Warning for us all

Just when I thought I knew all the pits and perils of weight loss surgery, a new one pops up.  Here's a warning for all of us. 

As part of the treatment of my kidney stones, my nephrologist ran many more blood and urine tests than my pcp normally runs in my annual check up.  One of the tests was a 24 hour urine test where I got to pee in a jug for 24 hours and store it in the fridge.  Joy of joys.  The result?  A severe vitamin D deficiency, Osteomalacia and Osteitis Fibrosa.  The vitamin D deficiency can be serious because it can lead to a whole host of problems including muscle weakness, chronic pain, depression, Multiple Sclerosis, Restless Leg Syndrome and a bunch more.  Any of this sound familiar?  I'm now on massive prescription doses of vitamin D. 

The nephrologist said that she is not surprised because she sees this deficiency in wls patients from time to time. 

Next time you see your doctor, ask to have your vitamin D levels checked and until you get to the doc, start taking D supplements.

Oh yeah, I also have extremely elevated Oxalate levels.  Not sure if this is related to wls.  Normal range is between 3.6 and 38 and my level is 93.4.  Yep, 93.4.  I'm now on a low oxalate diet.  No butter, margerine, oil, shortening, sour cream, dressing, bacon, gravy, sauces, fried foods, pastries, refned sugar, beans, celery, greens, eggplant, leeks, okra, parsley, peppers, black pepper, rutabegas, spinach, squash, sweet potatoes, watercress, berries, grapes, fruit ****tail, lemon and lime peel, oranges, beer, tea, chocolate, cocoa, coffee, cranberry juice, tomato juice, grape juice, orange uice, fruit cake, nuts, peanut butter, tofu, wheat germ, beets, figs, spinach, onions, the list goes on, but what hurts the most is no grits.  Arrrggghhh!  I sat in my car in the parking lot, reading through the list and I was OK with all of this until I got to the grits. It was the proverbial straw and I bawled.  I think my only food options may be boiled eggs, bananas and boiled chicken without the skin. 

i have never heard of oxalate--will have to research later
connie...i must admit to having had some buyer's remorse a few days ago..i didn't voice it- doesn't matter- too late ...
wow- i am about speechless ............................sending you mega hugs this morning!!!!!!!!!!!!

does either the oxalate or vitamin d deficiency show on blood tests? You mentioned urine... just curious. I am way past due for a full blood work up and was curious about if it shows up in the blood tests. I guess i can specifically ask the doc for it??  what the heck is oxalate? I have some SERIOUS weird sh!# going on with my body chemically. I'm upset because my doc keeps dissmissing it... its that "pica" I developed from my pregnancy where I am craving chemicals. Yes chemicals... especially gasoline and car exhaust and paint or any sort of thinner or seriously BAD BAD BAD chemical smells. Also strong detergent or vinyl or rubber anything ; white out! markers!!! oh gosh those are tempting. I had to throw all the white out and markers away that i had at my desk. How bad is that!!!???  chemically its SOOOOO bad that I actually feel my chest closing up and start clenching my teeth due to the craving. Its HORRIBLE to live with!! I mean HORRIBLE! I don't understand why the doc doesnt get it. Their "answer" Oh. Just dont sniff anything. 'sigh' Thats like telling a crack addict not to do crack when its sitting in their hands. I want an answer to what it is and why I am having these ABNORMAL cravings. because lets face it folks. A gut wrenching craving for gasoline and anything chemical is ABNORMAL! HELLOOOO DOCTORRSS??? YES I AM careful but some times its HARD to not just lean into the fumes and just inhale (whenever they are present like sitting in traffic or gasing up at the station). BAD! I try my very best not to but living with the craving is tearing me apart. I swear! I have been taking iron along with my chewables and It sometimes helps a little. They say that pica can be caused by iron deficiency. Gotta get them tests done and soon. I hate living with this feeling and craving. Just talking about it makes me clench my teeth. SO many weird and bizarre things to deal with. I imagine that wls doesnt help my case AT ALL. I'm sure we'll continue to hear about more things associated with wls. All part of the deal I suppose. 'sigh'  although I didn't sign up for this pica crap. Well I guess I did when I got prego.

amazing you would post this just now...I just got a call from my doctors office my lab results are back and they are also showing low Vit D and heres the weird part HIGH iron levels...usually the iron part is low after wls...so dont know why mine would be high...anyway going to docs on Monday will keep you posted. 

Connie my dear;

You certainly don't seem to be catching a break these days. I'm sorry to hear about all of these troubles. Thanks for the info on the vitamin D. I'll make sure that my doc checks on my next physical. For what it's worth, the calcium supplement I've been taking has been Calcium Citrate with "D". I'll be interested to see if this has spared me the low D issue. As for the Osteomalacia and Osteitis Fibrosa......please educate the ignorant.....what are they?

Mike

Yes, the Vitamin D level is one of those secret time bomb issues because if your calcium level is coming back "normal" - your PCP or regular doctor is likely to say everything is peachy. But the fact is, if you are deficient in Vitamin D, your body is actually leaching calcium from your bones - a very, very bad thing - which is why your calcium level is coming back "normal" !! In other words, your body is eating your bones up for breakfast, lunch, and dinner because it is starving for calcium - all because the system is not absorbing Vitamin D. But no one knows this unless it is specifically being tested. Your WLS surgeon knows to do this - or should. But regular doctors tend to dismiss this. Connie, are you having any unusual leg or other muscle cramping going on associated with this disease? In the last month or so, I am having these debilitating episodes of cramps in my thighs, calves, and feet. Last night, I was screaming and sobbing because my thigh cramped up so badly. Is anyone else having this at all? Sounds like we all should get our D level checked out! There's so much about this surgery post-life concerning health issues that we simply don't know or understand yet. Yikes. M.

Im not having the cramps...yet...but I have been faithfully been taking my calcium citrate with Vit D-3 and my D still is showing up low.  I have been taking a double dose, more then what is recommended  from the get go... so I dont know why this is happening. As for the High Iron level well that one blows my mind away...I eat a low iron diet, dont drink and have no family history of it. I know after wls 9 times out of 10 it is usually low in patients, but Im having the opposite effect. Im curious to see what my doctor has to say on Monday...Ill keep you all posted.

Well, I hope you don't mind but I literally cut-and-pasted your post and sent it in an email message to my doctor; he already has me scheduled for blood work to get my D levels checked, and some other panels. Thanks for this! I'm thinking this might really be connected to the leg cramping - it's really terrible for me... I hope you feel better soon! M.

tomorrow i am buying extra vitamin D i have cramps in my legs like you would not believe. it all fell apart this past august.
i'm back on the eating right band wagon in sept but i've felt awful for the past 3 months. i sure do hope i feel better soon.
in the past 3 weeks i had blood work done and believe me when i get home i'm checking to see if the D was checked, if not Im' going to have them run that test ASAP
any other things i should ask for?
i want me back. i'll even be happy with the extra weight i've gained if i could jsut feel like me again.