14 motnths post-op and not feeling "normal" - HELP!!!

Question for anyone one..... I am just about 14 months post-op and have been feeling great, losing weight, just a model post-op experience. Until, the last weekend of April, then I started getting headaches, hot flashing, and fatigue. The fatigue is so severe that I can't think properly and all I want to do is sleep. At first I thought it was a virus, but it has been 22 days and I am still tired and having my own personal summers! I had surgery through Kaiser NW and their program is set up so that I only see the surgeon after my surgery and then I see my PCP for all post-op care. The problem is that she doesn't have a clue. The last time I went in they tried to give my migraine meds, but all they did was upset my stomach.  I really thing some hormone, vitamin, or mineral is off, but they said my labs in 02/26/07 looked fine. Has anyone experience anything like this?  I listed my most resent labs below... Desperately seeking advice.....

Component	Value - Mine	Low	High	Unit
Calcium	8.7	8.4	10.2	mg/dL
Potassium	3.9	3.5	5.1	mmol/L
AST (GOT)	14	5	43	U/L
Albumin	4.1	3.40	5.20	g/dL
Sodium	137	136	148	mmol/L
Chloride	103	97	109	mmol/L

Where are your Iron levels at?  I know that when my Iron drops I have the same symptoms you do right now....  Loni 3yrs post op -192 lbs

Calcium is low. Where are vit D and PTH? Iron, ferritin? B12?

If I send you the labs to run, can you get anyone to run them?

What is your protein and vites regimen currently?

To be honest, I have no idea that my Vitamin D, B12 or PTH are. Kaiser only posts some results on the website, they did mail me a full description, but I will have to look at it again to see. I remember thinking they were on the low side, but not enough to "flag" my PCP. I have an appt with my PCP (for the 3rd time) tomorrow and would love to have some information on labs to request. The RD in Kaiser's program recommended checking my estrogen levels and my thyroid, but I am willing to try anything. I had my energy when I weight over 300lbs and that is extremely frustrating. As for my protein and vites... I do not log my protein, but I eat chicken, fish, and beef daily along with a protein bar. I would bet I safely eat 50-60 grams a day. For my vites I take a daily with minerals and 100mg of calcium.

OK, so you're under supplemented AND under tested. Both are very fixable and you're only a year out, so lots of time to fix this before you have any permanent damage, right?

Wow, checkng estrogen and thyroid, ahead of the curve on that one. Cool. But if ppl don't grasp malabsorption, they don't know where to look.

If you email me privately, I can send you the labs you need. I don't know how to do that from here.

[email protected]

Thank you for all your help. I have emailed you from my MSN account. Also, I forgot to meantion that I do take a B12 shot as well.

How often? For some, monthly wil work for years. For othrs, much more often. For example, my DIL was 31 when she had surgery, a young, healthy normal eater. BUT she was low enough in B12 that they had to postpone her surgery til it was up.

My DH & I do weekly shots and his is fabulous and mine is and not quite where I'd like it to be.

After 50, most folks need help with B12 ANYWAY, even if they are intact.

so the stuff docs say about it lasting 12 months or 2 yrs or 4 yrs or whatever? Not true and esp if they never tested it pre-op! We want levels over 800

Thanks for the post and the responses!  I am going to be exactly one year out tomorrow and thought I would browse this board tonight.  I have been feeling AWFUL for a couple months just like the poster....always tired, could sleep all day if I was let.  I am waiting to get my one year follow up appt. but I brought my labs up online from the last year.  Vanderbilt even charts them for you....who knew.  When you said that we needed over 800 for the B12 I checked mine.  Before surgery....1200.  Three months ago.......347!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Well no wonder I am dead tired.  I am going to call my pcp to do blood work NOW while I am on the waitlist for a surgeon's visit.  He'll do B-12 shots if I need them.   How long do they take to work?  Are they expensive? Thanks so much! Rachael

Shots work almost instantly, but only hold til you need the nxt one (frequency to be determined). *I* personally never felt a "power surge", as some describe, but it never got all THAT low. And I have done as often as daily and still felt no difference.

Expensive? Shots are as cheap a way to go as anything! When I went to my doc, I didn't pay a copay, but I had to park, wait and so on. Eventually, I got them to teach me how to do it. I have to pay for syringes, but I get them online for ultra cheap.

So, if I get thru my ins, I pay about $3 for 90 days (12 vials) so, for weekly. I didn't like those tiny vials, so I bought it at Costco without the insurance and I paid $7 for a 30 shot vial! Cheap, I tell ya! Very cheap. Both my dh & I need it, so we shoot each other.

Iron is another matter all together, since it invovles trying this one, that one until you find one you like, it likes you AND it keeps your numbers glowing.

Vitalady,  I would also like that list if possible.  [email protected] Thanks, Trudi