NEWBIES, OLDIES!! VITS PLEASE READ!!!!!!!!

OK so i had to use the Vivian all caps and smiley thinggys because this is just too important not too.  I wasn't going to post about this, but after reading Karla's post from last nite, figured I better share. For those few of you that don't know me, I'm Liz, just celebrated 4 years post of RN in march. I'm down around 200lbs (was 220 but just had a regain of about 15-20, and working on getting that back off. Its my first regain since surgery and I'm about to have a fit lol. 

Anyway, the purpose to this post.  I was self pay, and there is no one more faithful to their vitamin regime than I. I have my labs done now every 4-6 months, track the results, make whatever necessary changes, etc blah blah freakin blah lol.  Especially with some on TMB being so forthright in admitting they haven't been faithful in taking theirs and the consequences that led to that. 

So i had my labs done Good Friday.. all 14 vials lol.  As we all are sick of my whining about migraines and insomnia anyway, right? lol.
get the labs back... expecting things to be perfect as they have been for the last 4 years.  uhh WRONG!!!!

SEVERAL of them are totally in the tank. My ferritin and iron are literally 1 point from being at infusion level. I begged the doc to go ahead and set me up for infusions instead but she wouldn't go for it, just way upped the iron w vit c.  Also my vit D level is totally tanked.. as is my PROTEIN level. WTF??? the only thing different there is that i had cut out my before bed shake as i thought i was getting enough from food at this point. Apparently  not.  So, FOR MY BODY, i NEED the shake or protein coffee in the morning and the shake at night.  Potassium and vit K were also tanked. 

So my point to this long and rambling post is this.. no matter HOW far out you are, continue to have your labs checked.  My PCP checks them as my surgeon has retired and i moved anyway.  Even when you are diligent in taking your vits, ,sometimes that isn't enough as all our bodies are different. 

Don't even get complacent.  I'm working with my doc to see why everything tanked all of a sudden. 
I did some research and the extreme low iron/ferritin count would account for the new frequency in headaches and constant tiredness and inability to sleep (its gotten so much worse even with the meds)

If anyone needs a copy of the labs that MUST be drawn for an RN I'm happy to email it to you. 

DANA - your copy of my labs will be emailed to you shortly. 

Love to all and please, take care of your body, its the only one you have.  I'm open to questions or comments. 
Liz

I've been telling myself I need to get around to having mine checked again, but I just haven't done it... guess I need to get my butt in gear....

Thanks for the heads up! (kick in the butt)

Hugs!

GIRL!!!!! i WILL drive to denton and kick your ass for this!!!!!

OK - two questions, m' lady......

Did Dr. Weinstein write the orders for your labs?  Because whoever it was did a thorough job if it was 14 vials.   I am going to him this summer for my 2-year labs instead of Dr. Garth because his staff is so terrible.  My one-year checkup was a waste of my time because they didn't get my lab results in my file, even though they had them 3 weeks before my appointment.  I will send Dr. Garth a copy and go to him if I have any medical issues.

Second question...... what vitamins have you been taking?  which ones, dosages, schedule, etc.

Thanks for sharing this - it helps us all.  I know you will get everything back in the green again soon.

Sarah, my sistah!!!!

Thanks for sharing this - it helps us all. Thank you for this statement! That is the SOLE reason i posted. I felt that if *I* was diligent in my  vits (prolly could count on one hand the times i have mised in 4 years) and could have such a mess up, then someone that doesnt take them faithfully could really be in trouble!!!

My PCP here in McKinney did them for me, however, i went in with my own sheet of what i needed done. Previously, i had a pcp in katy then beaumont that did them. Again tho, i had my own list. I am MORE than happy to share it with you (i believe i originally got from Dana) if you want me PM me your address. 

this is what i had been taking daily... and up until recently it was working

Centrum chewable 1 twice a day.

BA Calcium chewables - 1 four times a day or if im out of those the Citracal petites 2 four times a day. THIS IS FOR ME ONLY... osteroperosis (??) is highly visable in my family and i have been taking calcium since i was 13

Super B complex, 1 twice a day
one B-6 and one B-1   (again this is for me only as the ladies in my family, mom, sis, grandmother when she was living) dont fully absorb B vits and im the only WLS patient.

B-12 sublingual 2500mg daily (again due to the extreme malabsorbtion of me and  B's)

Folic acid

BA iron w vit C (29mg) at night

magnesium 250mg 1 day

Biotin 2500mg 1 day

i THINK thats it.. dont have the bottles with me at the moment.
Edited to add 1 potassium in the evening as well. Will have to check dosage of that one when i get home

doc kept asking if i was having bone pain as my vit D was at ricket level. Nope, just major head/neck pain lol

Hope this helps!
Liz

Thanks, Liz.

I was curious if you were taking any extra D3 and also how much iron.  Vitalady has the 50,000 D3 capsules that some have found effective in bringing their D back up.  I have her 50,000 and 5,000 units ones and I take the 50,000 one once a week and occasionally take the 5,000 one.

I struggle with my iron and it was low before I had surgery.  I was taking the Tender Iron from Vitalady and chewing 5 tablets at a time (125 mg) which brought my serum iron back into the 90's from the low 50's.  I ran out and have not re-ordered so I am taking some some iron carbonyl (40 mg) I got at Wal Mart with 500 mg vit C.

It is scary how fast your labs can tank on you !!!!

Sure!!!!! At the time, i wasnt taking extra D3, but of course i have now ordered the Vitalady 50,000.  My VitD was....18!!!!!!! The absolute low end is supposed to be 32 so i was literally texting dana from the docs office in a panic!!!!!!!
my ferritin level is .....5!!!!! when the range is 10 -291!!!!!   In all honesty, i would say 99% of my labs that were considered in the 'normal' range, were sitting right on the bottom limit... no wonder i have been feeling so crappy lately!!!!

It is scary how fast things can tank.... i had my last labs done sept 19, 2009.  I hope this helps just one person....

PS... love the new avi!!! You look just stunning! (yes i know you have had it up for a while, just havent commented on it!!!

Thanks on the avie - first pic of me I really, really like! 

I checked my labs (yes, the geek in me keeps them all on a spreadsheet LOL) and my D went from 49 on 1/6/09 to 79 on 6/29/09 by taking Vitalady's 50,000 and 5,000 D3, so you will be good once you get it and start on it. 

Do I need to overnight you some of mine ?????  I will, ya know......

if you arent the sweetest thing. I am quite sure you would too!!!! My order was here when i got home *thank GOD!!!) so i shoudl be good to go here pretty soon! I just cant believe mine tanked SO FAST!!!
thank you so very much for the kind offer.. i cant tell you what it means to me!!!
Liz

Thanks, Miz Liz, for posting this. I'm with Sarah...what, how much when, etc. My last lab draw was 20 vials so I was confident everything was being checked. Well, the lab screwed the pooch on the B-1 and the other one that is light sensitive and those weren't usable. But I've got a spreadhseet from PamT and have been tracking labs for the last year, my PCP has been taking them every 3 months trying to get my thyroid levels in place. Anyway....I'll know to be watching everything especially close and questioning ANY changes from each set of labs.