My RNY back in 1999

Jen:

From your post, you seem rather hostile toward physicians.

I don't know of any physicians who actively look to "burn" their medically complex patients, who they are working very hard to treat and care for. Unfortunately, there are many patients who are not interested in taking any responsibility for doing their part in taking care of their health.

If you feel your physician is so paternalistic and not open to working with you on your health goals, maybe you should look a little closer at the physicians you choose.

Times have changed in medicine, as in many other fields. In fact, the majority of physicians welcome patients who will take an active role in their health care, instead of sitting back and expecting the physician to "fix" everything. Proactive patients make a physician's extremely difficult job a whole lot easier.

---Joyce

Not at all. My comment was specific to your point three.

I am not concerned with my medical team, if I was, as an empowered patient, I would address it.

Although it's not applicable to me, perhaps your commentary will assist someone who does not manage their own health/relationship with their medical team appropriately with their next steps/possible approach.

I have been preaching the following here for years "noone is, or should be, as invested in your health than you". I don't think physicians want to do harm, but having worked in healthcare as a midwife with her own practice for many years, I have seen way too much to leave my healthcare solely in the hands of ANY professional.

It has taken me 3 years to get my PCP where I want him. He's awesome, but wasn't used to someone who knew as much about living with this surgery as me. He's honestly the best PCP I've had since hsving this surgery - he's up to date on post surgery protocols and I have a very collaborative relationship with him now - although I still think I intimidate him, just a little lol.

I'm proud to be his "most successful and healthy RNYer"!

Hi

If you want to locate your old account I can help you with that. Give me a shout and we will find it.

I have to educate every new doctor. I had my last PCP trained just right (5years) and now a move cross country has it where I am going to have to start over. Here is the list I give them.

ZINC BLD
COPPER BLOOD
FERRITIN BLD
IRON + TIBC
PHOSPHORUS INORGANIC
MAGNESIUM BLD
PREALBUMIN BLD
FOLATE SERUM
CBC
COMP METABOLIC PANELHGB A1C
SELENIUM BLOOD
METHYLMALONIC ACID
LDH LACTATE DEHYDRO
ACTIVATED PTT
PROTHROMBIN TIME/PT(INR INCL.)
VITAMIN K
VITAMIN A/RETINOL
PHOSPHORUS INORGANICLIPID PANEL BASIC

The rule of thumb is we don't wait until the numbers are in the danger zone we compare each year and when anything shows a drop even if it's still in the green zone we take action. Mine have dipped a couple of times and a good friend of mine shared this with me. It helped me, check it out and discuss with your doctor to see if you think it would be an option for you.

Kathy, this works. Liquid is best but it stains teeth so if you do this, make sure to toss the iron back or use a straw to keep if off teeth. Try this until your next test. I take a whole ounce every day. We need more than the average person. Here is a site to order liquid and it's on sale for $5 a bottle. Good buy. I mix it with about 2 ounces of OJ or grapefruit juice. Makes it way easier to take. But you can chew Vitamin C supplement with it and it's best on an empty stomach. I just take it last thing at night then I have the 2 hours 'after' covered :) Iron Supplement (Ferrous Sulfate) Liquid 16 oz., 1 Bottle





View on www.bettymills.com


Here are my iron rules. Charlie's Iron Rules:

1. Do not take calcium supplements or vitamins containing calcium within 2 hours either side of taking iron. Calcium and iron bind together and leave the body with no benefit of either.

2. Take only liquid iron and take it with a little orange juice or a chewable vitamin C....iron needs acid to absorb. Liquid isn't as constipating as pills, but if it's a problem, increase fiber during the day.

3. NO coffee or tea (herbal is ok) within 2 hours either side of taking iron. It's not the caffeine; it's the tannic acid that inhibits iron absorption.

4. NO soy products within 2 hours either side of taking iron.

5. Very important.....NO dairy within 2 hours either side of taking iron. That includes butter, milk, cream, cream cheese, ice cream, yogurt, cottage cheese.....NO DAIRY.

