Question:
I am 11 weeks post-op from my Lap RNY. I have lost 62 lbs. and am very weak-legged.

I generally feel great and am able to eat just about anything with little difficulty. I am getting more than enough protein each day and am eating about 1000 calories. I have never vomited and have not gone near sugar. I had complete blood work done and everything is well within normal limits. I was taking 108 units of insulin, 1000 mg of glucophage, 2 glyburide and 1 Avandia prior to RNY. I am now taking 2 glucophage, 1 Avandia and no insulin whatsoever! My blood sugar is hovering around 160 fasting, and about 180 in the evenings. I am working with my PCP to adjust the oral diabetes meds - he is hopeful I will be within normal limits soon. At the three week mark I joined a fitness club and began water aerobics, treadmill and some light upper body workout. For the past several weeks, my legs have been so weak I cannot do anything more than walking. Any activity where I have to step up, or in any way lift my own weight is impossible because of the leg weakness. Anyone experience anything like this? I am dumbfounded. I can walk for 2 - 3 miles with no difficulty, but nothing else. I am getting frustrated as I really want to do as much as possible in the exercise area. I'm too weak right now to do what I need to do.    — Mari R. (posted on July 26, 2000)

July 26, 2000
I experienced leg weakness when I was about five months post-op. I've now lost 145 lbs., but back then, when my legs got so weak they were slipping off my car's gas pedals, it scared the life out of me. Turns out my iron was way too low. This might be what you are experiencing too. As soon as I upped my iron intake (which I had stupidly stopped taking completely) the strength returned immediately. Good luck!
   — Mavis C.

July 26, 2000
Mari, Two thoughts came to mind when you mentioned "weak-legged". My first thought was that perhaps your potassium is out of kilter. One of the symptoms of low potassium is that "weak-legged" sensation. If you've been sweating alot lately and/or urinating often that could be the culprit. You could try eating a banana or drinking a glass of orange juice before you exercise and see if that helps. My second thought came to me when I read that you're taking glucophage to help control your diabetes. I took glucophage about 4 years ago and it did help to lower my sugar, but after about 3 weeks, I began having some of the same symptoms you're describing. I eventually began to get extremely winded and weak that I couldn't walk from one room to the other in my home without having to sit down. It turns out that I was having a reaction to the glucophage called "lactic (?) acidosis." My doctor took me off of the glucophage immediately and within about a week the symptoms went away. I found out later that, altho' this reaction to the glucophage is rare, it is FATAL in 50% of all cases. Even though you've been taking it for awhile and it's helped lower your sugar, your body and body weight has changed signifigantly over that last 11 weeks which could prompt a different reaction to the medication. Please understand, it's not my intention to scare you, but please call your doctor. This could be something very minor and short-term, or it could be something more serious. Good luck and God bless. cj
   — cj T.

July 26, 2000
Are you taking and vitamins or B-12. Here is what someone that is post-op takes on a daily basis: Morning 2-25mg iron (ferrous Fumerate) or 1 150 mg iron tablet 1 Vitamin C- non soft gel 1 Multi Vitamin Midday 1/2 of 1500mg Calcium Elemental 1 Dry A&D tablet (A=10,000ui D=400mg) Optional 1 dry Vitamin E Evening other half of Calcium 1 dry A & D 1 Zinc (50mg chelated) 1 sublingual B-12 (500mg) as desired This person had been very successful in his weight loss and has had no trouble with maintaining his energy level. My surgery is still 30 days away but I wrote down all that he used daily so that when my time comes I hopefully will avoid the weekness that other experience. Good luck and I hope that you feel better soon. I did read the other post and agree that you should consult with your doctor.
   — Teresa M.