DPaul

Parathyroid hormone. I got my latest blood results just before we moved from Trinidad - we've been in Tunisia for a couple of days now. I've been in touch with my surgeon in Trinidad and he has recomended I get in touch with an endocrinologist. I'm not too comfortable dealing with one here in Tunis as I have no experience with the local medical treatment/facilities and will probably try to locate one in the UK (Manchester maybe if anyone knows a good one there) and make a trip there pretty soon.

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Lap RNY - 19 Feb 2009

High/Surgery/Current/Goal
272/264/174/162

Phoenixfire

After getting a call today (on a Saturday even!) with the preliminary results of some tests, my doctor thinks it's probable that my osteoporosis developed due to "Hypomagnesaemia" (which is doctor-speak for very low levels of magnesium in my body). I have had a weird (and scary) combination of physical problems develop lately. Some have gotten worse quickly, so I saw my doc last week. I'll see him again Tuesday to have other tests done.

My doc doesn't have a complete answer to all that's wrong with me. He's trying to nail down a complete diagnosis so I can start treatment that might help me and stop some things from getting worse. Like I said, his preliminary impression is that I don't have enough magnesium in my body, and that I haven't had enough for awhile now. This deficiency CAN cause osteopenia/osteoporosis, but he's not saying that's what caused it in me. It could have been lack of calcium too. Oh, and Vitamin D.

Seven years ago my surgeon told me to take a plain multi-vitamin and Tums every day. He said Flintstones are good because swallowing big pills can be hard postop. Well it was for me, for a long time. So please don't think I ignored my doctor's orders. IF I HAD BEEN TOLD TO TAKE THE RIGHT VITAMINS BACK THEN, I WOULD BE HEALTHIER NOW. I wish I could turn back time. I only learned about the right postop vitamins/minerals here on TT. I guess that's why I want to share this, pay it forward if you will, so that others who come here will learn the right thing if their doc didn't tell them either.

My friends, PLEASE don't be reckless about taking vitamins/minerals. You can develop complications any time after a WLS that causes malabsorption. You will never be able to absorb enough nutrients from your diet no matter how much you eat.

I'm posting my complications here because postop people need to hear what can happen if you don't take vitamins/minerals forever. I may be one of the "unlucky" ones to have had this problem, but you shouldn't think it can't happen to you too. Nobody is immune if you don't take the RIGHT supplements every single day for the rest of your life.

If you'd like to learn more about what's going on with me, here's a link to a site that is well-written and not too scientific. I'm posting some of it here too. There are more sites and info out there, but I won't bore you.

The Importance of Magnesium to Human Nutrition

WHAT IS THE RIGHT MAGNESIUM SUPPLEMENT? Magnesium is available in many forms. The cheapest is probably magnesium oxide, but this form is not absorbed as well as some other forms, which include chelated magnesium, magnesium glycinate and magnesium aspartate. Dr. Baker feels that the prescription form of magnesium chloride, known as Slow-mag, has been most useful for his patients. I have found that magnesium taurate, an unusual form of magnesium in which magnesium is chemically combined with the amino acid derivative taurine, is particularly well utilized and beneficial.

WHAT ARE SYMPTOMS OF MAGNESIUM DEFICIENCY? Magnesium deficiency can affect virtually every organ system of the body. With regard to skeletal muscle, one may experience twitches, cramps, muscle tension, muscle soreness, including back aches, neck pain, tension headaches and jaw joint (or TMJ) dysfunction. Also, one may experience chest tightness or a peculiar sensation that he can't take a deep breath. Sometimes a person may sigh a lot.

Symptoms involving impaired contraction of smooth muscles include constipation; urinary spasms; menstrual cramps; difficulty swallowing or a lump in the throat-especially provoked by eating sugar; photophobia, especially difficulty adjusting to oncoming bright headlights in the absence of eye disease; and loud noise sensitivity from stapedius muscle tension in the ear.

Continuing with the symptoms of magnesium deficiency, the central nervous system is markedly affected. Symptoms include insomnia, anxiety, hyperactivity and restlessness with constant movement, panic attacks, agoraphobia, and premenstrual irritability. Magnesium deficiency symptoms involving the peripheral nervous system include numbness, tingling, and other abnormal sensations, such as zips, zaps and vibratory sensations.

