My Mother’s Gastric Bypass Surgery is Causing Neuropathy and She’s Unable to Walk
And what are doctors saying they can do about it? Nothing
If you live in the United States you know that the latest “cure” for obesity is Gastric Bypass Surgery. What most Americans don’t know is that researchers are now finding that Gastric Bypass Surgery is causing Neuropathy, otherwise known as nerve damage, in a large number of patients.
What first got me interested in this subject is that my mother in law, Bonnie, was recently hospitalized for severe pain in her hands and feet. This pain had been going on for about 4 months before complications from a spinal tap landed her in the hospital.
Doctors had been unable to determine exactly what was causing the severe pain and numbness in her hands and feet. She doesn’t have diabetes that would cause diabetic neuropathy or any other disease normally associated with neuropathy. Everyone was pretty much at a loss… until a physical therapist handed her the findings of a study done by a doctor at Cornell University.
Direct Link Between Gastric Bypass And Neuropathy
This report titled Neuropathy and the Gastrointestinal System was written by Dr Russel L. Chin, and is dated 12/29/05. It explains the most common reasons for the gastrointestinal system to cause neuropathy. Pretty high up on the list was all of the different weight loss surgery’s being performed today.
Gastric Bypass Surgery, which is what my mother in-law had performed on her in 2004, was pretty high up on the list of things that could cause neuropathy. The report stated that out of 90 patients who had gastric bypass performed, 60 of those patients ended up with some sort of neuropathy…60!
The findings state in some cases the neuropathy is caused by malnutrition resulting from the patient not ensuring that they are eating correctly after the gastric bypass surgery. But in a large number of cases the patient’s stayed on top of their nutrition and made sure that they ate correctly…what is going on in those cases?
It seems that when the Gastric Bypass surgery is performed a portion of the large intestine is removed. Doctors are now wondering if this portion of the large intestine absorbs some sort of trace minerals that they are unaware of and the lack of this mineral is what is causing the neuropathy.
So this must be a potential side effect that they warn you about right? Wrong. My mother in-law has suffered for over four months with this “mystery” neuropathy and no one ever suggested that this could be due to her gastric bypass surgery. Also she was never told prior to having the surgery performed that neuropathy is a risk.
There Is No Cure for Neuropathy
So how do you cure neuropathy? You don’t. You deal with it and hope that it doesn’t get worse. Neuropathy can be very painful and there really aren’t that many drugs out there to treat nerve pain that will let you function normally and not feel messed up all the time.
Cymbalta is an antidepressant that was recently approved by the FDA to treat neuropathy. What patient’s are finding out the hard way with that, is it works for a couple of months and then loses it effectiveness. Once that happens and the patient tries to stop taking it, they are finding that there are severe Cymbalta withdrawal symptoms that you have to deal with. In some cases the patient finds it effective for about 2 months but then has to spend an additional 3 months slowly weening off of it.
It is pretty scary to think that each year about 172,000 patients are having gastric bypass surgery performed and unfortunately they are doing so without all the potential risk information being provided to them. The reason for this isn’t always devious, most times it is lack of knowledge on the part of the surgeon performing the procedure.
Hopefully this will be brought to light in the near future.
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I wouldn’t recommend it unless your life was in jeopardy somehow. I have seen the effect of the surgery 4 year after it happened. Keeping the nutrition balanced is key but if you vomit too much then you need to look into getting weekly vitamin shot from a nutritionist or doctor or side effect will occur. Quality of the food eaten is going to be the focus after surgery. No one has yet to link the bypass to all the side effects but studies are being done by the Mayo clinic that show promising results. No cure yet..
Is it worth it? Go ride a bike
I emailed Dr Chin to see if there’s anything he can think of for us to research.
This is an eye-opener of an article! Personally, I am pretty speechless and not a medical practitioner so I cannot really opine on this very subject. I just wanted to say that my friend’s mother-in-law too underwent lap band surgery from My Weight Loss Surgeon (http://myweightlosssurgeon.com/) but she is fortunate enough to have recuperated successfully.
