Better Doctors and Understaning of the DS

As some of you know, I'm in the midst of my journey of deciding whether or not the DS is right for me.  I feel that I'm 95% there in making my final decision, but I have to say that I really am baffled at the common thread  in most of the things that I've read (articles, posts, etc...) with regards to how little the medical community understands the malabsorbtion needs of DSers.

I mean, most everything references Vitalady,  and while I don't by any means discredit her experience and expertise, I am just amazed that their isn't more of an interest in the nutrient needs of DSers by medical professionals.  I would like to think that someone somewhere would be a spokesperson to other Doctors and Nutritionists to truly begin educating them about DSers' needs.

I'm thankful that there seems to be a great community here and a vast array of experience and expertise available to us "newbies" but I feel disappointed that I shouldn't trust what my doctors, surgeon or nutritionist tells me is "normal" for labs and vit levels.

Am I being kooky?

Also, on a different subject, outside of Vitalady, where do most of you buy your vitamins?

Thanks!!

FoxieRoxie

There is a move afoot to try to get the ASBMS to endorse a more aggressive approach to vitamins, and even if they adopt it, it doesn't mean all surgeons and dietitians will accept it. There are many who say take 2 Flintstones and some Tums....see ya!

It really is sad that many of our surgeons have absolutely no interest in helping us improve our labs and are totally accepting of lousy labs because we malabsorb. Many of us have have found a better way and can prove it with our labs. It really is as simple as that.

Vitalady buys her dry vitamins from Bio-TechPharma and they put her label on them. You can find BioTech on Amazon or order directly from BioTech. Other vitamins you can get at Vitamin Shoppe or other online stores. Bariatric Advantage is pretty good but they may not carry the doses we need. 

--gina

I found a medical student who 'gets' it but she is rarely available for me to see.  My endo completely doesn't get it.  He is certain I had the gastric bypass because he's never heard of the DS.  It isn't even done in the state where I live.

Educating ourselves is the only answer I know of.  I get my vites from VitaLady, Walmart and VitaminShoppe.  My surgeon and his NUT were pretty terrible about advice.  It was all RnY advice. 

The first labs I sent to my surgeon he advised me to stop my multivitamin because one of my B vites was high.  So what, am I supposed to not get the other vitamins in the multi?  That was the last time I bothered to read his responses to my labs.  I only trust VitaLady and MajorMom and a couple of other people who are here on and off.

PS my 3 1/2 year labs were pretty good but my PTH is going up.  That is serious but my endo says it is nothing because my Calcium is normal.  How can he not understand leeching calcium from our bones??

~Becky

I like to support Michelle, as she'll help with labs when I need it and has in the past.  I've up'd my calcium to  6x/day to help bring down my PTH and raised my D by taking it in the middle of the night.  I take all my dry vits in the middle of night and all are up in the high range.

I get my multi's and calcium at Sams, other little stuff folic, selenium, zinc, papaya... at walmart.

Dr Rabkin has had Michelle speak at a couple of his DS support groups.  I do supplement more than they require, but have from the start almost 5 yrs ago.  My Kaiser PCP will order my labs, but there are some that Kaiser just won't do.  If I need them I can go to Quest and get them done.

It's pretty disappointing, indeed, but I'm so thankful for the assistance and sharing I get from other DSers that my surgeon did not even suggest.  My PCP is young and enthusiastic.  I'm her first DS patient, and we discuss my labs and my approach together.  She listens to what I've learned along the way and takes notes.  I love that woman!  Some docs are so arrogant that they don't think they need to learn anything else.  They are not the kind of docs we need.

My PCP is the same.  I'm her first DS patient, and she's had many RNY, VSG, Band patients.  Even within WLS, the DS is still a lot more rare than we recognize.  My PCP immediately understood that my NUT needs are immensely different than other WLS patients, and she's been very proactive in calling in specialists and others to explain and guide as necessary.  Plus I still have my surgeon, the NUT and the entire team at the hospital that are still very involved in my care (all those academic papers and research studies need lots of post-op follow up).

I buy the store brand of dry A and E, Calcium Citrate, and Acidophilus with Psyllium (probiotics) from the nearby Vitamin Shoppe (these can be ordered online as well).

I buy the store brand of multivitamins from the nearby Walgreens store during these buy 2 get 1 free offers.  Walgreens has a website available on the computer and an app for mobile and tablets.

I order the 50K of dry D3 online from Vitalady and the order is usually in my mailbox within the next couple of days.