Symptoms or signs of the cardiovascular system include palpitations, heart arrhythmias, angina due to spasms of the coronary arteries, high blood pressure and mitral valve prolapse. Be aware that not all of the symptoms need to be present to presume magnesium deficiency; but, many of them often occur together. For example, people with mitral valve prolapse frequently have palpitations, anxiety, panic attacks and premenstrual symptoms. People with magnesium deficiency often seem to be "uptight." Other general symptoms include a salt craving, both carbohydrate craving and carbohydrate intolerance, especially of chocolate, and breast tenderness.

HOW MUCH MAGNESIUM SHOULD I GET? The recommended daily allowance or RDA for magnesium is 350 milligrams of elemental magnesium. An important point here is that when reading the label of a supplement containing magnesium, it is important to distinguish between the number of milligrams per tablet or capsule of the entire magnesium complex versus the number of milligrams of elemental magnesium or pure magnesium. For example, one label of a chelated magnesium states that 4 tablets contain 4,000 mg of the chelated magnesium complex with 500 mg of elemental magnesium. The important number is the one that refers to the elemental magnesium. The other 3,500 mg in this case refers to the amino acid complex that is bound to the magnesium.

I'm going to post this in it's own thread. It's here just because it might be related to osteopenia.

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Open Roux-en-Y on October, 2002 - 7 year anniversary is right around the corner
Height: 5'8"
Highest weight: 300 lbs. with a BMI of 45.6
Current weight: 140-145 lbs. and a size 6/8 with a BMI of 21.7
Total weight lost after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: 160 lbs. POUNDS!

Delane

OMG, reading all this just blows my mind, WoW, Im going to mention this to my doctor and my bariatric doctor, Im going to make sure I get this test, and never again will I let myself miss one of my supplements. Thank you so much for sharing this with all of us. Please keep us posted on how you are doing and what is going on. Delane

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Phoenixfire

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Open Roux-en-Y on October, 2002 - 7 year anniversary is right around the corner
Height: 5'8"
Highest weight: 300 lbs. with a BMI of 45.6
Current weight: 140-145 lbs. and a size 6/8 with a BMI of 21.7
Total weight lost after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: 160 lbs. POUNDS!

Delane

Thank you so much, I take only Bariatric advantage supplements, I get everything from them. I just had my husband read this whole thread, because thats how much it really made me stop and think. He said he wants me to go see my doctor about this next week to get the ball rolling.

I will admit that I have missed day's of taking my supplements and thought oh well it can't be that big of deal. WELL SHAME ON ME. NEVER AGAIN. As a matter of fact he wants me to print this thread off and hang it on the fridg. Thanks so much I would have never known if you hadn't shared.
Delane

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Hippy Shake

That sounds terrible! I am wondering (and forgive me if I missed it somewhere), have you taken any proton pump inhibitors like Nexium, Pantoloc, Periet, or the like? Long term use has also been shown to inhibit calcium absorbtion. I know I need to take Nexium forever more and I am so concerned about developing osteoperosis! I'll be watching my magnesium, too.

I hope you start to get some better news form your doctors soon...

Phoenixfire

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Open Roux-en-Y on October, 2002 - 7 year anniversary is right around the corner
Height: 5'8"
Highest weight: 300 lbs. with a BMI of 45.6
Current weight: 140-145 lbs. and a size 6/8 with a BMI of 21.7
Total weight lost after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: 160 lbs. POUNDS!

Phoenixfire

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Open Roux-en-Y on October, 2002 - 7 year anniversary is right around the corner
Height: 5'8"
Highest weight: 300 lbs. with a BMI of 45.6
Current weight: 140-145 lbs. and a size 6/8 with a BMI of 21.7
Total weight lost after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: 160 lbs. POUNDS!

Phoenixfire

__________________


Open Roux-en-Y on October, 2002 - 7 year anniversary is right around the corner
Height: 5'8"
Highest weight: 300 lbs. with a BMI of 45.6
Current weight: 140-145 lbs. and a size 6/8 with a BMI of 21.7
Total weight lost after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: 160 lbs. POUNDS!

ardita

phoenix-what progress are you making with your calcium/bone density and magnesium issues? you have offered some incredibly valuable information for us all...

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