Nevertheless, I am curious. Will you sue the clinic or punish the clinic in some way or another? Anyone with a conscience will affirm that these quacks deserve severe punishment.
I would like to share this information about Gastric Bypass Surgery from Julianne Kennedy’s report. It might be a big help to you. It consist of informations you want to know about Gastric Bypass Surgery and other weight problems. Her site is: http://www.weight-loss-surgery-secrets.com/controversial/free_wls_report.htm
thanks Maricar, is this your own site?
“The report stated that out of 90 patients who had gastric bypass performed, 60 of those patients ended up with some sort of neuropathy…60!”
I think you may have misread the article:
It seems several studies show a range of neurlogical complications from less than 1% up to 16% of bariatric patients, not 66%. The 60 out of 96 who had neuropathy is out of 96 patients who had complications, not who had bariatric surgery. That said, a 16% (or even 4%) complication rate is not insignificant, and it definitely should be a risk discussed prior to obtaining the surgery. I’m sorry to hear that your mother-in-law suffers from this ailment, and that it wasn’t discussed beforehand.
Oh my gosh. I think I might have this! Geez. I have been going from doctor to doctor to doctor to try and find out what is wrong with me! I had bypass over a year ago and my doctor did an EMG today. I had an MRI on my neck because I have degenerative disks at C6 and C7 and my doctor did two epidural steriod injections with no relief. In the past I have gotten relief with the injections. He sent me back to my pain management doctor (I see her for migraines and arthritis in my ankle). She did an EMG today and didn’t find any nerve damage, but I am in so much pain. Literally from the tip of my fingers in one hand, up my arm, shoulders across my neck and down the other arm to the tips of the fingers. My wrists, elbows, shoulders hurt all the time. I can’t lift my arms over my head, I can’t open doors, bottles of water, etc. Every day, it is getting worse. Its funny you mention cymbalta. I have been on cymbalta for a while and actually starting weaning myself off it about 3 months ago – switching from 60 mg, now down to 20 mg (gradually, with the help of my regular doc). I wonder if that has made the pain worse! When my doctor saw me today, the first thing she said is you look malnurished! Oh geez. This is scarey! I don’t know anything about neuropathy. I will do some research on the net, but if anyone has any advice, please tell me what you did to get better!
hello, i had gastric bypass lst year around this time, went four months telling my surgeon i couldn’t keep anything but water, apple juice, white grape juice down. and half the time i would throw that up. i started falling, my legs just wouldn’t hold me up, then my arms started to not work so to speak, then the intense pain came, the only way i can describe it was with my feet and toes felt like someone had a flathead screwdriver under my toenails sticking hot pokers or cigartettes underneath. unreal pain wouldn’t go away at all i spent over a month in the hosp. then reahab to help me walk again which the neaurosurgeon at the hosp said wouldn’t help i prob never be able to walk again because the damage was so extensive. been in a wheelchair and bed for nine months now. so pray for me if you pray, and i hope and pray you never get to this point. thank you.
Dear Deb,
My husband is now 40 and been thru 19 major surgeries since the REALLY BAD experience w him and a friend having gastric bypass surgery in 2006 w immediate reversal 6 wks. Later that has almost took his life over and over and caused him to lose his business. Call him anytime.:. Ken 765-977-7158 It helps having someone who understands. He has nueropathy, bowel probs., constant nausea, half his organs removed. Gastric Bypass NOT recommend in our opinion.
God Bless ALL who suffers after these surgeries.
