Question:
A pain in the BUTT- literally !!!!

   — Laura R. (posted on August 29, 2003)

August 29, 2003
It sounds like muscle spasms. Ask your doctor if you should be taking more potassium. If you are in agony please see your doctor! Too, have you been exercising? You may have pulled a muscle. Get hubby to massage it! I know losing weight at a fast pace can do weird things to our bodies. I would up my water and try a massage or potassium (gatorade) and if it doesn't ease up I would see my doctor.
   — Patra R.

August 29, 2003
It definitely sounds like muscle spasms. As a new post-op, and many of us have experienced this, the rapid weight loss causes a shift in body mechanics, and parts of the body that were not stressed before, are now stressed with the new weight distributions. Backs hurt for the first time, things ache that never did before. In most cases, these work themselves out. If its a normal muscle spasm, you need an anti-inflamatory to help, but since we can't take them in pill form anymore, your PCP can inject you or give you a liquid form to take. Muscle spasms can take a week to 3 weeks to heal and can temporarily incapacitate you if severe enough. If you are feeling radiating pain from the but muscle down the back of your leg into your thigh or lower, then it is either a pinched nerve or sciatica or a herniated disc. Time can help all of those or worst case scenario, they get worse and require surgery, but don't panic yet-often times, all you need is time. A good gentle stretching routine several times a day, also helps (lay flat on floor and gently pull knees to chest (one leg at a time, then both). Stop if there is pain. Heat is good for a muscle spasm, not for a disc problem-discs respond better to cold/ice.
   — Cindy R.

August 29, 2003
Hi Laura, sorry you are having this odd problem! Are you getting all your water, protein, and nutrients? It could be potassium; if you can't tolerate Gatorade, try eating a small banana daily and see if that helps. You might also have a pinched nerve (although that would usually involve pain, too) or a vertebra out of alignment. If you need muscle relaxants, with DS we can take pills. Have you posted on duodenalswitch.com? There is a message board there, very helpful!
   — Chris T.

August 29, 2003
I would definately talk to the Dr. By the way, those NSAIDS that affect the stomach will affect it the same way if injected, the effect they have is inhibition of prostaglandins, that affects your stomach, it is not just that they touch your stomach and "burn" it as seems to be a common misconception.
   — **willow**