normal lab values
It's always a good idea to get a copy of the lab report when you have labs done. Doctors will sometimes tell you your labs are good when they really aren't, plus if you see the numbers yourself you can track trends. Like if you get your iron tested today and it's still in the normal range but it's dropped a lot since you had labs done three months ago, you'd want to start taking more iron. Docs usually will not tell you if it's dropped, just that it's normal now.
I have a spreadsheet I use to track my results. I’d be happy to send anyone a copy if you want. Pam has one on her blog you can download too. Andrea sells a lab tracker workbook that includes all kinds of interesting info about labs and also has places to track your results. Of course you can devise your own system, as well.
So look at your lab report. They are really easy to read and you don't need any special medical knowledge to read them. Your lab report will list the normal ranges and on mine, if something is high or low, they have it in bold type and put a big H or L next to it so it's easy to spot.
The normal values they list will all be accurate except two. You want to pay close attention to those two.
It will say something like 211-911 for B12 and you really want your B12 to be about 900-1000, but it's OK up to at least 2000. Below 550, people get symptoms like depression and fatigue. Below 400, people get permanent nerve damage in their hands and feet. I have no clue why they list it normal below that.
It will say something like 30-80 for vitamin D but you really want your D about 80-100. Lower than that, we are at increased risk for things like osteoporosis, heart disease and some cancers. It can safely be higher than 100. If your D is really low, you want to pay close attention to your PTH and calcium levels. If your D is low, you won’t absorb calcium well, no matter how much you take. When that happens, your PTH usually goes up so you start leaching calcium from your bones to keep the calcium level in your blood good (because your heart won’t work right if the level of calcium in your blood gets too low).
Most other things, like iron and ferritin and protein, etc, you want near the top of the normal range.
Your PTH, you'd rather have near the bottom of the normal range. High PTH suggests you aren’t getting enough calcium and are leaching calcium out of your bones.
This is all true for all people, not just those that had RNY.
Kelly
Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.
If you are leaching calcium from your bones, the calcium level in your blood may be on the high side. If the calcium level in your blood is low, that does not mean you're not getting enough calcium but it can indicate certain health problems, like problems with your endocrine system.
The only way to know for sure how you're doing with calcium is to have a bone density scan, which you should have done at about one year post op and every couple years after that.
Kelly
Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.
