Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

Anyone have bad leg cramps?



Recommended Posts

I'm 10days postop and have the worst leg cramps in my calves all day long..... I know it's not a clot cuz I was in hospital yesterday for chest pain and I'm negative for clots or leaks so was wondering if anyone had this and if so what did you do to relieve it?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

YES !!

I distinctly remember having leg cramps in my calves for 2-3 days after getting home from the hospital.

I kept walking and ensuring that I was getting in my Water and what I could of my Protein. It passed and never returned.

Weird phenomenon.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Keep yourself properly hydrated and active (walking, treadmill, etc.).

If it continues, some people take magnesium or potassium supplements for leg cramps, but I would ask your surgeon or PCP first.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm 6 1/2 months out, and for the last two days, I've had excruciating cramps, not only in my calves, but in the front of my thighs. The first night of this, I was awake every 90 minutes or so, walking them out.

I talked to my boss (a physician), and took a muscle relaxer (that I already had), potassium, and some extra Calcium. I already drink about 90 ounces of Fluid a day.

Last night was better, I only woke up once, but my legs are very tight and achy today.

I'm hoping this is a temporary situation.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I had the same problem and was diagnosed with low potassium. They said it sometimes happens to bariatric patients and they gave me potassium pills and told me to eat food high in potassium.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I get horrible cramps in my calves, thighs, abdomen, hands and sometimes even my tongue (!). They're a side-effect of a drug I have to take. They're exacerbated whenever I'm low in electrolytes (potassium, Calcium, sodium, magnesium, etc.). It's hard to pinpoint which you're low in without a blood test. The best quick cure I can suggest is a sugar free energy drink like Powerade Zero.

In my case after months and months of trying the more likely candidates, I discovered that lack of magnesium (for me) is the culprit.

We're all losing weight. That means we pee a lot. When we pee a lot, we lose electrolytes at a higher rate--yet another reason to meet our Water requirements!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

For me cramps are all about the potassium dunno why. When they show up, in the past at least, i'd start eating Beans as much as possible and theyd go away.

Edited by RoscoColetrain

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

As someone else had said look at a potassium supplement. I did that for the first like 60 days after talking to my doctor about it. I stopped having crapping, achey, weak feeling legs after I did that. And I was walking daily at that time too. I was able to get at the 2 month post surgery mark about 1 1/2 miles in a day. Now 15 months out I'm getting about 3 to 5 miles of walking in a day if nothing (exercise related) else.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

You can also get leg cramping if you are low on Iron.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Try G2 Gatorade or Powerade Zero, until you can get to the doctor to have your potassium level checked.

Edited by 1SlimmerMe

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Eve411

      April Surgery
      Am I the only struggling to get weight down. I started with weight of 297 and now im 280 but seem to not lose more weight. My nutrtionist told me not to worry about the pounds because I might still be losing inches. However, I do not really see much of a difference is this happen to any of you, if so any tips?
      Thanks
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Clueless_girl

      Well recovering from gallbladder removal was a lot like recovering from the modified duodenal switch surgery, twice in 4 months yay 🥳😭. I'm having to battle cravings for everything i shouldn't have, on top of trying to figure out what happens after i eat something. Sigh, let me fast forward a couple of months when everyday isn't a constant battle and i can function like a normal person again! 😞
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • KeeWee

      It's been 10 long years! Here is my VSG weight loss surgiversary update..
      https://www.ae1bmerchme.com/post/10-year-surgiversary-update-for-2024 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Aunty Mamo

      Iʻm roughly 6 weeks post-op this morning and have begun to feel like a normal human, with a normal human body again. I started introducing solid foods and pill forms of medications/supplements a couple of weeks ago and it's really amazing to eat meals with my family again, despite the fact that my portions are so much smaller than theirs. 
      I live on the island of Oʻahu and spend a lot of time in the water- for exercise, for play,  and for spiritual & mental health. The day I had my month out appointment with my surgeon, I packed all my gear in my truck, anticipating his permission to get back in the ocean. The minute I walked out of that hospital I drove straight to the shore and got in that water. Hallelujah! My appointment was at 10 am. I didn't get home until after 5 pm. 
      I'm down 31 pounds since the day of surgery and 47 since my pre-op diet began, with that typical week long stall occurring at three weeks. I'm really starting to see some changes lately- some of my clothing is too big, some fits again. The most drastic changes I notice however are in my face. I've also noticed my endurance and flexibility increasing. I was really starting to be held up physically, and I'm so grateful that I'm seeing that turn around in such short order. 
      My general disposition lately is hopeful and motivated. The only thing that bugs me on a daily basis still is the way those supplements make my house smell. So stink! But I just bought a smell proof bag online that other people use to put their pot in. My house doesn't stink anymore. 
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Oh yeah, something I wanted to rant about, a billing dispute that cropped up 3 months ago.
      Surgery was in August of 2023. A bill shows up for over $7,000 in January. WTF? I asks myself. I know that I jumped through all of the insurance hoops and verified this and triple checked that, as did the surgeon's office. All was set, and I paid all of the known costs before surgery.
      A looong story short, is that an assistant surgeon that was in the process of accepting money from my insurance company touched me while I was under anesthesia. That is what the bill was for. But hey, guess what? Some federal legislation was enacted last year to help patients out when they cannot consent to being touched by someone out of their insurance network. These types of bills fall under something called, "surprise billing," and you don't have to put up with it.
      https://www.cms.gov/nosurprises
      I had to make a lot of phone calls to both the surgeon's office and the insurance company and explain my rights and what the maximum out of pocket costs were that I could be liable for. Also had to remind them that it isn't my place to be taking care of all of this and that I was going to escalate things if they could not play nice with one another.
      Quick ending is that I don't have to pay that $7,000+. Advocate, advocate, advocate for yourself no matter how long it takes and learn more about this law if you are ever hit with a surprise bill.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×