Mine are dry. The ones from the pharmacy are oil, and they are usually D2. My D3's are over the counter and I buy them online.

We can't absorb the D2's from the pharmacy very well at all and they're basically worthless to us post op.

I'm taking Bio Tech brand, and the bottle says "D3-50, Cholecalciferol, Dietary Supplement". I paid around $30 plus shipping for 100 capsules and it lasts close to a year. Not sure if adding a link is ok in here but you can find the Bio Tech website easily if you Google it.

Hope this helps. Take care and good for you for getting on top of this now. It's critical, as you're discovering, but not every surgeon educates their patients sufficiently.

Your levels are very concerning. My hemoglobin went to 8 and my doctor was alarmed. I had the iron infusion the next day. The dry vitamin D3 comes from Biotech. It has a 50,000 IU dose. Your vitamin A levels are also concerning. Biotech has a 25,000 IU dry vitamin A. You can search posts on this site about what people take, but you should use your labs as a guide for what you need. Everyone's vitamin needs are different. There are many good brands, but these are the ones I take daily, except when noted. Don't take any vitamin in an oil based capsule. The doses are tweaked here and there over the years based on my labs and/or research. I find it easier to remember them alphabetically.

A (dry from Biotech) 25,000 IU daily.

B (stress complex from Twinlabs, because of my low B labs. Check labs before using) 250 mg daily

C (from Soloray, helps increase absorption of iron, take them together) 1000 mg

Copper (from Soloray one tablet a week, not with zinc) 2 mg

D (dry from Biotech) 50,000 IU daily (took more when my labs were low)

E (dry from Soloray) 400 IU

Iron (Proferrin with vitamin C before breakfast, not with zinc or copper) 28 mg

K1 (dry K1, from Soloray, every other day) 100 mcg

K2 (dry K2 from Relentless Improvement) 15,000 mcg (this is a lot more than most people take but I am at risk of osteoporosis] 3 daily, not all at once

Multivitamin (I use Centrum)

Zinc (from Soloray, three times a week, not with copper or iron) 50 mg.

I organize them in three 2-week trays from the drug store, which minimizes the work and reminds me to buy ones I have a low supply). Again, your needs may vary from mine, so get a good panel of labs for vitamins and minerals and the advice of a bariatric nutritionist and go from there.

I am so impressed with your being a caregiver for your husband. It's a ruthless disease and it is very hard to be a caregiver. Kudos to you.

Rainier Hematology/Oncology
Dr. Katherine (Ludwila) Martin
253-241-4296

There you have it. I'm really glad your own doc is paying attention now and giving you some blood. Two units is substantial and I'm glad it's being addressed.

As far as the Vit D, many of us supplement significantly. I take 50,000IU twice per week personally. There are people who take even more, and people who don't need to supplement much at all. Most docs would cringe at the higher numbers but eventually come to terms with larger doses if labs pan out and improve.

Good luck getting better. If you think of it and have a moment maybe you can check in and let us know how it's going. It can take a long, long time to get blood situations in order so once you're in a good spot make sure to stay vigilant.

Thanks Charlie,

I can't wait to read all about your amazing journey I am sure our community will be very inspired!

Regards,

Kathy
Member Services

I'm sorry you're dealing with this. My issues are similar and there have been many blood transfusions and iron infusions since about three years post op.

After much searching I've found a hematologist who has made all the difference and is the first doc ever to be able to help me sustain acceptable results.

I'm in Washington but if you can't find someone to treat you sufficiently where you are you might want to consider making the trip. Rainier Hematology and Oncology in Puyallup with Dr. Kathleen (Ludwila) Martin. She treats these issues very seriously and has been a godsend and an eye opener for me. If you're interested I'll dig up her phone number.

disclaimer: you may have something else actually going on so unless you've got a diagnosis you might have to do some testing or provide some history. It's easy to assume what's going on when you see numbers like yours but it's 100% necessary to have a hematologist *****searches all options.

Once levels get as low as yours it can take many treatments to get them up to or near normal.

Blood transfusions certainly can make a person feel better soon afterward. Handle it now and push for what you need. My last transfusion was five units. Yep. 5. Dr. Martin had me tracked down in the grocery store. That's how pro-active she is, and how dedicated. I hung out in the ICU for a couple of days.

You don't want to get yourself into that situation just because no one is paying attention. Any readings under eight should get you sent to the ER asap - a "normal" healthy adult should have between 10 and 12 units.

Good luck and stay the course. It can suck for awhile but it can get better. It can even get "normal" believe it or not.