What did you eat today for breakfast.....just wondering

Now.....you got me wondering....my total cholestrol is in the 70's.  My triglicerides are almost non existant.  I stumped the work doctor.....he told me by BMI was still too high and I needed to lose weight.....but my triglicerides (I know I am not spelling this right) are way to low and I needed to add fat.  He said to me....Go see your family doctor....I dont know what to tell you to do.  At that time, my protein levels and iron levels were really low also.

I went into menopause in January and my protein and iron levels went back to the normal range. Now I only take one iron pill...instead of 3. So I am thinking it is safe to go back to a healthy diet of lower calories, high in protein with lots of fresh fruits and veggies. 

My thought is what ever keeps you healthy and works is good for you.  If I eat anything high in fat and sugar, I get really sick.  But maybe my deficiencies are related to this.  Looks like  will be doing another trip to Vitamin Shoppe and more reseearch. 

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I'm really nosy.  You should know that up front.

You mentioned you were deficient in vitamin D up above.  How much and what form of it are you taking?  Also, how deficient are you - what's your number?  I don't know how much your NUT/surgeon's office informs you of vitamin research, but I take 100,000 iu of dry vitamin D3 daily (that's 2 tiny capsules - one at lunch, one at bedtime) in addition to my other vitamins.  You can only get that by mail from Vitalady.  Prescription D is oil-based, and for people who don't absorb fat, it's pretty much useless.  I think you might be absorbing less fat than you think with those cholesterol numbers.  Did you have a standard proximal RNY or was it more medial?

Do all forms of fat make you sick?  Nuts, avocado, olive oils?  If you can up those at all, you may have a better chance of absorbing your D, which in turn will help you absorb your calcium.  You're taking calcium citrate, right?  And a good adult multivitamin?  And you're keeping your iron separated from your calcium?

Sorry for the nosy questions!  I'm used to seeing lots of vitamin questions from my DS peeps, so I just have to ask them.

I started taking three 2,000 IU of Nature Made Vitamin D a day.  I also take two 500 mg of chewable vitamin C, 65 mg of ferrius sulfate (IRON), 462mg of magnesium, B6/FolicAcid/B12, two Caltrate Calcium with vitamin D, Nature's Plus Adult Chewable multi vitamin and mineral dietary supplement, Move Free Chondrotin and Glucosamine (suppossed to help my joints) and stool softener (because of the iron).

I have been having issues with my teeth cracking, and have had spinal surgery and one knee replacement and cataract surgery.  

Can you let me know what vitamins you take.  My protein deficiency and iron deficiency have finally cleared up....but the the vitamin D level is still low.  I dont have the number.

I am able to eat almonds and nuts and a little olive oil.  But I get sick if I eat something high in fat....I finally got my blood sugar to remain level by having 6 meals a day instead of 3.   

I had a regular gastric bypass surgery back in December 2004.  Didnt start to have any problems until 2007. 

Can I make a few recommendations?

First, when are you due for your next set of comprehensive labs?  I get mine done at LabCorp, and I always ask that a copy of the results be sent to my home.  I know the numbers that way, and I can more easily assist my PCP and NUT by asking better questions.

I would definitely take more vitamin D.  What you've got isn't going to touch a deficiency.  Please check and see if your vitamin D is D3 (cholecalciferol).  I'd move up to at least 18K daily.  You need the vitamin D to help absorb your calcium.

Next, the calcium you're taking is calcium carbonate, which is not as readily absorbed (by anyone - normies included) as calcium citrate.  Since we've limited the amount of intestine absorbing calcium, we should definitely take the kind of calcium that absorbs better.  Please check the serving - my serving size is two tablets.  Are you taking two tablets or two doses?  I think you could safely take more - closer to 1500-1800 mg daily.  I get mine at Costco.

Make sure you're taking the iron and vitamin C separate from the calcium.  Calcium and Iron compete for absorption when you take them together, which is going to decrease their overall absorption and effectiveness.

Are your B vitamins good?  Most of my IRL RNY peeps take a sublingual B12, but I never hear about the other Bs.  My Bs are sky-high without supplementation.

Here's what I take:

Breakfast
1 multivitamin
2 calcium citrate (630 mg total)
1 zinc (50 mg)
1 vitamin A (10K ius)
1 vitamin D (50K ius)

Lunch
2 calcium citrate (630 mg total)
1 zinc (50 mg)
1 vitamin D (50K ius)

Bedtime
2 calcium citrate (630 mg total)
2 zinc (100 mg total)
1 vitamin K (1000 mcg)

I get comprehensive labs done 2x a year.  I like knowing what's going on in there!  I also have waaaay more malabsorption than you, so I take higher doses of some vitamins normally (the fat-soluble ones).  The zinc is something that I'm personally low in.  I don't need iron or B vitamins - I seem to be getting enough naturally.  I get Calcium and my multis from Costco, my zinc and A from the Vitamin Shoppe, and my D & K from vitalady.com.

