Upcoming DS Surgeries!

Hi Margie, I checked the ds site and it was helpful...but could not find the answers I need...maybe someone would be kind enough to make a suggestion...I had my ds in bowling green w/ dr. hess i***** Did fine and stayed at 155# for long time and labs were o.k. Continued to do pretty well with my vites etc. But in the past year my bone density has gotten to -2.8 (osteoporosis). My family dr. is not real familiar with ds, but ordered other labs. Well my parathyroid is 120 --way too high which indicates really low vit.d. , which is less than 7. A metabolic specialist has put me on vit.d tabs, which i do not think i can absorb...when i suggested vit. d injections, she said she wanted to try this first. They are also thinking fosamax or one of those drugs for the osteo, but i remeber reading somewhere that we cannot absorb those either. I am concerned about treatment for osteo as well as low ferritin (6.6)...but need to find an MD who know what we can tolerate and what we cannot....sorry this is sooooo long! Wish Dr. Hess was still practicing!

I am posting this here again because I think it will get lost where it was....this lady is 5 years out- what can we recommend to her? Did someone take over Dr Hess' practice? Michelle can you recommend something? Marylin I am curious about what vits you are taking and what your routine has been for the last 5 years... I think you need to get on the vitalady fix it plan asap...do u have her vit d? You cant listen to these drs,,,they dont do ds and know nothing.... Maybe we can get you some help here. Hang in there!!! Margie

Hi Margie, I am new to the Oh site (or any wls ones) and have started checking around to find the answers i need since the dr's are not too knowledgeable about ds and the limited absorption etc.  When I had my ds 14 years ago, i was told to take a multi and a&d. No dosages were given. Since i live 3 hours away from bowling green (where Dr. Hess had his practice), I could not get back for checkups and meetings. I had no idea there were meetings everywhere--or sites like this to talk to others. Now at 58, I guess i've lived a charmed life, no problems with ds and certainly not taking the current required vites. My pcp's thru these years have been nice, but not too aware of this surgery. We have done yearly labs--and things have been o.****il this parathyroid thing flared up. I realize this and the osteo are the result of long term neglect....so i am trying to find the correct vit d (injectable?), calcium(also injectable?) and iron. I think I may need the infusions to get levels back up---and then go on regime of regular vites. Do not know the litlady...would she be able to help me? Thanks so much for your help! Again, i'm sorry this is so long! Should I move my inquiries to another area on OH site?(more appropriate?) thanks! Marilyn

Marylin I didnt realize you wer 14 years post op! I thought you said 5! Well I would start ASAP with vitalady .com. I am under 4 years out and this is what I am taking:

Early AM atleast one hour b4 I eat anything :                    Vitamin C and  Iron   

 

Breakfast:               1 vit A 10,000 IU

1-  B Complex 

1- Vitamin E 400 IU 50,000 mg vit D

500- 630 mg calcium

2  Multi   200 mg  Zinc   4 mg copper 200 mcg vit K Lunch: 500-630 mg calcium

 

 Evening:    repeat breakfast  :

1 vit A 10,000 IU

1-  B Complex 

1- Vitamin E 400 IU 50,000 mg vit D

500- 630 mg calcium

2  Multi   200 mg  Zinc   4 mg copper 200 mcg vit K

 Bed Time:    

500 - 630 mg calcium

Hi Margie,          Have emailed vitalady, but have not heard anything yet....also tried Dr Lane's office and left message. I sure wouldn't mind driving 3 hours to see  him , if it meant getting some reliable advice. Are all of your breakfast vites special bariatric ones? I have used Metagenics brand vites , as they are geared to malabsorptive issues. Have also tried the Vista Vites multi packs....is there a special brand you like?  thanks...marilyn

Never heard of those brands...but that means nothing...My vits now arre Bio Tech, Centrum Silver, Natures Way, Vitamin Shoppe, Solgar and Twinlab. Id go ahead and order that bio tech vit d 50,000 and start taking 2 a day asap...get  it from vitalady or other source but get it. Also get the UpCal D calcium packets and just dump the yummy powder right in your mouth it dosolves fast!! I hope you hear back on Monday from Dr Lanes office and make your way there....seems a ton of DSers in your area. Keep intouch with them...youve had no support and as a 14 year old post op I knoww youve got lots to share!! Post to the DS Forum, we are thrilled to have you here!! Margie

You will find this site very helpful. Dr. Smith in Marietta, Ga. has a list of medication you should not take after surgery, test that should be done yearly, and list of vitamin that you should be taking. You can find the answer at yahoo.com, groups, drdennissmith. You will have to join the group, but once you are a member check out files and you will find your answers. Hope this helps you

Thank you so much! I have an appt. with a new pcp this week and I would bet she does not have a clue about ds.....I appreciate your help...have a great week! Marilyn

You can find my daily vitamin regime on my profile.  Click on my name.

Blood work to be tested for:

cmp, cbc, vitamin a, d, e, iron tibc, protime, pth w/out Ca, b12

 

Ohio doctors...start a new thread on the board and people will answer you.  You can also do a surgeon search on duodenalswitch.com

Thank you so much for all of this information, I never heard of this weight loss surgery I am researching the different weight loss kinds of weight loss surgeries, and I have only known of the lap band and the RNY.  Someone mentioned the sleeve and now you are describing DS?  I had no idea of all of the options, this was very informative thanks.  I still haven't made the decision to have the surgery I am scared.