Lori
I had gbp in 2003 and last year I was diagnosed with neuropathy due to metabolic (specifically zinc) malobsorption post surgery. The first doctor I saw thought I had onset MS. After seeing a few more doctors and a second neurologist he recognized the condition. I also see a GI doctor who agrees with the neurologist. Prior to having the surgery I was not informed by the doctor that this could be a complication. I’ve always taken my vitamins as directed with the exception of additional zinc. Zinc levels are not commonly checked as B12, iron, thiamin and others are through a CBC blood test. If I had been forewarned I would have had the knowledge to have zinc checked periodically instead of after I started having neuropathy symptoms. As I have been researching this problem I don’t understand how the doctor that performed my surgery did not make me aware of this possibility. They stress iron, B12 and calcium deficiencies but not zinc? Perhaps because iron, B12 and calcium are “easier” to catch and improve on than zinc? I have also talked to others who had the surgery but had no clue that this could happen. Why are doctors leaving out this problem in their sales pitch? I would think this would be known information to them (doctoring 101). Has anyone contacted legal counsel?
What kind of Dr do I see to get diagnosed for the gastointestinal or neuropathy doc, I just dont know. I am in severe pain, burning, muscle spasms, that grip me like a dog holding its pup. I have seen many doctors. They got me a script for an x-ray, next weel or two, an mri. I dont think any thing will show. Did 6 mos of physical therapy. I cant take the pain much longer. Its my life now.
I had my bypass surgery in Jan of this year. It is now Nov. For about 6-8 weeks I have been having excrutiating pain in my upper outside of my left leg. I have an appt in the morning with a dr that has helped me when I was heavy with poor veins. Too late to cancel the appt now without a charge. Will go but am going to ask him to do a new blood test to catch all of these things (zinc included). I know that my potassium has been running low because I have had a lot of cramping in my legs at night and have to jump out of the bed for relief. This pain in the left leg is excrutiating and feels like hot water pouring down my leg. It Has to be the nerves! No, no one told me that this could occur but I would most likely had the surgery anyway. I was so overweight. There is a risk of something in any surgery. I will do whatever I have to do to try and get this under some kind of control. My sister who had the surgery four years before I did has to take a B12 shot once a month. Maybe this is what I am going to have to do is get some kind of vitamin shots. Thank yall for all the information and getting this out there for people.
@Ann – thx for sharing. Let us know how it goes.
I’ve heard of B12 shots but not for someone after gastric bypass surgery.
Its been almost 30 years since my roux-en-y surgery. I spent many happy years slender but not always in the best of health. No one told me about B-12. Luckily my husband is very savvy about nutrition and I had one or two good doctors. But I did go on with B-12 deficiency for most of ten years.
For the past ten or twelve years my hands, feet and back have continually worsened. I am on B-12 injections but since I cannot work and have no access to medical care with a doctor who has any understanding of the condition I cannot get disability. Its a vicious circle. I do have B-12 and have been giving myself injections for about 20 years now. They help a LOT. I also take liquid minerals from TRC and a liquid green drink called all day energy greens. These products keep me going although the pain is with me always.
I do lots of fun stuff since working on crafts and such is something I can do at my own pace, changing position, resting, whatever, as needed.
I’m not saying these things will work for everyone but they make the difference between being a complete invalid and being able to take care of myself.
I don’t do doctors as I have no money to pay a good one and the local clinic only has a PA who thinks I’m a hypochondriac.
Oh, did I mention I got fat again about 15 years after surgery? And nothing seems to work to lose the weight.
I had gastric bypass surgery in 2006. I have been in constant pain ever since. Cramps, dhiarria, vomiting, nerve pain in my stomach. My family doctor informed me that you have to have B12 injections. Just taking a vitamin will not work because for some reason after the surger B12 is no longer absorbed by the body. I didn’t know abou zinc, but will be checking on that. I have found no relief except for the fact that i am on hydrochodone for my degenerative disc disease and also neurontin which does help my nerve pain. You can also try Lyrica. It is really good for nerve pain. I learned aout these two drugs due to my nerve pain from my disc disease, it does help my stomach. Good Luck.
