Question:
Does anyone else experience numbness in the calf of your legs

I had my surgey on 5/17/06, ever since i have had numbness in the calves of my legs. I also have extreme leg weakness and when it comes to climbing stairs it is a journey just to climb the first few then i am usually ok? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. P.S. I will be seeing my doctor again on the 25th. So far no solid answer on what might be causing this..    — drunyan (posted on September 13, 2006)

September 13, 2006
It sounds like the start of Peripheral Nueropathy(sp?). My mom & I both had surgery on 9/26/05. On 12/20/05 she lost full use of her legs. It is due to lack of nutrition. Try to get into your Dr before the 25th - this is nothing to fool around with! be sure you are getting in all your protein and vitamnins and supplements- b12 specifically!
   — AnneRie

September 13, 2006
Vitamins, vitamins, vitamins! That is my first guess. It could be anything but what you describe sounds like a vitamin or iron deficiency. Don't wait until the 25th - ask to be seen now. And if you aren't taking your vitamins like you should, start megadosing those puppies!
   — Dinka Doo

September 14, 2006
I'd avoid megadosing your vitamins because too much can be just as harmful as not enough. This is definitely something to check with your doctor about...it might be a good thing to call, let him/her know whats going on, and see if you need to be seen sooner than the 25th. It's also possible that this is not at all related to wls. Best wishes
   — mrsidknee

September 14, 2006
you should get to the dr sooner and you should have them check your blood (ex blood clotting). Also try to keep moving and even when you sit for long periods of time keep them moving as much as possible.
   — sweetrose

September 14, 2006
I had my surgery on 3/27/06 and didn't have the numbness in my calfs until after I had my gallbladder out on 5/23/06 I checked with my surgeon and he said that it was all the wait I had lost so quickly, I had back problems before surgery and he suggested I go see a back specialist and have him perscribe some PT or maybe a chiropracter for some adjustments, but he had my blood checked for all my nutrients and vitamins and they were fine even though I had been a little lapse with taking my vitamins for awhile when I was sick with the gallbladder I couldn't eat anything for nearly 4 weeks which is also why I only have about 26 more lbs to lose before I'm at goal and I'm not even at my 6th month mark. Hope this helps! Hailey 245/167/141
   — HAILEY

September 14, 2006
The thing you can do between now & your doc appt is increase water (as in water). I am prone to lightheadedness (which is not the same as airheadedness, I might point out) when I have not had enough water. What is "enough"? My body tells me when I don't have it. It, unfortunately, never screams, FULL! STOP DRINKING! So, that should tell you something. When you see your doc, ask him to run both B12 and B1 levels, since we have our very own version of B1 (thiamin) deficiency: bariatric beri beri.
   — vitalady