I do get the majority of my labwork done about 2x's a year also at LabCorp and have had them mail me a copy of the lab results.  When I was sent to the hematologist for bleeding out during my back surgery, I had the bloodwork done at the hospital.....and they would not give me a copy of the results.  He tested me for almost everything....14 vials of blood....He told me that everything was in normal range,and didn't know why I lost 1 and 1/2 liters of blood.   

I have heard about calcium citrate being better, but dont know if I can swallow the pills.   I do take the sublingual B6/folic acid/B12 from Trader Joes.  I was taking the regular dose of the calcium caltrate 2 chewables a day.  I was taking my iron at the same time as one of my calcium caltrate's....so that might have been a problem.  My vitamin D's are D3.   

My bloodwork tests include CBC, iron, protein, blood sugar, vitamin D, B12.  I am not sure what else my family doctor tests me for.  Do you have a list of the blood work your doctor asks for.....

Looks like I am going vitamin shopping this weekend.  Thanks for your help with this.  I know that I am going to wind up with my second knee replacement....but if I can keep my hips healthy and not have them go bionic....I would be really happy.  I am so tired of my bones and teeth cracking.  I have a compressed fracture in my back for over a year that is not healing.  My family doctor tells me it takes a long time for bones to heal.  The fracture is in a spot where they dont operate.   

I keep telling all these specialists that I want to be around thru my 90's, be as active as Betty White, be able to play with my great grand children on the floor or outside and have my mind healthy.  They all agree that is a great goal....but they haven't figured out how to keep my bones healthy....and that is a big part of the mix.

You can get a good chewable calcium citrate at the Vitamin Shoppe.  I'm heading there this evening to pick some up.  I agree with the previous poster.  I take my Calcium just before bedtime, and most of my other vitamins in the morning.  I did find that I needed a B supplement (in addition to B-12), plus vitamin D and E.   Everytime I get my labs, something seems to be just on the edge, and my doctor keeps close tabs on everything for me.
Rob

Looks like  will be headed over there this weekend also.  thanks Rob. 

Rob's absolutely right - for the first month or so after my DS, I did a chewable calcium citrate from the Vitamin Shoppe.  It tasted orangey - it was ok, but not my favorite, and I was glad to be able to take the horse pills instead.

However, there are loads of calcium citrate options.  If you have some extra money burning a hole in your pocket, you can check out Celebrate Vitamins or Bariatric Advantage, as both have really tasty - and I mean REALLY TASTY like candy - chewable calcium citrate.  They're like vitamin pez - but they look more like sweet tarts.  There are also Calcium Chews, similar to Viactiv, but made with calcium citrate put out by both companies.  They're absolutely scrumptious, but I find them too pricey.

Citrical has a dosage called Petites, where you have to take a larger quantity of pills, but the pills themselves are smaller.  You may want to consider that, as it would help break up your dosages throughout the day, which might help absorption, too.  Since you're eating 6 smaller meals instead of 3 larger ones, it would be easy to just take your vitamins with your meals that way.

Another calcium citrate option that I've tried is UpCal D, which I've ordered from Vitalady and also from Amazon.com.  It's a powder that you can mix into anything and drink.  I've mixed it in with Crystal light and not had the slightest grit or taste.  I'll put it into a protein shake when I feel like mixing one up.  It comes in a canister with a scoop (and it's a really small scoop), or you can get individual packets.  They're a little more expensive, but SUPER-convenient!  I'd throw one in my lunchbag to mix into my crystal light at lunchtime.

There's even a liquid form of calcium citrate I've seen at the Vitamin Shoppe.  I can't vouch for how it tastes or how effective it is, though, as I haven't tried it.

If you PM me your email address, I'll be happy to send you an attachment of what my surgeon's office wants for labs.  It's their requirement for RNY, DS, VSG, and LapBand, so it would be perfectly appropriate for you, too.

This morning I had a cup of Trader Joe's Organic O's cereal, one cup of fresh strawberries, I cup of skim milk and 2 cups of coffee. 

This morning I had 2 packets of regular Quaker oatmel with added cinnamon, two cups of coffee and 1/2 cup of skim milk.