Have you ever felt like you were completely losing your mind? Like the world was swallowing you up and little things were out of your control and unmanageable? Like you were confused, tired, out of sorts and simply wanted to collapse? Has everyday noise become intolerably loud in your head?
That's how I was feeling a few months ago. I was confident I'd lost my mind and suffered a serious change of personality (for the worse, I may add).
My husband noticed my personality change too. He's a good and wise man and quietly did some research. This is what we learned and how we set about correcting my "problem."
As we know the gastric-bypass patient is at risk for vitamin and mineral deficiency. I religiously take my supplements. However, I was not taking the RDI of Magnesium which is 400 milligrams/day. Magnesium rich foods are raw rice bran, raw wheat germ, yellow cornmeal, corn, soybeans, soy milk, tofu, raw seeds and nuts, leafy greens, yellow vegetables and fruits, whole cereal grains, milk products & seafood. Meat and poultry are not particularly good sources of magnesium. Clearly, a weight loss surgery patient will not meet their magnesium requirements through diet.
From Dr. Bernard Jensen's Guide to Body Chemistry & Nutrition" I quote:
"I want to point out here that the classical deficiency symptoms for magnesium include neuromuscular signs, such as tremors, weakness, muscle spasms and irregular heartbeat; gastrointestinal signs such as nausea and vomiting; and personality changes that display confusion, apprehensiveness and depression. In the "old days" people with magnesium deficiency were often (mistakenly) taken to mental institutions because they acted so radically different that they literally seemed to be mentally ill."
In other reading we learned magnesium deficiency leads to a hyper-sensitivity to sound:
"It is well established that nutritional effects may result in hypersensitive hearing. Many individuals who are deficient in magnesium suffer from sound sensitivity, and they often experience an improvement after receiving magnesium supplements. A suggested 20 milligrams per each 10 pounds of body weight per day, is an appropriate amount of magnesium. Improvement would occur within a few days if the cause of the sensitivity is a magnesium deficiency." This statement appeared in The Sound Connection, 1998, Vol. 5, No. 3.
I started immediately taking a magnesium supplement and within a few weeks I felt like a new woman back to my old self again. The hyper-sensitivity to sound diminished and life did not seem so overwhelming. Case in point ? exactly two weeks after beginning the magnesium supplement my stepsons and their children arrived unexpectedly at our home for dinner. To make matters worse, we had the kitchen disassembled for a minor remodel project. I happily adapted and cooked dinner for 7 without having a breakdown. That's when I knew the magnesium was working.
Patients should talk with their bariatric center if they experience these conditions or concerns. Annual blood tests will indicate if a patient is deficient in magnesium and other essential vitamins and minerals.
© 2005 Kaye Bailey - All Rights Reserved
Kaye Bailey is a weight loss surgery success story having maintained her health and goal weight for 5+ years. An award winning journalist, she is the author and webmaster of http://www.livingafterwls.com and http://www.livingafterwls.blogspot.com
Fresh & insightful content is added daily, check in often.
To subscribe to the LivingAfterWLS monthly newsletter "You Have Arrived" click on http://www.livingafterwls.com and enter your details in the subscription box.
It is believed that cane sugar was discovered before the... Read More
Studies on whey demonstrate it's an even better protein supplement... Read More
It slows ageing, promotes healthy vision, has anti-cancer properties, increases... Read More
During the Second World War, the Germans used fluoride as... Read More
Modern life can be stressful. There are so many concerns... Read More
The field of nutrition is awash with charts, tables, diagrams,... Read More
Dieting is a pain. I think basically everyone would agree... Read More
Nails are a protective horn at the end of our... Read More
It is shocking how many people are not taking advantage... Read More
Have you ever watched someone who appears thin and healthy... Read More
After we have eaten a meal -- and often we... Read More
Nature works mostly on the principle of thing and no... Read More
Our bodies need cholesterol. We use cholesterol to produce vitamin... Read More
The proliferation of fast food restaurants, convenience stores, and vending... Read More
Our diet is an essential factor for the formation of... Read More
What is nutrition? We hear so many reports today on... Read More
Detoxifying the body has become an apparent key preventative measure... Read More
You know about Vitamins A,C, D, E ,and the B's... Read More
One way to combat the boredom many people complain accompanies... Read More
According to the National Institute of Health, Magnesium is needed... Read More
Inflammation is not a disease.Inflammation is best described as a... Read More
Dr. Arthur Agatston, the cardiologist who developed South Beach Diet... Read More
NutrientsFat, Sugar, Sodium and CarbohydrateThe sections on a food label... Read More
How is it that we can't seem to think that... Read More
With so many people concerned about natural and organic foods... Read More
Much controversy and argument surrounds the idea that food may... Read More
You can spot a juicer a mile off at the... Read More
Summer brings a lot of fantastic things with it, but... Read More
Understanding What a Low Cholesterol Diet isBasically, in order to... Read More
What if there was a combination of foods that were... Read More
Acid Reflux Disease, or GERD, is a common disease which... Read More
Having a large amount of such "visceral fat" is associated... Read More
The benefits from eating healthy are endless. And, according to... Read More
Sprouts not only taste good, but they are also a... Read More
The Immune System is probably the most important system in... Read More
Can a child thrive on a vegan diet? The answer... Read More
Instead of Butter: Use top quality, cold pressed, extra virgin... Read More
The old cliché that you are what you eat is... Read More
Acid Reflux Disease, or GERD, is a common disease which... Read More
Approximately 30 years ago, food manufacturers were competing against the... Read More
The importance of protein in a healthy diet is well... Read More
Are Your Cells Talking To Each Other?Communication! It permeates our... Read More
While there are many effective ways to get more energy... Read More
If you have a business trip tomorrow morning, you've probably... Read More
Fat is a nutrient that is a contributor to the... Read More
You must add some fresh cherries, which are now in... Read More
I would like to raise a question: Is Rejuvenation possible... Read More
Summer is the time when we sweat highly and beating... Read More
Can we really stop the aging process, slow it down,... Read More
Unfortunately, the words "diet" and "cheating" go hand in hand.... Read More
Scandinavian fishermen are a healthy bunch. It had long been... Read More
Meal sizes and frequency are very important. Over the years... Read More
The best weight training and cardio workouts will do very... Read More
As any student of chemistry will assure you, acids and... Read More
Besides providing taste, color, and aroma, certain seasonings can also... Read More
The Health and Nutrition Industry has come about as peoples... Read More
People who consume too much alcohol have good chance of... Read More
Cholesterol is present in our bodies by one of two... Read More
Are You Half The Man Your Father Was?It is a... Read More
Your healthOrganically grown fruit and vegetables are not covered in... Read More
"The physician who knows only medicine, knows not even medicine."... Read More
Numerous reports have recently appeared in both the lay and... Read More
Since the 1930's the western diet has dramatically changed. This... Read More
Fruit Advantage Tart Cherry capsules are a nutritious, all-natural alternative... Read More
Health is the thing. And no matter how many ways... Read More
Today, more than ever, consumers over the age of 50... Read More
Nutrition |