September 13, 2007
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 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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Tim
09/18/2007 at 12:30 pm
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
Ken Savage
09/18/2007 at 12:52 pm
I emailed Dr Chin to see if there’s anything he can think of for us to research.
Joana
10/06/2007 at 2:48 am
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.
Maricar
01/08/2008 at 3:22 pm
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
Ken Savage
01/08/2008 at 7:26 pm
thanks Maricar, is this your own site?
Erik
02/06/2008 at 2:07 pm
“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.
Indicator Plaster Neuropad Is Key In Early Diabetic Neuropathy Detection
03/23/2008 at 2:51 am
[...] it is suggested that patients utilize the Indicator Plaster Neuropad once a year as a way of detecting peripheral neuropathy. This 10 minute examination results in either a pink light when the nerve conduction is normal or a [...]
Susan G.
07/17/2008 at 8:32 pm
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!
Nancy
08/22/2008 at 5:48 pm
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?
Ann
11/25/2008 at 1:54 am
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.
Ken Savage
11/25/2008 at 2:29 am
@Ann – thx for sharing. Let us know how it goes.
I’ve heard of B12 shots but not for someone after gastric bypass surgery.
Casey Willson
07/11/2009 at 11:20 pm
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.
Stephanie
01/10/2009 at 2:04 pm
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.
mopo
07/29/2009 at 2:08 pm
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.
Casey
07/29/2009 at 6:25 pm
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!