Vit D Def

15!!!  Holy crap!  Ok.... you need to be VERY AGGRESSIVE here.  1000IU is going to be like taking tic-tacs.  You need the big guns and quick!

Go to Vitalady and get a bottle of 50k's.  You need to be taking that every day for the first 30 days.  If you can do a redraw at that point, do it.  Or else drop down to 50k every other day for the next 60, then do a redraw at 90-days. 

Here's the link.  http://www.vitalady.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&k ey=1079
(Actually I've heard that you get faster shipping if you make the order on the phone, so maybe call instead)

If you need to ask questions about this aggressive treatment, talk to Michelle (Vitalady).  She's a long-time post-op (15 years??) and has osteoporosis and knows how to get deficiencies  under control.   She's a wealth of knowledge. 

How much calcium are you taking?  ASMBS recommends 1500-2000mg calcium citrate in addition to anything we get from food. 

At 6 years out and with these low of D levels, I'm scared for you.  Have you had a DEXA scan done?  Osteoporosis is a very real possibility and it's a common side effect after RNY.  My mom was diagnosed with it at 5 years post-op with an 18.1% bone density loss in her spine (and she's only 55).  It's recommended we have a DEXA done within the first year post-op... so if you havent had one, talk to your doc. 

Let me know what your PTH comes back as. 

Pam

Pam,
Why are you giving medical advice. Shouldnt that be up to the doctors to determine what is what.]
If you are giving medical advice what medical school did you go too?

Carla -

Ummm.... I don't know if you're asking this to pick a fight with me or what.  But if you'll notice the OP's comments you'll see that her doctor gave her some pretty poor advice.  In fact, his advice didn't even match the standard advice given for non-WLS patients.

And for the record.  No, I didn't go to medical school, but my PCP comes to me asking questions about RNY specifics and is always thankful when I bring him medical journal reports on the topic.  And the director of my surgeon's office turns to me for things too -- such as reviewing the new nutrition presentation for pre-op patients.  If I were to go to medical school I'd be required to take one semester of nutrition.

I don't want to fight with you.  So I'm just going to let it go...

Pam

Since we're asking what school everyone went to, I'd like to know who taught you etiquette.  Apparently, no one did.

Those that frequent this board (both posting and lurking) know that Pam is a wealth of information.  Of course, being sound minded adults, we also know to take Pam's, or anyone else's, guidance and then make a treatment plan with our doctors.

As many of us have experienced, it can some times take a person that has actually had WLS and done research and lived through nutritional deficiencies to provide the right answers.  

Your post was pointless, catty, and just irrelevant.  Now please either delete it, or go away.

WOW!!  Robin, I just want to reiterate the urgency of this, and really hope for your health that you follow what Pam has told you.  Pam mentioned earlier (prior to knowing your D3 lab result) that you were probably leeching Calcium from your bones --well you aren't *probably* -- you ARE.  Without a proper level of D, your body simply won't absorb Calcium, and your bones are literally becoming brittle and turning to dust.

Any other source of D3, other than Vitalady's 50K ius, is not going to be the dry formula that your body needs and is not going to be enough to move your levels upward.  And, don't think that this level is going to see your levels skyrocket -- D moves upward slowly.  You must be diligent!!

Edited, because I obviously don't know the difference between *you*  and  *your*  in more than one place!

Thank you

Not from michigan but have a question.  Vit D3, PTH, calcium, and Dexascan - are those the tests for osteoporosis after RNY surgery.  My PCP didnt want to do the dexascan because I am not post menopausal yet.  (At 50 I should be so lucky-wouldn't I be luckier yet if I got pregnant-woohoo-NOT-but that is another subject altogether!). 
But I have never had one and am on supplemental D3.  I dont think my PTH has been checked.  I had planned to ask for the dexascan when I see her this month with my surgeons blessings. (I get labs/tests  through my PCP becasue I was self pay for surgery and she is willing to get whatever he needs and order it as part of my care.-but I see my surgeon regularly)
But am thinking she didnt order enough D3 now.  I will check when I get home-immeidately!!

Any info is helpful.  Thanks.
Linda (from GA where we get lots of sun).

Hi Linda -

The ASMBS recommends all RNY patients get a DEXA scan after at one year post-op.  Some surgeons actually order one pre-op as a baseline reading.  Many insurances will not cover it without patients being a certain age OR having a specific medical condition that warrents the scan.  We have that medical condition:  "Malabsorption Syndrome" (yes, it's a real medical condition and also the reason we need to have labs drawn for life).

The Vitamin D test actually tests for both D2 and D3 -- the test is called 25(OH)D.  PTH should always be checked with your regular labs.  Calcium levels should always be perfect, the body ensures that and the only reason it's even tested is because if it's high or low we are in serious medical distress - but that's rare until the body has virtually NO bone or teeth left, but you'd know that before you got the tests run. 

Most doctors don't order us to take enough Vitamin D3 because they don't have time to read all the lastest research and information on the news studies being conducted right now. (And it's not just Vitamin D they aren't up on... it's a slew of stuff)   That's why whenever I find new information relating to supplementation for RNY or medical conditions or medication malabsorption ... I always print a copy and take it to my PCP.  I feel it's MY responsibility to make sure he's as educated as possible about the care I want to receive, so I'm the aggressor when it comes to what I want done. 

thanks so much Pam.  I got home and found first that I was taking the Vitamin D in the oil base. And it is 1.25 mg elemental calcium once a week. How does the mg translate into IUs.   ie how many IUs are in 1.25 mg.   I had ordered UpCalD and it came last night so I started that today.  With 3 doses I wil get 1500 mg Ca and 750 IU of vit D each day.  I forgot what my Vit D was when I checked it and I am not at home to check.  
Linda

And yes I will be educating my doctor as well.  My body,  the RNY way.