Wisdom needed
Unfortunately I am having a hard time finding an internist who has any knowledge of RNY patients. I am not sure my rny surgeon is much better. He was and is a great surgion but he refers me to my pc physician most ot the time. Soooooo I am seeking advice from my best source of information.
I had a appointment with my pc for non rny related issues last week and requested blood tests that I understood I should have as a result of my rny surgery. this included Vitamin D, ferritin, and B12. I got my results and my Dr. reaction was very underwhelming. My Vitamin D is severly low at 7.1. It should be between 32-100. That result he acknowledged and told me to take a supplement of 800IUs. I think that is not enough but I don't know for sure. My B12 was in the 700s and I like it to be higher. I asked for and received a B12 shot. I take a sublingual each day but I guess that;s not enough. He said everything else was fine. I asked for a copy of the report and was given one on my way out. I got to the car and looked it over. My ferritin level was 10. It should be between 10-150. I guess he didn't mention this because it was a 10 but with a range that broad I am not happy with a 10. I didn't even know what ferritin was or how to treat a deficiency. I ask the pharmacist and couldn't get a straight answer. So I googled it and determined that I need to take an iron suppliment. Am I right?
Any advice I can get about the amount of Vitamin D I need and in what form would be appreciated. The same goes for the iron.
Thanks , I know I will get good information from my sisters and brothers here.
I had a appointment with my pc for non rny related issues last week and requested blood tests that I understood I should have as a result of my rny surgery. this included Vitamin D, ferritin, and B12. I got my results and my Dr. reaction was very underwhelming. My Vitamin D is severly low at 7.1. It should be between 32-100. That result he acknowledged and told me to take a supplement of 800IUs. I think that is not enough but I don't know for sure. My B12 was in the 700s and I like it to be higher. I asked for and received a B12 shot. I take a sublingual each day but I guess that;s not enough. He said everything else was fine. I asked for a copy of the report and was given one on my way out. I got to the car and looked it over. My ferritin level was 10. It should be between 10-150. I guess he didn't mention this because it was a 10 but with a range that broad I am not happy with a 10. I didn't even know what ferritin was or how to treat a deficiency. I ask the pharmacist and couldn't get a straight answer. So I googled it and determined that I need to take an iron suppliment. Am I right?
Any advice I can get about the amount of Vitamin D I need and in what form would be appreciated. The same goes for the iron.
Thanks , I know I will get good information from my sisters and brothers here.
I understand the problem you are having. I was actually really lucky to find an internist who has gone to seminars in order to treat bariatric patients. Not many in Pensacola have that knowledge. He keeps track of my labs and some of the trace elements as well. You are right, a ferritin on the bottom end doesn't seem good enough. I would start on the phone and call one internist after the other and ask them specifically if they have knowledge regarding health issues for bariatric patients. Deficiencies need to be caught before they are a problem.
Are you taking a multivitamin with iron twice a day? I know that is very important and some doctors don't stress that. I have been and my ferritin level was fine. I also opted for the vitamin B12 shot monthly. My daughter does it for me, but I have done it myself. It's not hard. The nurse will show you how to do it for yourself if it isn't convenient to get into the doctor's office every month.
Good luck and stay on top of these labs like you are doing!
Are you taking a multivitamin with iron twice a day? I know that is very important and some doctors don't stress that. I have been and my ferritin level was fine. I also opted for the vitamin B12 shot monthly. My daughter does it for me, but I have done it myself. It's not hard. The nurse will show you how to do it for yourself if it isn't convenient to get into the doctor's office every month.
Good luck and stay on top of these labs like you are doing!
I am taking a multivitamin but one over the counter. I have just decided to spend the money and buy from Bariatriceating.com. At least they understand the needs and anatamy or the bariatric patient.
I know Methodist Hospital does many bariatric surgeries and is the hospital featured in the TV series whose name has just slipped my mind (brain fart). I assume they have internists and nutritionists who understand our needs. I will get on the phone tomorrow and inquire. It is not too far from me..about 35 miles. I already travel to Methodist to the coumadin clinic. Might as well kill two birds with one stone. ( just a proverb...would never kill any number of birds with anything.)
Thanks for the advice.
I know Methodist Hospital does many bariatric surgeries and is the hospital featured in the TV series whose name has just slipped my mind (brain fart). I assume they have internists and nutritionists who understand our needs. I will get on the phone tomorrow and inquire. It is not too far from me..about 35 miles. I already travel to Methodist to the coumadin clinic. Might as well kill two birds with one stone. ( just a proverb...would never kill any number of birds with anything.)
Thanks for the advice.
Hi Lindy,
I understand just what you're going through and I think I can help. For months my doctors (both pcp and surgeon) had me on those stupid green gel cap vitamin d----50,000 IU three times a week. My levels continued to decline until I was just about where you are. Finally, I decided to take matters into my own hands and bought DRY vitamin-d3 from Vitalady.com. Instead of taking three a week, I took 5 a week for 5 weeks and had my level rechecked. I zoomed from 7 to 63 in 5 weeks !!!!! Those gels can't breakdown in our systems, so they're just a big waste. I was so happy when I had my labs redrawn and they were so much better. My doctor actually said "gee, maybe you do know what you're talking about". I also take b-12 sublingually, 1000 iu's, but I take them twice a day, my multivitamins too. Right after brushing my teeth in the morning, right after brushing before bed. At the last draw my b-12 was greater than 2000!!!
