Not going to get 1 yr labs for a while, worried

I was supposed to have a 1 year check up 2 weeks ago, I never had 6 month labs done through my surgeon as they only do it at 1 year, so this appt was a big deal. 2 weeks before my 1 yr appt I lost my insurance and have none right now, cannot afford the appt and bloodwork out of my own pocket so had to cancel. It's going to be some time before I have any insurance again, weeks or months, so I have to admit I am scared as I've had no labwork at all except once at 3 or 4 mos for some iron and a b-12 level through my pcp because I was having an issue. Currently I take daily: 1 adult Centrum chewable 1 super B complex 1 slow fe iron 2-3 Citrical calcium citrate I can only hope this is enough as I have no way to know if I am deficient in anything at this point. I wonder if hospitals offer any kind of programs that help the poorer folk get this kind of medical stuff done and help pay for it or is it just for illness or emergency situations and not a standard check up like this would probably fall under?

I'll let others chime in, and I'm no expert, but!  I have always understood that it is not a good idea for us to take vitamins/minerals/etc in the time-released format.  So, that would be one thing I'd look into... a different iron supplement... 

I'm sorry this happened to you, and I hope you get your insurance back soon. I sure can't advise you on your supplements, but I'm sure others here can. I was a self-pay, and my lab work costs were astounding (something like $1,400 each time, and he did it every three months).

hello sweet Melissa :) Im sorry about your loss :( I cant even imagine how scary that must be (being a Canadian is a lot cooler than people think)  I think you have to use your own general health as your guide here. You need to eat right, drink right, and be as active as you should. You take your suppliments everyday. Then after all of that if you feel good, no need to worry (yet) because anything that could be wrong is likely to not change that drastically in the months you wait for new insurance. Iron should always be combined with vitamin C. I take 3 Ferrous gluconate and 1 chewable vitamin C everyday after my own internet research on what is best to take post op. You are going to be fine, just take good care of yourself :) I have no help to give on the medical pricing stuff, sorry :( HUGS PK

Melissa...I'm sorry to hear about your situation...As soon as you get back on insurance get your labs done...But I think PK said that it takes a while for your stores to run down and as long as you are taking your multi vits and calcium citrate and B-12 (Covered in your Super B complex I believe) The Iron I'd change.  Don't ask me what iron?  I have taken some 6 or 7 different one's over the last month and am taking 2 different ones at the moment... Research seems to point to elemental iron and heme irons rather than iron salts which need stomach acid and the first part of your missing intestines to aborb it....You don't have time for time release.....It took 3 years before I I realized that I needed to take my supplement daily and not only when I remembered once-three times a week....Take them faithfully until you know for sure that you don't need to...I was stupid and didn't have insurance problems as an excuse to not get my labs sooner...or to not take my supps because I felt fine.   I hope you are feeling better too and eating okay now!  Just don't stop taking your supps! Okay? Anita

Thank you everyone! I forgot to add I also take a Bariatric Advantage sublingual B12 daily as well. I'm talking to vita lady and going to make sure I'm taking the right supplements, will look at switching the iron if I'm taking the wrong kind, who knew? I guess until I can get on insurance again I'm just going to be as pro active as possible in my supplements and make sure I'm doing right on my end and add even more vites if I have to until I can get checked out, no other solution! Thanks for all of your support.