horrible cramps are almost
always only at night or wee hours of the morn, after I've gone to bed...And
it's magnesium for me...Oh and sometimes, my face gets stuck in a spasm
too! It can be so awful! LOL And one more thing....if you experience a
lot of diarreah...that is almost always a sure sign that you are also
losing electrolyes and will certainly need to take potassium and water to
replace them...Just a heads ups.
Good luck.
— .Anita R.
September 4, 2008
The most common reason for leg cramps @ night is low potassium. Bananas,
dried apricot are the 2 foods with the highest potasium content. If these
do not help your Dr can prescribe a potassium supplement
— Donna O.
September 4, 2008
Everyone seems to be mentioning potassium but be careful as it may not be.
I have regular recurring sometimes very severe leg cramps. My potassium
levels are HIGH not low so more potassium isn't a good idea for me. I'm
pretty convinced that it's a reaction to food and I've almost narrowed it
down to avocados...! Docs seem mostly unconcerned and I haven't complained
loudly yet because I do think it's a food reaction and not mineral levels,
etc. Best bet is to discuss with doc, get your levels tested so you know
if you're low or not, and then figure out where to go next.
hate those nasty cramps that start in the toes, move up the calf and into
the thighs! Makes me want to cry sometimes...
— julieone
September 4, 2008
I have taken magnesium for the last 2 years and my nightly leg cramps have
stopped. Good luck
— ntssmith
September 4, 2008
I have alot of leg cramp's but it is Alway's when I am Low on Calcium with
Vit. D, talk to your Dr. and ask him to check your calcium level's. Because
of the RNY we have trouble absourbing calcium. And if he puts you on
anything Make sure it is calcium with Citrate Not calcium with Carbonate!
— pam74
September 4, 2008
I agree with the other posters regarding possible potassium (K) or
magnesium (Mg) deficiency. If you do take K supplements, make sure to take
with food. K can be very irritating to the stomach. Another option to
consider if your labs show normal K and Mg levels is drinking some tonic
water before bed - contains quinine which can offer some relief for
"restless legs syndrome." Good luck.
— NMlakerFan
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