Lab Results

I received my lab results from my 6-month post-op bloodwork. Ferritin is 337, which my PCP was a little concerned was too high. I'm not worried about it at all and am glad it is at that level. My Vitamin A is apparently quite low, so I'm picking up some little oil capsules. I wonder how long it's been low, was it just post-surgery? My WLS nurse said to take 10,000 units per day, my PCP said to take 5,000. Maybe my night vision will improve! That would be great! Also, my TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) was 0.17, which is considerably lower than it has been. I have been taking 137 mcg of levothyroxine per day for the past 10 years or so, now my PCP wants to bump me down to 125 and recheck in 3 months. I was concerned that reducing my dose might slow my weight loss, but she said that effect should be minimal, plus there is a danger of heart problems, etc., if not corrected a bit. I actually feel better with it that low but there are risks so I will go along with raising it a bit.

Sounds like you are doing great. Keep up the good work.

Thank you Janet!

Since vitamin A is one of the fat soluble vitamins, doesn't that mean RNYers need it in dry form? Like with vitamin D? (I'm asking because I'm genuinely curious, not to be snarky or snide or anything.)

Yes, it should be dry A.

Grim - both the nurse at my surgery center and my PCP disagree. I had figured it should be dry as well - both said it didn't need to be. I admit to having felt a sense of uncertainty about their responses.

I thought the same thing, and asked both the surgery center nurse and my PCP. Both said the little oil caps are ok to take. Apparently Vitamin D is trickier and needs to be dry. The nurse said to take an additional 10,000 units daily, the doc said to take an additional 5,000 - then she corrected herself and said that I should take double whatever it is I'm currently getting (which is in dry form, in my multi). I'm already getting 7,500 units a day. Low vitamin A increases the probability of osteoporosis and messes with your vision, amongst other things, so I do want to raise it up.

Hm. I think I'd feel safer taking the dry A!

I'm fine with that - but want to research this. If I don't need to buy a specialty formulation, I'd rather not. Plus it would shock me if the bariatric nurse turned out to be ignorant about something so basic to the population she deals with.

I found dry Vitamin A at The Vitamin Shoppe, if that helps any.