I am wondering about the nerve pain in your stomach. I have some really weird feelings in my stomach since my surgery. Can’t find anyone to diagnose anything. It is hard to describe the nerve discomfort. I feel like the only person with this problem
Sue
My husband had the surgery and on liquid Dilaudid, Baclofen, Gabapentin (Neurotin) and others and has nueropathy and disc probs…. Ask doc if u can try Trileptal, will make u VERY sleepy until u r use too in about a couple of wks. It has been amazing for him. The other meds have caused swelling and w Trileptal is mostly gone.
I had gastric bypass RNY May 2010 and when I eat certan foods I have like an irrated feeling in my stomach and I can’t finish eating whatever I was trying to eat. Is this the same feelng you have in your stomach it’s sorta like a nervous stomach? I’m askng so that I will know if it’s the same as what your experiencing so I can speak tomy doctor about it.
Hi Ginny, you are pretty new to the RNY stomach. There can be lots of weird things that go on after surgery. The irritation needs to me monitored to be sure it doesn’t get worse. Just make note of everything you eat and try to figure out what made you feel irritated and not eat that again. At least for a while. There are some things I can eat now that I couldn’t a year ago. It’s a looooong process to get to know your new stomach. Good luck and check out http://www.gastricbypassexperience.com for more information.
CAUTION GASTRIC BYPASS DANGEROUS!! My sister was also diagnosed with severe Neuropathy after Gsstric Bypass in 2003. She was always in excruciating pain and was receiving pain management and finally put on Methodone which destroyed her teeth. My sister recently passed away sunddenly in November 2008 after years of suffering at the young age of 39, now two young children are motherless! The cause of death: small bowel infarction(bowel just twisted up and died within hours)caused by complications and defect in a Gastric Bypass surgery she had 5 yrs ago! Please beware that Gastric Bypass can have dangerous side effects not mentioned by doctors and can eventually cause death. Is it really worth it????
In loving memory of my sister Kathy B. Roulund 1969-2008.
My heart aches for you and your family. After her GBP, did she ever have a upper GI with a small bowel followthrough to possibly see a blockage or something else? Did she ever Vomit in her sleep? Did she ever say that it felt like her intestines were moving backwards? In other words, if she would just bend over and open her mouth, whatever was in her small pouch and several feet of small bowel would just start to goop out, just like you would squeeze paste out of a tube. If your answer is yes…..She may have died from malabsorbtion due to ANTIPARISTALSIS OF THE ROUX LIMB! I had a GBP in 2001, for 7 years I was in a fight for my life. I vomited all the time, day or night. I had a revision 1 1/2 years later because by Dr said he knew what the problem was. Whatever he did….did not work or change anything. Only 15 days after the revision, I abstructed and ruptured, needing another surgery to fix. I started at 262 lbs, My lightest weight was 97 lbs, I am only 5ft 1″.
In June of 2008 I finally was refered by a different Doctor to the Rochester Mayo Clinc to Dr. Michael Sarr. He saved my life!!!!! My revision was a very long a dangerous surgery to do, 14HRS. The Doctor that did my original GBP had by mistake put a portion of my intestines in BACKWARDS! I was only a few months from sudden death when my problem was found. Because I had this surgery done in the State of Idaho, and the Statute of Limitations on Med Malpractic is 2 years, I was not able to do anything to recover over 337,000 in out of pocket medical bills related to all of the complications over 7 years. I am now pretty stable. I have gained weight back to 155 lbs, I have severe osteoporosis, severe enemia, Neuropathy (wide spread), fibromyalgia (which is probably the same thing) take lots of vitamins in liquid form, get B-12 shots, Iron shots, other IV infushions.
My friend Carol Died July 22 2009 One year and 4 days after her gastric bypass. She could keep nothing down . Not even water. Doctors just ignored her. They take the money and run, She spent at least 6 of her last months in hospital. Her out of pocket expenses were exorbitant. She dies alone on her floor. This is not a good idea. The doctor told her to put more spice in her food. i kid you not.
I am about 30 years post roux en y bypass surgery. Over the years I’ve dealt with problems that I managed to deal with. I’ve had great luck with B-12 injections and liquid minerals derived from mined sources of plant materials.
