Question:
Anyone with sensitive skin post-op? Kindof a strange question...
Hi all! I am now a little over 7 mos. post-op Lap RNY and down 88 pounds. Kindof a slow loser (aaargh!) but am reasonably happy with my progress. I was wondering if anyone had skin changes post-op? I live in Michigan and just got 6 inches of snow and was shoveling out of my driveway yesterday and got frostbite on my hands. I was wearing gloves! Ok, they were driving gloves, but they were gloves nonetheless! This is the second time this year that I have gotten frostbite on my hands (the first time, my hand was wet and I was unclogging the ice-maker in the freezer) and the nurses at the hospital I work at said that I should call my doctor because that just isn't right. I know that I have problems with iron. I have been anemic post-op and am really bad at taking iron pills because of the constipation thing. I also know that I have vitamin D problems, but what could be causing such skin sensitivity? I try to get my water in, but my skin has gotten very dry. The last month or so, in Michigan, it has been very cold- like sub zero cold. Anyone know if this could be a vitamin and mineral problem, or should I just be worried about dry skin? Maybe my doctor could write me a script to go to Florida or something...could work, couldn't it? — amysocko (posted on February 15, 2007)
February 15, 2007
Hi, I live in Michigan too (Hazel Park) and have also been having trouble
with the cold weather. I always carry gloves with me.. I havent had
frostbite or anything, but I try not to spend too much time in the cold. I
find myself taking alot of hot baths with moisturizing bubble bath, to help
with the dry skin. I also have a little heater in my living room and a
heating pad to keep me warm. I am anemic too right now and have also been
taking iron supplements. I dont know if it is just the fact that we have
lost so much weight and "padding" that we are cold all of the
time now. Hey, if you get that script to go to Florida.. take me with
you!! Sorry I don't have any advice.. be careful out in that snow!!
April
— April
February 15, 2007
Amy, I have not had my surg yet, but I do have very dry, sensitive skin. I
live in PA. which isn't helping either because we had major snow yesterday
too. I started using Gold Bond Ultimate Healing Skin Therapy Lotion, it has
made a world of difference in my skin. My hubby's too, and he is a mailman
outside all day long. It's worth a try.
— jlw0423
February 15, 2007
I don't have an answer to the dry skin, nor the cold ( by the way I live in
Florida, just outside Orlando, and it is supposed to be in the 30s Friday
night.), but I do have a suggestion for the iron/constipation thing. I
have added Fiber One cereal to my meal plan. Just 1/2 cup per day is 56%
of your daily fiber requirement. I also have added 2 Nature Made fish oil
capsules per day to my vitamins. Between the two, I have solved the
"slow going" problem.I am almost 12months out and have lost 136
lbs. Good luck to you.
— marykay0720
February 15, 2007
I live in Michigan too and have noticed that my hands have been getting
ridiculously cold too even with gloves. My skin is extra dry too. I had
chalked it up to the super cold weather we've been having. Hadn't
considered it could be a side effect of the surgery. Hmm...now you got me
thinking.
— Tim F.
February 15, 2007
It is very common to get dry skin just because it is winter, but certainly
increasing water may help. As far as the iron goes, you are already anemic,
you REALLY need to take iron. Have you tried vitron-C iron? That is what my
surgeon recommends. It is not likely to cause constipation. I don't havea
problem with that. Anemia is worse than constipation. Can you take a stool
softner? Again drink more fluids, helps with constipation. Anemia can make
you more prone to frosbite. I wish my doc would write me an Rx for Florida
as well ;-). Good luck!
— SteffieBear15
February 15, 2007
I am also having cold and numbness in hands and feet issues this winter. I
am always freezing and I have thinsulate mittens and my hands go absolutely
white and numb. So bad I have to run then under warm water when I get in
the house. Then they turn blue. Weird. I went to my doctor and there
isn't anything they can do for me. It is a circulation issue they say. I
need to improve my circulation I guess. I am 18 months post op. I have
been taking Biotin supplements daily as that is one of the symptoms for a
Biotin defiency. Biotin is part of the B vitamin family so it makes sense
as we don't absorb our B vitamins like we should. I hope I helped !!! Good
luck and just pray the warm weather comes soon !!!
Kelly Dame
— Kdame
February 15, 2007
Having cold hands and feet appears to be a common symptom of post-ops. Also
make sure that you do not have Raynaud's Syndrome. This causes hands and
feet to be extremely cold; they can turn completley white, etc. IT is a
circulation issue. I have seen people that have to carry those small hand
warmers to keep their hands warm. Ask your physician about it ans/or look
it up online.
— toula21
February 15, 2007
Amy, I don't think you have an issue that you need a perscription for,
although a perscription for Florida might be nice! When you lose weight,
your hands lose much of their fat. I have the same problem. I live in
Nebraska, and my hands and feet are always cold. I keep a heating pad by
my bed to warm my feet when they won't get warm on their own, and am very
careful how long I am in the cold. I have tried gloves with batteries, I
am always cold. My skin will "clump" together on my hands when
it is close to "0" outside. Be careful, and buy the hand
warmers. If you shovel snow, put a hand warmer in your glove on each side
to keep your palms warm, and maybe every so often go in and warm up, then
back out to shovel. It is one of the benefits of weight loss, just be
careful and protect your hands and feet. Take care, Patricia P.
— Patricia P
February 15, 2007
Hi, I am in Pennsylvania and freezing....when I was losing weight really
fast, i was cold even during the summer. I think that the weight loss has
alot to do with it as well as we don't absorb different vits and mins as
well any longer. I think that the b vits are extremely important, but if
you have had a gastric bypass, then you can't absorb them through food or
supplements by mouth, you need either a sublingual or a shot.
Their is only one sublingual b complex that I have found and it is through
spring valley, I got it at walmart. Alot of people supplement b-12,
without thinking of the other b complex vits.
Drinking plenty of fluids helps with the dry skin, which is easier said
then done...lol. I hope that you find a resolution that works for
you...keep us posted.
Lisa H postop lap/rny 10-23-03 340+/179/???
— Lisa H.
February 16, 2007
I thought you might find this article on Web MD useful. It is about
Raynaud's Syndrome/Disease. Also, I am 2 years post-op and have had the
cold hands and feet problem ever since surgery, I live in Southern
California where it doesn't get "that" cold either (usually) and
I still have problems. I have lost 145 pounds in 2 years ...I figured it's
just because I don't have all that extra padding (fat) anymore, but the
article is interesting none-the-less. Good Luck with that script for
Florida! ~L
http://www.webmd.com/hw/health_guide_atoz/hw180983.asp
— Laura G.
February 16, 2007
I have always had sensitive skin, but since the surgery, I get cold easier.
That is because we have less protective fat! Also because we are eating
less. You just have to dress more warmly. I do lots of layers.
88 pounds in seven months is an average of 12 pounds per month, which is
really good! that is much faster than I did!
— Novashannon
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