Here's the link to vitalady.com's dry vitamin d-3. They're in a regular capsule instead of those gel caps.
http://www.vitalady.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=1070
Everyone in my support group has had great success doing this, hope it helps you too!
I understand just what you're going through and I think I can help. For months my doctors (both pcp and surgeon) had me on those stupid green gel cap vitamin d----50,000 IU three times a week. My levels continued to decline until I was just about where you are. Finally, I decided to take matters into my own hands and bought DRY vitamin-d3 from Vitalady.com. Instead of taking three a week, I took 5 a week for 5 weeks and had my level rechecked. I zoomed from 7 to 63 in 5 weeks !!!!! Those gels can't breakdown in our systems, so they're just a big waste. I was so happy when I had my labs redrawn and they were so much better. My doctor actually said "gee, maybe you do know what you're talking about". I also take b-12 sublingually, 1000 iu's, but I take them twice a day, my multivitamins too. Right after brushing my teeth in the morning, right after brushing before bed. At the last draw my b-12 was greater than 2000!!!
Here's the link to vitalady.com's dry vitamin d-3. They're in a regular capsule instead of those gel caps.
http://www.vitalady.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=1070
Everyone in my support group has had great success doing this, hope it helps you too!
Susan
The regular Lapband surgical forum had a bunch of us talking about Vitamin D yesterday. I
looked for them to send you a link or a clue as to where to find them but haven't had much luck.
About a year ago I had abnormal Vit D stats - there was actually no number for my level on the report.
I also did the 50,000 Ds - I dont recall how many a day - but it was for a week and then once a week and my levels went back to normal. I take about 1600 a day now and will be checked next month.
The New York Times had an article my husband saw about D - about six months ago - it went something like this: this is something only coming to the public's attention - almost half of women have very low D and men also suffer from this BUT no one knows it because D is not
regularly tested for. There is a push for D testing to be part of a regular annual bloodwork-up.
You can die from insufficient D.
COULD YOU LET ME KNOW what Ferritin is? I'm a lapbander and take two multis a day with iron (about 200% of total daily); two caltrate for calcium; biotin for hair and B-50 with mega
doses of B12 also. The last two are from Bariatric Advantage. I never heard of ferritin.
I get 800 D from the 2 caltrate (which gives me 1200 calcium) and 800 D from my multi.
CAREFUL, THE BODY CAN ONLY ABSORB 400 D at a time - I believe you have to have a four hour lapse in between taking 400 at a time.
Katherine B
looked for them to send you a link or a clue as to where to find them but haven't had much luck.
About a year ago I had abnormal Vit D stats - there was actually no number for my level on the report.
I also did the 50,000 Ds - I dont recall how many a day - but it was for a week and then once a week and my levels went back to normal. I take about 1600 a day now and will be checked next month.
The New York Times had an article my husband saw about D - about six months ago - it went something like this: this is something only coming to the public's attention - almost half of women have very low D and men also suffer from this BUT no one knows it because D is not
regularly tested for. There is a push for D testing to be part of a regular annual bloodwork-up.
You can die from insufficient D.
COULD YOU LET ME KNOW what Ferritin is? I'm a lapbander and take two multis a day with iron (about 200% of total daily); two caltrate for calcium; biotin for hair and B-50 with mega
doses of B12 also. The last two are from Bariatric Advantage. I never heard of ferritin.
I get 800 D from the 2 caltrate (which gives me 1200 calcium) and 800 D from my multi.
CAREFUL, THE BODY CAN ONLY ABSORB 400 D at a time - I believe you have to have a four hour lapse in between taking 400 at a time.
Katherine B
This is what gleaned from the web. Hope I am understanding it. Ferritin is like a safety deposit box for iron. If you deplete the ferritin levels you are bankrupt. My labs always have come out normal for iron and I've not had any problems with aneamia. However, it seems that you can be aneamic without it showing on the regular blood tests and a ferritin level below an optimum level can idicate aneamia. So I assume I am aneamic even though the tests don't show it.
Hope that makes sense and hope it is accurate. That's how I read the info.
Hope that makes sense and hope it is accurate. That's how I read the info.
Linda, I take Bariatric Advantage multis. They are in a capsule that even when your wet finger touches it it starts to dissolve. So I figure it must decompose quickly. I wonder if I'm wasting money with my fishoil gel cap. . . I am continuing to work towards those products that dissolve easily. The nutritionist I saw at the beginning of this journey uses a "spray" vitamin that is kind of like the sublingual b12 idea. It absorbs into the lining of the mouth I believe. Good luck and report back please. Michelle at vitalady is very helpful. I order my vitamins from bariatricsadvantage.com
Karen C
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