Vitamin Deficiencies. Do you have them?

I am 14 years post op and within the last couple of years I have been diagnosed with major vitamin deficiencies.   All of my levels were low.  However, this was solely my fault as I was not taking my vitamins during the last few years.    I am back on track and levels are going up, but I wanted to see if there were other RNY members  here who might have experienced any deficiencies and how far out you were when diagnosed? 

Thanks! 

I was told not to take iron and I did not.  It became deficient after six years and I was put on iron supplements.  The body usually takes a while to become deficient.  Everything else has been fine, but I do take my vitamins.

My levels are good 6 years out but my doc was adamant in warning me of the risk of a few deficiencies - D, B vitamins, and calcium. 

hope you can turn it all around well! 

Thank you, Lynn! 

I am only about 2 years out -- so not a vet or anything -- but I have not suffered any deficiencies.  I do believe that is because I am obsessively compliant.  I have never missed even one dose of the recommended supplements ever.  I did admit that I was obsessive... 

Do you mind telling us why you chose to not take your supplements for several years?  Your story might resonate with some who think that vitamins are optional and that they can get enough vitamins and minerals from food.  There are a few folks on this site who actually brag about not taking vitamins.  

I was told that supplementation was mandatory and I would have to have frequent lab work and adjust my vitamins accordingly.  My  ferritin hit a low of 9 at about two years out and I have had three infusions in the last three years.  I don't absorb iron from supplements.  Other than that, I have be compliant with my vitamins and have regular labs, so I have not had any other deficiencies.  Based on my lab work (and symptoms), I do have to take extra vitamin D3, A, K2, Magnesium (for bowel regularity), Carbynol Iron with VitaminC (to slow the downward spiral of my ferritin), B12 injections twice monthly, in addition to my Multi and my Calcium Citrate.  That's a lot of vitamins, but it's what I require to stay healthy.

I keep a spread sheet of my lab numbers so I can see trending patterns and adjust my dosage.

Rocky, of course.   I didn't so much as choose not to take them, as caring for my parents during their illness had me focused on them and not myself.   I lost my Dad in 2013 and then my Mom in May 2015, I had totally forgotten about my vitamins.   Of course, that is no valid reason to do so, it was just something that happened unfortunately.  Not intentionally.  I was so focused on caring for them, I forgot about myself.  

My vitamin levels had all dropped, my H&H were below 10 and things were really coming to a head with my health.   When I did see my PCP we talked about how I was feeling and symptoms I was experiencing and we did my labs and found just how low things were.   He immediately put me on about 12 different vitamins, including one prescription of B complex compounds and B12 injections twice a month to get them back up.  

I've been more diligent in taking my vitamins since that time.   I like that you are tracking your levels and patterns.  I do think I am going to start doing this, as I don't think that my deficiency started within that two year period of time.  I feel that it was just the lowest point.   I can see that even tho some of us take our vitamins religiously, we still have some lowering levels and I felt that this post was a good reminder to us all that no matter what, we definitely need to remain focused on our vitamins and definitely track them to ensure we remain healthy! 

Thank you for your input, it is very valuable!  

Nik

Consider having Dexa scan - bone density... to find out if low vitamins - minerals levels affected your bones.. Really important. 

I got tested every 6 months during the first year post op, then once a year after that. Or more often if needed. 

Based on lab work I was told to take less or more of some vitamins and minerals.  I made sure I did. 

My body does not absorb iron that well, so I become deficient, to a point that I need iron infusions every couple of years. 

Beside iron, I take all other vitamins, minerals. I get weekly B12 shots because my body just does not retain that one. 

Everything else is great. 

I'm 10 years out.  My only deficiency has been iron.   I was able to get my levels into normal zone with daily OTC iron and vitamin C.  I'm now maintaining with iron/Vit C twice per week.

My doctor tells it's not uncommon for WLS patients to be come iron deficient.