Dental problems after WLS??

Just wondering if anyone has had dental probs post surgery.  I've been experiencing hypersensitive teeth (have good teeth) and have read that it is quite common about 5-7 yrs out after surgery to start having dental complications.   I'm 4.5 years out.  Have been reading up.  Also says that erosion is possible because of hormonal and acid changes in the body.  Anyone have any more info or websites to go to ?
Thanks.

I have not read anything on the sensitivity but did about calcium loss affecting our teeth if we did not take our supplements. My teeth were sensitive to begin with and have only gotten worse but my dentist attributes it to age and maxing out on my sensodyne. I also use a flouride rinse once a day and listerene once a day. I just received a flouride toothpaste by prescription to use at night; this seems to be helping.
I live in Gig Harbor too! Your pictures look great

Thanks for your quick reply, morgansmommy:)  I must admit I do all my supplements faithfull, except the chewable calcium.  Not good with that at all:(  You live in GH too?  Do you know if there is a WLS support group meeting now in GH??    BTW, is your dentist in GH?
Thanks:)
Sue

Sue,
There is a support group that meets at Borers in Gig Harbor on Thursdays at 6;30. Merrilee organizes it and posts on the state board. I am not sure if it is every week or not. I went once; what a lovely group of ladies! The day just does not work for me unfortunately. I was the only RNY all the others were "banders" One or two had plastic surgery already so that was interesting as I am exploring a TT with my hernia repair this summer or late fall.
I just went to the dentist this morning! Dr. Giesy( 752-6630) is wonderful but not in Gig Harbor. He is right off of N.21st and Pearl in Tacoma. I highly reccomend him. I am such a nervous nelly when it comes to the dentist and they are all the kindest and most patient people. The front office staff is great too!
Mary

Yes, very common. The only ones who escaped this fate were the few who were taking huge doses of dry D3 and calcium citrate. And that's not many of us, sadly.

Usually crumbling or breakage is what is reported.

Start with a thorough set of labs. I can post a set to get, if you'd like.

Thanks, Michelle.  I'm sure ALL of us would like for you to post the "thorough set of labs"  that you mentioned.   We greatly appreciate all that you do!

Sue

Not to be construed as medical advice, this list includes labs we have had performed as gastric bypass patients. The first group, every 3 to 6 months for life, as we are able. The second group, annually, as long as the results were comfortably within normal limits for more than 2 years in a row.



1st Group



*80053 Comprehensive Metabolic profile: (sodium, potassium, chloride, glucose,BUN, creatinine, calcium, total protein, albumin, total bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase) (10231)

* 84134 Pre-albumin:

* 7600 Lipid profile: (cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides, chol/HDL ratio)

* 10256 Hep panel: includes ALT (SPGT) & GGT)

* 84100 Phosphorous - Inorganic: (718)

* 83735 Magnesium:

* 84550 Uric Acid: (905)

* 7444 Thyroid panel: (T3U, T4, FTI, TSH) (84437; 84443; 84479; 84480)

* 85025 Hemogram with platelets: (1759)

* 7573 Iron: TIBC, % sat

* 83550 Ferritin: (457)

* 84630 Zinc: (945)

* 84446 Vitamin A: (921)

* 82306 Vitamin D: (25-hydroxy) (680)

* 84052 Vitamin B-1: (Thiamin) (4052)

* 84207 Vitamin B-6: (Pyridoxine)

* 7065 Vitamin B-12 & Folate: (82607; 82746)

* 83970 Serum intact: PTH

* 83937 Osteocalcin:

* 84597 Vitamin K:

* 85610 PT:

* 85730 PTT:



2ND GROUP



* 593 LDH:

* 31789 Homocysteine, Cardio:

* 83921 MMA:

* 367 Cortisol:

* 84255 Selenium:

* 84590 Vitamin E:

* 82525 Copper:





For diabetics: *496 - HEMOGLOBIN A1C













POSSIBLE DIAGNOSIS CODES





269.2 Hypovitaminosis



268 Vitamin D deficiency



275.40 Calcium deficiency



266.2 Cyanocobalamin deficiency (B12)



281.1 other B12 deficiency anemia



281.0 Pernicious anemia



280.9 Iron-deficiency anemia



281.2 Folate deficiency anemia



285.9 Anemia, unspecified



269.3 Zinc deficiency



244.9 Hypothryoidism



250.0 Diabetes



401.9 Hypertension



276.9 Electrolyte and fluid disorders



272.0 Hypercholesterolemia

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -



*579.3 Surgical malabsorption*



*579.8 Intestinal malabsorption *





* Bands or sleeves should not use these codes as they are not accurate.



*Some insurance companies will not pay for any procedure that uses these codes.





LAB TARGETS





This is NOT medical advice, just my own targets for the main blood levels I watch.



Protein: 7's

Albumin: 4's

Pre-Albumin: 20-30's



Iron: 80-100

Ferritin: 200-300

HGB: 12+

HCT: 36+



Vit A: 60- 80

Vit D: 80-120



Calcium: 9.0-9.4

PTH: 20-40



Vit B1: Mid to top of range

Vit B6: Mid to top of range

Magnesium: Mid range (but also go by if we have leg/foot cramping)

Zinc: Mid range



Vit B12: 1000 +

Folate: Top of range



AST (sgot): Below 40

ALT (sgpt): Below 40



We usually want to "meet or beat" pre-op levels. In some cases, higher is better, and in other cases (Cholesterol, PTH for example), lower is better.



The only things *I* don't mind being on the high end of out of range are Ferritin and B12. But that applies to ME.



My doctors don't show interest in any of these until I am out of range. *I* am interested when I begin heading that direction.

Thanks for the info, Michelle.  I'll check your list of labs with the labs I get.  By the looks of it, I'm sure there are a couple of them I'm not getting or have NEVER had.  I'm going to be seeing a new primary doc and will take the list along with me when I talk to her.  I've changed docs a few times since my WLS because no one seems to know anything about tests needed for detecting defficiencies and I'm tired of not feeling like I'm on top of things.  This doc has been highly reccomended.......but I don't know if she has any WLS patients.  What I have heard is that she takes time, listens, is a Christian, is very thorough and hits things "right on"...........worth a try. 
Dr Weber was the best surgeon but he has NO aftercare program at all so I've been on my own for 4 1/2 years.
Again, thanks for all this great info.  Hope it helps others on here.

 

I'm sure, too. LOL

Remember, I do nothing but this. Even the surgeons who attend the big conference do not go to the nutrition classes. They go to the "how to do the surgery" classes, which is how I'd prefer it. They can stay up on the latest of THAT and I'll stay up on the latest of THIS.

You GO, girl:) 
It's great to have you in OUR corner:)