2 yrs late for an appt..Finally went to Aranow's APRN

Well..it was a good thing that I went FINALLY for bloodwork and saw Dr Aranow's APRN, Julia.

My iron is on the low double digits (like a 14) and she's put me on a prescription iron formula.  My PTH (parathyroid) is high (it's been going up and down for a while now...I have my PCP do bloodwork all the time, but not all the tests that Aranow wants) and now I have to get to an endocrinologist to have it gone over.  When it's high, it's an early warning or sorts that my calcium is not being absorbed and will eventually leech it from my bones if I don't take care of it now.  There may be some underlying issue, that's why the endocrinologist is on deck.  (Dr Petit used to be mine...but, of course, he's not practicing medicine anymore for abvious reasons)

My Vit D has always been low...but, I've got to keep taking 5000 IU's daily to keep it that way

I've had a 25-30 lb weight gain in two years and I've got to work on that.  I'm glad it's not more...I won't let myself..but I've also not done anything to lose it again, etiher

Other issues that I will take up in three months when I go back and see Aranow himself:

When I'm sitting doing a poop, I will sometimes start to have awful vomitting/heaves/wretching at the same time.  LIke it's an involuntary reaction up at the other end..it's weird....They're going to look into what this can be caused from.  She didn't ever hear of it in an RNY patient. 

She said that Dr Aranow likes to rule out any biological reasons for a person not feeling full etc..but, sometimes there is an issue...I seem to empty my pouch rapidly and have IBS to boot, so, within several minutes from eating, my pouch is empty and am in the bathroom going...not good, esp for bit absorbtion.

That's about it...minor things, I'd say...just hope they don't get worse.

I have to do a food log and see the nutritionist in three weeks...oh, joy...he's gone thru SO many of them since I started with him...we'll see what and how this one is..he's got two, I guess..I'm seeing another Liz that's new.

All I'm gonna say is''PEOPLE< TAKE YOUR VITAMINS< CALCIUM AND VIT D"...years later, you'll pay for it by having mal absorption and medical issues...that can be serious...


Paula

I am so glad that you finally went for a check. I am sorry you are having some problems and hope they get resolved soon.

YES , taking our vitamins/supplements is so neccessary...for life. I thought I was taking enough calcium and iron but.....not and probably not the best type for good absorption.I  started taking  calcium citrate 1200mg a day (chocolate chewable bariatric advantage) yum and 1000 IU vit D3 from(vitaldy) also 125mg carbynol iron called (tender iron) also form Vitalady about six months agao. My last bone density test  had said I had bone loss and now have osteopenia, also although my hemoglobin and hematocrit are very good, I have had steadily decreasing ferritin levels and they have been hovering around 13 which is low. I hope my new regime will get things back to better levels.

So even if we are taking our vitmins we need to get checked at least once a year.. you never know what we could be lacking.

Sher

PS You are a success Paula, you have kept off 100LBS!

Awesome Paula - I'm so glad you finally went back because it was like a big dark cloud hanging over you - thankfully they caught issues and you can try to get them fixed! That vomitting/wretching/gagging is very odd isn't it? Hopefully that too can get resolved!

Aint Julia great? I really like her. And the new Liz is THE BEST!!! If I had her instead of the other Liz I would have passed the nut part soooooooooo much faster.

I agree with Kathy. Julie is great and the other Liz too! I saw Julie yesterday for my 1 week post-op. Shes takes time and doesn't rush. I am doing great! Hate the white socks! One more week on those. I see Liz on the 26th and than Dr.A on 11/11 for my first fill. Then we are off to Florida for the winter, need to get out of this cold weather! DH has lost 130 pounds(Lap Band 2 years ago) and really feels the cold now!

Paula, glad you went.

Renate
 

Hi Paula, kudos to you for facing your fears and making that appointment! Oh, the malabsorption issues seem to get worse the farther out we are from surgery. I hear this from about 80% of the people I'm engaged with in the WLS arena. Most severe deficiencies are calcium, iron, vitamin D and if those levels go one without intervention, it will mean serious consequences to our health. I don't think the industry has a handle on the true nature of medical issues related to post-surgey life - and the doctors and surgeons must be on top of this to best be able to guide us as we try to stay well and healthy. This is SO NOT about losing the weight and looking good in our clothes. This is about health. I'm really happy you went to see Dr. Aranow. I did as well, about a month ago and we talked about how painfully hungry I am all of the time; he thought it was my imagination and gave me about 10 oz. of water that he instructed me to CHUG as fast as I could. He was positive I would feel uncomfortable - but I felt nothing, no discomfort whatsoever. He was surprised and said this is indicative of the food going right through my pouch - hence the hunger. Next step is an endoscopy to see what's going on. I'll keep you posted - but please do likewise ok? Be well, my friend. Maureen

Hi Maureen,
I didn't see Dr Aranow this time.  I saw Julia, the APRN...I see him in Jan after 3 mos of the iron treatment. 

I'm painfully hungry too, and I know I have "rapid emptying syndrome" and Julia said he likes to not think that it's biological from the surgery and will try to correct it with changes in eating, etc. first...I told her that Five big cups of water will go right down and I do not fill up...She said, "hmmm, you may need to see him next, not me and he'll try to figure it out..sometimes the stoma or something does open up too much, etc"...Yeah, I said, and my food rushes out and I have diarrahea within 20 min of eating...

Not to mention, when I'm on the toilet I get awful throwing up (more like just retching cause there's never anything in my pouch to throw up...She never heard of that one before...she thought it may be dumping...can be..Never thought about it.  I'll have to remember what I eat next time it happens...I dump on fats a lot, too.

You hang in there, too and we'll compare notes!

Paula

Hi Paula, I had surgery in 2004 (I think I've seen you at some of the Middlesex SG meetings, although I haven't been to one in quite a long time...) - my issues are almost identical to yours - especially the never feeling restriction, feeling sort of like a 'gaping hole' sensation all the time; have gained back 22 lbs. from my lowest; calcium and Vitamin D levels are in the toilet; iron as well. I'm really scared... Maureen