I’ve also had some good physical health boost from a product called all day energy greens which is a compilation of most of the “green” source super food classes.
I have neuropathy in wrists, hands, feet, knees, back all complicated by several whip lash injuries and years at a computer.
I have been unable to work for about five years but since I cannot afford an MRI or nerve function tests I am NOT legally disabled. My PA at the clinic treats me like a brain dead hypochondriac and you don’t even want to try to imagine how the SS disability judge treated me and my attorney.
I’ve taken printouts of the internet resources, copies of studies and so on, about this subject. My medico (a PA is what we broke folks rate) glances at them and hands them back. No notes, not a single effort to actually study them or to write down sources.
I’m 60 and emotionally stable and even happy most of the time as I find ways to be creative and involved in life.
But it is maddening to be treated as we are. The word for the cause is IATROGENIC. That means doctors CAUSED our condition.
I’m still not sorry I had the surgery. I had about 15 years of high energy low weight and it was wonderful.
By the way, I’m overweight again and having a very hard time losing anything!
can you please email me- i have some questions for you marc@mtgxpert.com
thanks
i had my surgery last year 2009, nothing but trouble since i had the full gastric bypass surgery, and no they did not tell me that this ending up in a wheelchair unable to walk was a possibility, if for some reason you are still throwing up after lets say two weeks, make a dr. listen this is very important, i am in constant pain now. i did this surgery to try to better my health not for looks, now i look bad and feel worse than i look. i had no nutrients left in my body after four months of throwing up. i told the surgeon and called the office sometimes three to four times a day, to no avail. i started falling my legs wouldn’t hold me up at all i couldn’t even just stand and pivot to a bed side commode. my family and bf were having to complete lift me to that, then my arms quit. i finally got a hosp. to listen too late at that point i was already severely damaged and the neurosurgeon ask me if i had ever seen the pict. footprints in the sand i and bf said yes he said that is your testemony to god because he has been carrying you for four months now, i cannot believe you are still here. believe it or not. my toenails felt like someone was prying them up and sticking hot cigarettes under them constantly, i had no feeling from the hip down and the shoulders down at that point. now in a wheelchair let me point out again i have feeling to the knee but no lower and still constant burning tingling pain, and the elbow down no feeling, except my pinky finger can feel touch but they both arms tingle and burn also. i hope one day i can walk again but the neurologist said no from the getgo. it’s a terrible thing i hope you all get help before you are in this shape please!!!!!! make then hospitilize you and give you liq vits if you have to. keep going to dr.s and trying you do not want this at all i promise, please seek help NOW!!! thank you for your time i just wanted to try to help others who may be getting to this point before it’s too late.
I am so glad I came across this today. I was reading an article about agent orange of all things, and one search led to another so here I am. I had Roux En Y in 2003. To date I have lost 170 lbs. Had some problems probably the first 5 months or so keeping food (or anything else) down, but finally got it together. In 2005 I had to have a hysterectomy, with a “tummy tuck” 2 weeks later. From the moment I woke in recovery from the Hyst, I have felt like something is wrong. I now have loss of bladder usage. Sometimes it feels like I am in labor, and I mean hard labor! Imagine going through labor for weeks at a time! 24 hours a day it feels like I am digesting glass. I was diagnosed with Radial Neuropathy a year or so ago. That’s what I was looking at to get here. Neuropathy. Imagine my surprise! From January 2006 to today I have spent going to doctor after doctor, even moving to another state to go to the “Medical University Hospital” that is supposed to house the best there is, only to be told that there is “Nothing wrong”, or that they “can’t find anything”. I was even in bed for 2 years doing what I was told to do, which was to “deal with it”. I had the top Gastric Bypass surgeon in SC tell me to live with it, that it wasn’t killing me. When I told him that I couldn’t stand long enough to cook my family dinner, or that the pain was just too much for any person to live with, that was what he told me. I work 2 hours a day, not because I want to, not because I can’t do better, but because I hurt so much but I had to have some kind of job to help pay the bills. I have felt useless and worthless for years. I can’t even get disability because you “can’t prove nerve damage”. I have to go see a surgeon next month about removing my gall bladder. What can I say to him to get him to recognize this condition? The doctors DID make me this way! I was fine I thought until I had the surgery in 2005. This has ended my life. Everyday my world revolves around how much pain I am in. My children have grown and yet I still sit here in pain. I had GB so that I may live, and live longer, and now I have to live longer while I am in this much pain. I’ve been to pain management places, had injections, and the pain just comes back. Even Lortab doesn’t help unless I take an ungodly amount of them. The doctor’s think that I am crazy, or a drug addict, which I am neither. I even had one doctor tell me that my depression was causing my pain! For the love of Pete! I do believe it’s the other way around! Anything anyone can tell me, give me, resources etc. to get my family doctor or this surgeon open their eyes and look at my intestines before it’s too late? I wish you all nothing but the best, and pray for those of you who are or have suffered from this problem. Thank you so very much and God Bless.
