Unexplained cuts on fingers?

Hi all, I posted this on the sleeve board and a few people responded that they had experienced this so I wanted to check with this board as well regarding a possible side effect of the WLS that I had not heard about. I had my sleeve in May of this year and am down 68 lbs. I've experienced some hair loss which is to be expected, but over the past several weeks I've been getting unexplained cuts on my fingers. These are similar to paper cuts but I don't know how I get them. I have been doing a lot of gardening recently and probably need to remember to wear gloves but I've dug in the dirt for years with no gloves and never any problem. I still have another 50 lbs to go to be at my "ideal" weight so I don't think it's a case of getting so thin that my fingers are emaciated!  Has anyone else had this happen to them?  Am wondering if this is a temporary side effect or something unrelated that I should look into.  Appreciate any feedback. Thanks! Kim

I wouldnt worry about it at all unless they dont heal or you get them all over your body.  but if your not feeling the cuts becase you notice your hads are fequently numb you should see a dr. sometimes people can get nurve damage after GBS due to mal-nutrition. Good luck and rember if you think a dr should know about it seek a dr.

What is your supplementation regimen?

I take lots of supplements. Had been taking a heavy duty multi vitamin for the past 20 years or so and consequently rarely get the colds or other crud that other people around me get. (now that I've jinxed myself...) Since the surgery, I take the building blocks multi vitamin, the anti ox, calcium and 15 mg iron each day. On top of that I take 3 fish oil capsules a day, 1500 mg L glutamine, and 1500 mg DLPA. Also 500 mg alpha-lipoeic acid.  And if I'm around people with colds, I throw in some extra c and some zinc. Can't think I'd be missing anything.  Also, since I had the gastric sleeve, I don't have a malabsorption issue, right? It's almost like my fingers are splitting in some of these areas-2 or 3 new ones every few days. Never experienced anything like this.

Well, I'm not seeing enough iron or B12 there, and prolly not enough calcium (has to be citrate). Is ayone testing A or D levels?

The reason for lots of calcium is the weight loss itself. With every pound, we lose some bone mass, some muscle and some fat.

Cracking fingers rings some bells in my head, but without digging deeper, can't remember if I'm thinking B-vites or A.

Hmm..well calcium is 2000 mg calcium citrate, iron is 15 mg (am post menopausal) and A, D and B12 seem to be optimum levels-Vitamin A at 15,000 IU, D at 1000 IU and B12 is 250 mg. Had recent bloodwork that showed the levels of all those was good. Only thing not great was my lipids/cholesterol. Are much improved but not in normal range yet. I'm hoping that when I lose the additional 50 lbs. those will improve even more. Would you recommend supplementing the above? Thanks for your help! Kim

State of age or gender doesn't make much difference to iron or B12. And we lose bone mass with every pound we lose, no matter HOW we lose it.

Do you know your actual lab levels? The D and iron and B12 look saggy to me at these levels, but only your labs will say for sure.

The same thing happened to me!!! I chalked it up to have a lot less oil and fat in my diet and my skin drying as a result making my hands susceptible to those little cuts.  I just them moisturized and I have not seen the cuts in a while.

That makes a lot of sense. Good to know they don't keep happening to you. Kim