A 25-year-old man lately got here to Dr. Sudhir Kumar, a Hyderabad-based neurologist, complaining of alarming signs together with blurred imaginative and prescient, double imaginative and prescient, unsteady gait, forgetfulness and confusion, all of which developed inside three days.
Sharing the case on X, Dr. Kumar wrote: “I lately met a 25-year-old man who got here to me with uncommon complaints of blurred imaginative and prescient, double imaginative and prescient, issue strolling, and forgetfulness over the course of simply three days. He appeared anxious and confused, and his unsteady gait was putting.”
When requested about latest medical historical past, the affected person revealed that she had undergone bariatric (weight reduction) surgical procedure simply 3 weeks in the past. Since then he extremely restricted food plancan barely eat and has bother taking dietary dietary supplements. Dr. Kumar mentioned, “Given his signs and up to date surgical procedure, we suspected a dietary deficiency affecting the mind. His MRI scan revealed attribute modifications within the periaqueductal area and mammillary our bodies, a traditional discovering of a neurological situation referred to as Wernicke’s encephalopathy.”
Uncommon however preventable problems after weight reduction surgical procedure
▶️I lately met a 25-year-old man who got here to me complaining of bizarre signs, together with blurred imaginative and prescient, double imaginative and prescient, issue strolling, and forgetfulness, which had developed over simply three days. He regarded anxious and confused, however… pic.twitter.com/ZV0QFAeHjL— Dr. Sudhir Kumar MD DM (@hyderabaddoctor) November 11, 2025
“Wernicke’s encephalopathy (WE) is a neurological emergency attributable to a extreme deficiency of thiamine (vitamin B₁). Thiamin is important for power metabolism within the mind, and its deficiency can quickly injury areas of the mind answerable for reminiscence, coordination, and eye actions,” Dr. Kumar defined the prognosis. This situation is commonest in individuals with continual alcoholism, however it will probably additionally develop after bariatric surgical procedure, extended vomiting, hunger, or sure infections.
On this case, immediate intervention proved lifesaving. “We instantly began the affected person on high-dose intravenous thiamine, adopted by oral consumption. Inside a couple of days, his imaginative and prescient improved, his sense of steadiness returned, and his reminiscence grew to become clearer. This exceptional restoration highlights the significance of early prognosis and immediate thiamine remedy,” mentioned Dr. Kumar.
How does thiamine deficiency quickly have an effect on mind operate, and why is it particularly prone to happen after bariatric surgical procedure or excessive dietary restriction?
Dr Jagdish Chatnari, Senior Minimally Invasive Neurospine Surgeon, HCG Hospital, Bangalore West Clinic, Bangalore, says: indianexpress.com“Thiamin, or vitamin B1, is important for changing glucose into power in mind cells. As a result of the mind is nearly utterly depending on glucose for gasoline, thiamine deficiency can quickly disrupt power metabolism. When thiamine ranges lower, neurons are unable to operate effectively, resulting in swelling, oxidative stress, and in the end cell injury.”
The danger will increase after bariatric surgical procedure or throughout long-term dietary restrictions, he says, as a result of meals consumption is usually diminished and absorption of vitamins within the gut is impaired. In these conditions, thiamin shops can rapidly change into depleted if there’s inadequate consumption or vomiting, even for a brief time period. Signs can seem inside a couple of days, because the mind is very power dependent and is without doubt one of the first organs affected.
Early neurological warning indicators to look out for after vital weight reduction or dietary modifications
Dr. Chattnari says early warning indicators embrace “persistent fatigue, irritability, confusion, reminiscence loss, blurred or double imaginative and prescient, and lack of steadiness or unsteadiness whereas strolling.” In some circumstances, individuals dismiss these signs as weak point or dehydration, however they are often early indicators of a thiamine deficiency that impacts the mind.
Sure nutritional vitamins and minerals that post-obesity sufferers ought to prioritize
“Key nutritional vitamins and minerals that require common supplementation embrace thiamine (vitamin B₁), vitamin B₁₂, folic acid, iron, calcium, and vitamin D. Thiamine supplementation is particularly essential through the first six months after surgical procedure, when sufferers are most weak attributable to restricted consumption.” frequent vomiting” says Dr Chatnari.
Ideally, dietary follow-up ought to happen each 3 to six months for the primary yr and a minimum of yearly thereafter. Common follow-up, mixed with a balanced food plan and compliance with prescribed dietary supplements, can be certain that sufferers reap the advantages of long-term weight reduction with out neurological dangers.
Disclaimer: This text is predicated on data from the general public area and/or from specialists we spoke to. Make sure to seek the advice of your physician earlier than beginning your day by day life.
