9 month Labs

Ok....so on September 13 i had my 9 month labs drawn. i hadnt heard anything so i though all was well. So i got a call yesterday- they dont seem THAT alarmed BUT I am borderline anemic Hypo thyroid - which i knew but i am on meds ya think it would get better Low Vitamin D High Potassium Ok so what is the plan....i guess i should be taking my multi 2x per day as was recommended...BUT i forget. Increase Iron to 3x per day instead of once. (but you know that is going to screw up my bowels) they are raising my thyroid meds and the multi will probably take care of the Vitamin D deficiency. How does potassium get high though? i dont eat a bunch of potassium enriched foods. Should i be nervous????

Hey Dawn.. pulling out the nurses cap here! Vitamin D is a major one that becomes low on a lot of post ops. Are you getting any Vit D with your calcium you take daily? It helps aid absorption of the calcium also! If you are what you get in your multi's isn't much it might help ya but would be hard to raise your levels I would think even with 2 a day. You might need to supplement vit d separately, ask your doctor. Make sure you are taking your thryoid 1 hour before or 2 hours after you eat. Otherwise you won't absorb the dose you are on and always 2 hours away from any iron! They don't do well together in the body.. iron will win over synthroid. Potassium can get high for a number of reasons.. but are you eating a lot of green leafy veggies? Those are super rich in potassium. Honestly if you are you may cut back a bit but it is hard to bring potassium down usually its low not high on most people.. so ask your doc about that one also. Good luck, this is what I know from my lil ol brain! Hugs, Melissa

OK Nurse Melissa-- i need your expertise.........i need you to tell me the rules...no one has ever told them to me. I will tell you when/what i take and if you would tell me the rules i would appreciate. Morning AM without FOOD: Iron Multi Thyroid B-12 I take Citracal Calcium (chewables) every meal (3x per day) Before Dinner: (just started this last night) Iron Multi Thank you so much! this may make a huge difference! --dawn

Ok Morning AM.... take your synthroid BY ITSELF 1 hour before you eat! Take it with NO other medications. You may want to mention to your doctor that you have been taking this med with iron and they may want to keep you on the same dose now and see what happens after you start taking your synthroid solo for a while. The dose you were on may just be enough! Ok and don't take your iron with your multi. The calcium in your multi will inhibit the absorption of the iron.. calcium wins over iron.. iron wins over synthroid. Taking your calcium with your meals is good. I take my two chewable multi's together, both docs said this was ok. So maybe you can do that! I take my b12 and my thiamin with my multis. You should be on thiamin.. if you aren't please talk to your doc.. it is one that many docs overlook but post op gastric bypass pts are getting low on it.. it can cause irreversible damages to your neurological system (numbness and tingling that won't go away, etc) if you get too low. Once it is too low, it can be too late. Iron needs to not be within 2 hours of any calcium or DAIRY foods.. or tea or coffee.. i know so much to think about. I would take your iron before bed.. that way you have nothing in your system for a while. That is what I do. Oh and take Vitamin C with your iron, gets much better absorbed this way! Hope this helps!

I am going to print this out! THANK YOU.....shoot there is A LOT to know....this changes everything! As Usual....YOU ROCK!

Melissa, Thank you for this!! i see this talk a lot on the grads board but it is so important that it needs to be mentioned on every board on a regular basis. So many people are not even getting their labs done, let alone trying to keep up with their vitamins and supplements. I have been doing my vitamins the way you say, so I guess thats why its working out, I dont get labs again until December, unless you count the ones I took last week for my surgery (I should get a copy of those). We have such a good group over here!!! I'm proud of us. Angela

Glad to hear your labs are doing good Angela, mine too for the most part other than my dang bilirubin (always high since surgery, related to my gall bladder) but I never have any pain so they aren't worried about it *yet* I have to take the actigal until I am a year out though.. hate the taste but it is worth it if I can prevent another surgery! Hope you are feeling good my dear.. hang in there you are an inspiration to the rest of the group! I agree, this group is **AWESOME** I love you guys so much! *hugs*

I don't have any advice for you as I don't know about the different diffencicies (sp*). But I just wanted to send you a (((hug))) and tell you I will keep you in my prayer and I hope it all gets worked out soon. Mini me

aww thank you melissa! that is so nice....i am sure it is just the "rules" i am breaking..will have to check in with Nurse Melissa to get them straight!--

Hi, Dawn. Hope that you're next labs bring a smile to your face. I was surprised that your potassium is high. I am still taking supplements (greens are sounding pretty good right now) and sick of doing so. I wish that understanding the labs and supplement schedules were not so complicated. Glad that you shared your info & that our nurse, Melissa, is so helpful too! Blast the anemia! Ro