Signs of protein deficiency

Chuls
on 7/19/14 1:42 am

I am 7 years post successful gastric bypass surgery.  Blood work is normal, but I am getting weaker over the past year, and skin rashes that itch and burn, not sleeping well.  Could this have a link to the surgery?  Also, I have not eaten red meat since 1980.  I just started protein shakes again but they have gotten difficult to force down. Any reliable information out there?  Thanks.

Valerie G.
on 7/19/14 6:35 am, edited 7/19/14 6:35 am - Northwest Mountains, GA

The most reliable information you're going to get is from your labwork results.  If it's been a while, you'll need a full workup, and make sure the doc pulls everything.  You should be pulling 14-20 vials of blood for those tests.  Only then can you be sure what you need to work on and get started from there.

Valerie
DS 2005

There is room on this earth for all of God's creatures..
next to the mashed potatoes

huskergalWsD
on 7/20/14 6:31 am

Really 14 to 20 vials of blood for lab work ? I have never had more than 3 vials of blood taken from me at one sitting.. are you talking about all at one sitting ?

                              
7stents (2003)...Heart Attack(2004)...Open Heart (2004)....Wls (2007)...Heart attack 2012...1 stent (2012)...Heart Attack (2013)...Heart Attack (2013)...1 stent(2013)
~~~Best Vitamin For Making Friends  B1~~~

Amy Farrah Fowler
on 7/20/14 11:44 am

3 vials may be enough for a normie, but we malabsorbers need more things checked, and I know if they pull less than 17 vials, they are not checking all the things WE need checked like the fat solubles or zinc. When they take 17 from me, that's when they combine a few tests and use one vial for two different ones that don't need much blood, otherwise they take 21 out of me. 

I have a list that I think Vitalady said at one time is all the stuff she suggests she has tested, and make sure I get those same things tested each year. My pcp has not clue and would only check the bare minimum if I didn't bring this list each year. I'd ask what you have tested, but have absolutely no doubt you are not having enough tested with only 3 vials taken. Do you have Vitaladys list to compare to?

huskergalWsD
on 7/20/14 12:57 pm

if all Rny'rs have to be checked for the same things I will ask my surgeons nurse for the list, Can't believe I haven't checked on this long long ago, I always tried to trust all doctors. what do I know ..thanks Wendy

                              
7stents (2003)...Heart Attack(2004)...Open Heart (2004)....Wls (2007)...Heart attack 2012...1 stent (2012)...Heart Attack (2013)...Heart Attack (2013)...1 stent(2013)
~~~Best Vitamin For Making Friends  B1~~~

Will_T
on 7/20/14 2:45 pm

14 to 20?  Now I am really looking forward to my 3 month check up 

 Dr Gilberto Ungson Lap Band to Ds

Amy Farrah Fowler
on 7/21/14 4:03 pm

I think MsBatt put the link in below, but I believe this list I copied from vitalady years ago is the same.

 

1st Group (Every 3 to 6 months for life, as we are able)

 *8005               Comprehensive Metabolic profile: (sodium, potassium, chloride, glucose, BUN, creatinine, calcium, total protein, albumin, total bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, aspartateaminotransferase) 10231)

* 7600                 Lipid profile: (cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides, chol/HDL ratio)

* 84100               Phosphorous – Inorganic: (718)

* 84550               Uric Acid: (905)

* 85025               Hemogram with platelets: (1759)

* 83550               Ferritin: (457)

* 84446               Vitamin A: (921)

* 84052               Vitamin B-1: (Thiamin) (4052)

* 7065                  Vitamin B-12 & Folate: (82607; 82746)

* 83937               Osteocalcin:

* 85610               PT:

* 86141               C Reactive Protein

* 84134               Pre-albumin:

* 10256               Hep panel: includes ALT (SPGT) & GGT)

* 83735               Magnesium:

* 7444                 Thyroid panel: (T3U, T4, FTI, TSH) (84437; 84443; 84479; 84480)

* 7573                 Iron: TIBC, % sat

* 84630               Zinc: (945)

* 8230                  Vitamin D: (25-hydroxy) (680)

* 84207               Vitamin B-6: (Pyridoxine)

* 83970               Serum intact: PTH

* 84597               Vitamin K:

* 85730               PTT:

 

2ND GROUP (Annually, as long as the results were comfortably within normal limits for more than 2 years in a row)

 

* 593                    LDH:

* 83921               MMA:

* 84255               Selenium:

* 82525               Copper:

* 31789               Homocysteine, Cardio:

* 367                    Cortisol:

* 84590               Vitamin E:

 

For diabetics:

*496                     HEMOGLOBIN A1C

 

POSSIBLE DIAGNOSIS CODES

269.2                         Hypovitaminosis

269.8                         Vitamin D deficiency

275.40                           Calcium deficiency

266.2                         Cyanocobalamin deficiency (B12)

281.1                         other B12 deficiency anemia

281.0                         Pernicious anemia

280.9                         Iron-deficiency anemia

281.2                         Folate deficiency anemia

285.9                        Anemia, unspecified

269.3                         Zinc deficiency

244.9                         Hypothryoidism

250.0                         Diabetes

401.9                         Hypertension

276.9                         Electrolyte and fluid disorders

272.0                         Hypercholesterolemia

*579.3                            Surgical malabsorption*

*579.8                            Intestinal malabsorption *

* Bands or sleeves should not use these codes as they are not accurate.

* Some insurance companies will not pay for any procedure that uses these codes.

 

This is NOT medical advice, just my own targets for the main blood levels I watch.

 

Protein:                7's

Albumin:               4's

Pre-Albumin:       20-30's

Iron:                     80-100

Ferritin:               200-300

HGB:                    12+

HCT:                     36+

Vit A:                    60- 80

Vit D:                    80-120

Calcium:               9.0-9.4

PTH:                     20-40

Vit B1:                 Mid to top of range

Vit B6:                 Mid to top of range

Magnesium:        Mid range (but also go by if we have leg/foot cramping)

Zinc:                    Mid range

Vit B12:               1000 +

Folate:                Top of range 20

AST (sgot):          Below 40

MsBatt
on 7/19/14 7:08 am

I second what Val said. You can find a list of the things you need tested at www.vitalady.com If your PCP doesn't want to order ALL these, either 1)get a new PCP, or 2) contact your WL surgeon.

 

Cicerogirl, The PhD
Version

on 7/21/14 12:43 pm - OH

There isn't much point in them doing a full work up at just 3 months post-op because many of the vitamins are stored in your body, so you are still utilizing what you have stored cannot really tell what is going on at 3 months out unless they did a full set of labs before you had surgery (which most don't do).  

Because of this, many surgeons don't order full labs until at least 6 months out (and many wait until a year out).  At three months out, they generally check protein level, calcium levels, and the vitamins that your body does NOT store.

Lora

14 years out; 190 pounds lost, 165 pound loss maintained

You don't drown by falling in the water. You drown by staying there.

GeekMonster, Insolent Hag
on 7/22/14 4:32 am - CA
VSG on 12/19/13

My surgeon did the full set of labs prior to surgery, and now every three months.  I guess everyone is different.

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