Question:
what could be causing numbness, constipation, vomitting and extreme weight loss?
I'm 6 months post op and am experiencing numbness in my hands and face, severe constipation and abdominal pain. I can't keep hardly any food/water down. I try to drink a few ounces of sugar-free carnation instant breakfast and it's a 50/50 chance I can keep it down. I have no sensation on when I need to have a bowel movement and usually go 1x per week but it's very difficult. I'm so exhausted I'm unable to work.(blood work done and not anemic) I'm 5'5 and 108 pounds after a three day loss of 10 pounds. I've TRIED to work with my surgeon on this but he WILL NOT see me. I've tried to work with my pcp and a Gastro specialist and they've run tests and just tell me they don't know what it is and give me pain meds. I've been to the Urgent Care and they've sent me away with pain meds. Yesterday, the latest Dr. told me to go to a pain mgmt. clinic. I want to know what could be CAUSING the pain and symptoms! Does anyone have any ideas of what might be going on and what questions to ask a doctor who will deal with this situation? I'm very scared and need help! — kristi V. (posted on October 8, 2003)
October 8, 2003
Kristi, you need to INSIST on being seen by Dr. Baker or one of his staff.
I have heard such good things about his program that it suprises me that
they would not see you. If you are down to 108 pounds and losing 10 pounds
in three days, in addition to the pain and vomiting, there must be
something going on that the other doctors are just overlooking...and you
would think they would want to know what it was. If you just can't seem to
get them to fit you in to the schedule, I would tell them that you will be
seeking advice from another bariatric program in the area and even ask them
who they would recommend. What ever you do, make sure that you get the
help you need...and soon. Good luck with everything.
— eaamc
October 8, 2003
I would get an appt with an Internist or Gastro-enterologist if the others
are not helping. If they scope you, you may have a better chance or finding
out what's going on. As for the consitpation, I know you can't keep
anything down but have you tried fibercon or phillips? Hard stools can
cause abdominal pain (as can other things).
— M B.
October 8, 2003
I agree that you need to see an internist and you definitely need something
for the constipation. Numbness can be caused by an allergic reaction to
Nutrasweet. The abdominal pain and the nausea are probably caused from
constipation which, by the way, is aggravated by pain medications. Do you
have any idea why your surgeon won't see you? Did the gastrointeroligist
do an endoscopy or a colonoscopy? These tests would rule out serious
complications and could solve your problem. My surgeon stresses regular
bowel movements - preferably once a day. I have diverticulosis and he has
me eat prunes every day as well as eat grapenuts soaked in grape juice (not
as disgusting as it says) and it works great for fiber and the grape juice
is a natural laxative. He also recommends a prescription called Mira Lax
for constipation and if that doesn't do the trick, he suggest about half a
bottle of Magnesium Citrate to break up the impaction. I hope you get help
soon - I know you must be miserable. I had severe constipation in the
hospital following total knee replacement - I didn't take the stool
softeners they were offering me and I was on mega doses of pain meds and
the result was very bad.
— Patty_Butler
October 8, 2003
Kristi: What you discribes sounds very serious and you have good reason to
be concerned and scared. I can't imagine why they can't get to the root of
your problem. When I had numbness in my hands it was because I was
dehydrated and my electrolytes were off. But they've run blood tests on
you so I assume they checked for that. I assume you lost 10 pounds in
three days because you're throwing up and not able to eat. You might be
unable to eat and get more food down because you're consipated, but I would
have assumed that would have been checked in the ER or by your doctors as
well. Have you tried stool softeners and/or fleet? It's not fun to get
cleaned out like that but maybe it could help relieve some pain. What
exactly are they prescribing the pain meds for? Because of the
constipation or the throwing up or? I'd also try something other than the
instant breakfast. You could be having trouble with milk? So try a
protein shake with water or one of those ones that are like juice and see
if that helps. If you're 108 pounds and 5'5" tall that's no doubt why
you're tired and weak. That's too thin. So you may need to be given
something that will cause you to put a little weight back on. You might
also be tired from a low B12 level. Iron isn't the only reason to be
tired. But again I would have thought those things would be checked in
your blood test. If you're still not feeling better tonight go to a
different ER. Maybe some other doctor might have an idea of what to check
that the first ER guy didn't. If you're not dehyrated yet you will be soon
if you're throwing up water. So if nothing else you should get a
transfusion of liquids into you and that will likely help with how you
feel. Are you nausea from eating when you do eat? Maybe you can get a
suppository that will help with that and then maybe the food will stay
down? I don't have any answers for you, I'm just kicking around some
ideas. If you were fine for these 6 months and this a new occurance
something has gone wrong I would think? I hope you can figure it out soon.
Let us know. S
— sherry hedgecock
October 8, 2003
Does your multi vite contain all the B-vites (1,2,3,6)? Have you had these
levels & your B12 tested, too? The problems MIGHT be unrelated. BUT
you must be seen. I'm behind you. We have to be pro-active in our care.
Is there another surgeon you can see? Sounds like it is beyond ER or PCP
level. Can you be referred to an internist and/or GI doc?
— vitalady
October 8, 2003
At 5'5" and 108#, they should be doing something to find out what is
going on. Do you have a gall bladder? I did a glucose tolerance test, and
my blood suger bottoms out 3 1/2 hours after I eat. I get stomach pain,
headaches, sweating, nervous from this. So I set a silent clock I bought
over the internet every 3 hours. If I can't eat then, I stick a couple of
glucose tablets in my mouth, and set the alarm for 3 more hours. I also
had the same symptoms when my Potasium went too low, which can kill you. I
also have to take B-12 injections weekly, for these symptoms along with the
tingling in my hands and feet. You need to go to a different Weight Loss
Surgeon. They would probably help you. I'm 5'6" - and got down to
118#. I was so sick. I had wonderful doctors that found my problem, and It
was a different Dr. than the one that did my surgery. I also lost most of
my hair then, and it was 1 year post-op. I'm back up to 140#, and I'm happy
with that, But I have to make myself eat. I take two pre-natal vitamins
daily, and a prescription potasuim daily. --
— CohenHeart
October 9, 2003
Find a new doctor if the one you have will not continue to search for an
answer. I'm not a doctor, nor do I play one on TV, but I have to agree
with one of the previous posters about the B vitamins. I know that a
deficiency of B-12 will cause neurological problems which could be a source
of the numbness. And a good source of the fatigue. I was having a number
of problems starting at about 6 months post op. I received some flack from
my surgeon and the urgicare clinic. I couldnt find a doctor in town
willing to touch me. I finally went to the clinic at the hospital. The
one that uses all residents. By doing so I found that I had doctors that
were not only willing to help, but were excited to help. They were newly
out of school so they had new information, and were eager to learn and
experience. You may try something like that. Do not give up....you know
your own body better than anyone else!
— RebeccaP
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