6. Try not to eat foods that are high in calcium or calcium supplemented when eating iron rich foods. IE.....don't have butter and sour cream on a baked potato when you have that steak J

7. Cook as much as you can in cast iron. Some iron rich foods include:

· Red meat

· Egg yolks

· Dark, leafy greens (spinach, collards)

· Dried fruit (prunes, raisins)

· Iron-enriched cereals and grains (check the labels)

· Mollusks (oysters, clams, scallops)

· Turkey or chicken giblets

· Beans, lentils, chick peas and soybeans

· Liver

· ArtichokesSome calcium rich foods include:

· Cheese

· Yogurt

· Milk

· Sardines

· Dark leafy greens like spinach, kale, turnips and collard greens

· Fortified cereals

· Fortified orange juice

· Soybeans

· Fortified soymilk

· Enriched breads, grains and waffles

Congrats on losing your regain. This is not an easy thing to do but you are doing it. YOU GOT THIS. Keep us posted on how you are doing.

Take care,

Kathy

Member Services

Hi Kathy,

You are who was able to find at least my name and surgery date, back in 2017. But everything else is gone. All my notes, surgeon, etc is gone.

4/6/1999 Open RNY - HW 304 - Lost 154 - Regain -over several years - Losing regain - 2018

Moving forward not backward

Hi Lori,

I found one from 1999 and it has review of Dr. Baker and photos. Call me 866-957-4636

Congrats on moving toward your goal!

The link that DCGirl posted above is great for tracking labs. Don't count on the docs to do it -- we have to be proactive.

8 is wayyyyy too low for ferritin. If it was me, I'd be getting a referral to a hematologist. And 130 is awfully high for Vitamin D. 50 to 70 is great. Fortunately, it comes down about as fast as it goes up.

Stick around! This place helps me a lot.

Check with your PCP and your network. Most have online sites where you can view all your test/lab results and the one I have now I can compare my labs by year. This is great tool to see a drop. If not, as DCGirl said and Grim use a tracker, it will help

Hello, this is shoppingagainnow writing to reply on a few questions that were brought up to me.

My hematologist doesn't have me take Iron supplements due to I just don't absorb them. Over the years ones he had me take, never upped my iron levels/ferritin. So he had my blood draws about 3 times a year. Now that he just retired, I don't know what the next new hematologist will want? I know there is an iron available in the last several years that seems to be more absorbable, but he has never had me try anything for several years either?

The last time I had an iron infusion was due to within a period of 3 months ferritin dropped from 39 to 8, for no apparent reason. My highest ferritin level ever was 2 months after an infusion and was 135. Then starts sliding downward with every blood draw.

I do have through my primary Dr. an online "mychart" list of every test done and it charts it with results to compare. Plus every time I have blood drawn wherever the location, I print out my lab results since the beginning as a postop.

I self-pay due to no insurance currently right now. So it isn't like health insurance approves or not the lab tests. But even when I had regular medical insurance, I never was questioned on having my lab bill paid via insurance.

I am very conscious of taking all supplements for everything else daily, plus others for knee joint pain, etc. I always separate the timing of them for the best absorption. I give myself my B12 injections myself and have since the beginning. I was a nurse for many years, so the bariatric center never had an issue with me doing my own shots. I always tease my husband that he really should learn how to do it for if there is ever a reason I can't. He hates needles!

I am open to discussing any questions anyone might have for me. Just ask.

Thanks for welcoming an oldie postop back.

Lori

__________________________________________________________________________________

Open RNY 4/6/1999 - HW304 -Lost 154 -Regain 80 - Losing my regain!

Going forward not back again

You can always look for a new doctor, or order your own tests. I use THIS ONE to check my iron because they offer discounts from time to time and it is less of a hassle for me to do this than go through my doctor.

Did you try all the different types of iron? Proferrin (which is heme), split in half, has gotten my ferritin up. I know others use it to help slow down their loss between infusions.