Love, Peace, and Prayers,
Pam in NC
hi i have had neurapathy and really bad since 04 and thinking of gastric bypass hmm is it goin to make it worse or help i am on lyrica 600 mg a day and and a couple others i cant rem. due to lyrica loss of memmory and ivig weekly helps some so WHAT SHOULD I DO!
My dad had gastric bypass surgery last year. Now, he is in a wheelchair and the electromyographies keep showing more and more damage. We’ve seen many different doctors and nobody gives a clear response. We live in Mexico and plan to travel to the U.S. Do you recommend any city or doctor?
Thank you
I just recently had surgery, about 2 weeks ago and when I sleep at night my thighs start to burn. Can i been experiencing neuropathy this early??
I had gastric bypass in 2003. I have had a a burning pain in my shoulders for a year now .I have had physical therapy for 6 mos; it did nothing. Then I had trigger point injections which worked at first. Now I have severe muscle cramps, spasms like my feet and hands like claws, cramps in the arches of my feet. Right now I have pain, a cramp in my calf that has been there all day and my rt shoulder has a burning pain, then it goes up my neck and down my arm.I can feel the hard as rock spasm up my neck down my arm and down aroubd the rt shoulder where my trapezious muscle is. I am afraid. I was shopping, got a cramp in my foot for 25 min and couldn’t walk. The pain was so severe, I thought I had to call the ambulance. As soon as I was done with that cramp, the other foot began. It holds me like a vice, that wont let go. It ia hard to hold my head up, just to sit there in a chair hurts. I have no muscle left in my body. I feel depressed because of the pain, and my husband does not understand. I need a doctor who specializes in vitamin deficiency and neuropathy, someone who knows what hes doing. I am in the phoenix area. Does anyone know of what kind of dr I should go to or who? PLEASE someone help. I am in so much pain and I need to be diagnosed.
Have your Thiamin levels checked.
I had the lap band done about a week ago. Does anyone have experience with lap band.
FINALLY, a website with other people who have the same problem as me. I had a gastric bypass several years ago and since then I have suffered from intense, constant and severe burning in my legs as well as a lack of touch sensation.
I have been on just about every drug / opiod known to man and NOTHING makes the pain go away. I am on Fentanyl 175mcg at the moment with Oxynorm sol for breakthrough pain but it just dulls the pain for a short while.
Not a single Doctor that has treated me on the NHS in the UK has had any idea what may be causing the pain.
Now that I can show them this site perhaps they can find a solution!
Agree have thiamine levels checked along with B12. I heard this directly from a physician that treated a pt that couldn’t walk. PTand neurologist said she was faking it. This other doc read she had bypass and checked those levels. That’s what I suggest. I hab the surgery in 2010 and had high stress and anxiety before and after the surgery. I now have stressed induced gastritis.