Re: Extreme back pain

November 8, 2001

At 7:15 AM -0500 11/8/01, andem4@... wrote:

>I am not sure if this is related to my DS or not, but...About a week

>ago my back started bothering me. At first I figured it was due to

>my monthly visitor so I wasn't too worried. The pain kept getting

>worse each day and 2 days ago my visitor showed up. Yesterday the

>back pain got really bad and this morning I can barely move.

It is just possible that you have a kidney stone. It is not a usual

occurrence after the DS, but not unknown, either. I passed 12 stones

in the three days following 9/11. I was just over five months

post-op at the time. Then, about a week later, another three stones.

All were 100% uric acid. That could implicate all the protein that I

have been eating, as uric acid is one of the breakdown products of

protein metabolism. Best way to deal with kidney stones, BEFORE THEY

HAPPEN, is to drink, drink, drink at least 2 quarts of water a day.

For me, that is difficult, because I am no fan of drinking water, but

I try.

Again, your problem may not be kidney stones at all, but it is worth

considering as a possibility.

There is one other possibility, too. Several folks get back pains

after dropping a fair amount of weight. One explanation is that the

re-distribution of weight puts new strains on the spine and back

muscles, and until the body re-adjusts, there is great pain. As I

type, my back has been killing me for the past four days. Sitting

makes it much worse. I do not know if it is more kidney stones or

weight re-distribution, or just plain old age.

Hoping you feel better soon,

Steve

--

Steve Goldstein, age 61

Lap BPD/DS on May 2, 2001

Dr. Elariny, INOVA Fairfax Hospital, Virginia

Starting (05/02/01) BMI = 51

BMI on 10/25 = 39 (-75 lb.) -- No longer M.O.

Losing more slowly than most, but enjoying renewed health and life in general.

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