Question:
3 weeks post op RNY and experiancing charlie horses in my legs when walking.

Hi all, I'm down 34#s and feeling great except I'm beginning to get charlie horses in my legs especially when I'm out walking. I will check with my doctor but last time I asked they didn't think it was a big deal. It seems to be getting worse, thanks for any help.    — Joan R. (posted on August 20, 2003)

August 20, 2003
Could it be you are just plain getting more exercise than before WLS? You might be calling some muscles back into duty. Boy that was the way it was for me. My body had to adjust every time I took off several pounds. I ached all over for a while. Be sure you are getting in lots of water. Congratulations on the great loss. Good luck to you.
   — Ginger M.

August 20, 2003
I had this same thing even befor my RYN my DR tols me to get more calcium so i took 4 tums a day it might be worth a try good luck
   — lynniec

August 20, 2003
Cramps in your legs can be a clear sign of dehydration. This is nothing to fool around with. Make sure that you are getting all of your fluids in.
   — Carol S.

August 20, 2003
I have not had my surgery yet, but a couple years ago I was working out regulary at the spa and I also experienced really bad leg cramps, usually at night when I would lay down to go to bed, I told the weight lifting instructor at the spa and she told me it was because of dehydration, she suggested I try to drink more fluids especially water...Good Luck in your Journey!!!
   — Jackie L.

August 20, 2003
It could well be getting your body moving is causing this or dehydration or just for no good reason. I have suffered with severe leg cramps for years. Finally was able to get them under contol with Quinine Sulfate, which is a prescription drug. However, tonic water has quinine in it and might be worth trying. I also had tons of cramping in my hips when I first started to get moving. To walk like 2 blocks I would have to stop about 8 times to let the cramping settle down. Rarely ever a problem now.
   — zoedogcbr

August 20, 2003
Leg cramps have always been a sign of dehydration and also of lactic acid buildup in the muscles. Do you suffer from sleep apnea at all? Apnea is one of the main culprits of leg cramps, long complicated reason on oxygen imbalance and lactic acid build up. The other possible reason is if you are exercising more than normal, that is also an indicator. My Dr. said to do any one of a number of things for persistant leg cramps. Hydrate-hydrate-hydrate Use watered down gatorade as they replace electrolytes lost by the body throughout the day. You don't have to be sweatin' like the tv ads, you lose a lot of water by evaporation alone in the course of several hours. Banannas are a good source of potassium. The are potassium pills you can take, if you don't mind the pills. An old tried and true trick if you catch yourself cramping up. Don't try to stretch your feet downward (a natural inclination), but slowly flex your toes and feet upwards and you will feel a near immediate beginning of cessation to the cramping. Flexing for quite a while, until you don't feel the need, then walk it off gently. Hope this helps.
   — track

August 20, 2003
whenever my hubby gets leg cramps, charlie horses or night jerks (his legs spasm at night sometimes) we know he needs more potassium in his diet. Some excellent sources of potassium are (besides the tried and true banana - I dumped on those early out): cantaloupe, orange juice, almonds, salmon and chicken. It's not a bad idea to mention this to your PCP though just to confirm. Good luck!
   — [Deactivated Member]