Good Morning. Not too much to report from support group

First of all, you guys suffering with the weather and the aftermath today, take care.

We had 1 pre-op RNYr, 2 - 8 year DS vets, 2 - sleeve w/bands, 2 - DSrs between 1 and 3 years out, and 1 - sleeve w/RNY-like bypass 2 years out. The topic was exercise. Slow burn exercise is still my surgeon's exercise of choice for the first year, which means walking and light weights. Only after you hit goal does he encourage anything more cardio and aerobic. I know, flies in the face of what many of your programs encourage. 

We also talked about how and why we each decided on our surgeries. Then we talked about labs a bit and vitamin plans. The dietitian is pushing to go to Vitalady's plan for DSrs and already recommending dry D3 right off the bat for everyone and maybe dry vitamin A as well. She has to get an office call with Dr E before she can go further and that's proved to be difficult for her. So, I'm swinging lizards she can get a chance to talk to Dr E and he'll let her go with Vitalady's plan for DSrs. I was disappointed in the NUT that she had told the baby DSr that a B12 level in the 400's was fine. {shudder} B12 needs to be up and over 1000!

I fussed at those 8-year vets about not believing a PCP when they just say all your labs look fine. I call BS! You have to get a copy of your labs and either track them on a spreadsheet or compare each level over time to see if you're trending up or down in the vitamin and minerals you are supplementing and you have to get vitamins and minerals on your lab script to start with. 

Stepping off my soapbox. Y'all have a good day and be careful out there.

--gina
   

Gina it's awesome that you advocate for yourself so well AND you will for others too!  Have a great day!

Just rain here and I am thrilled.

Sounds like your Nut is at least on the way to learning about the vits/mins.  They have such a loud voice when talking to us, we expect them to have the answers and some just don't.

Glad both my surgeon and PCP send the lab results with no issue.  We only did partial stuff at 3 mon. but I am looking forward to my 6 mon report.

 Well  im just going to post  my  get -my-lab scores  experience .   First of all  , everyone told me i was a poster child for great labs .  That sounds nice ...  except im still taking childrens chewable flintstones two years post lol .... ( and a handful of other things but still... ) 

I insisted  (  about 5 times )  on getting the results printed out ...  then i was warned well there  are a FEW  small abnormalities (  like iron ) that are getting flagged as inadequate  but dont worry about em ... 

OK ..... poster child ... with  abnormalities .... I don't really GET it ...  

most of the extra things i ASKED then to test for   they never did ...

I DO think my low iron is significant considering i was anemic BEFORE surgery  ....

anyway  Id love a lesson in HOW  TO TALK TO MY DOCTORS POLITELY   and get the  TRUE PICTURE  ( and  the lab results  and tests i want ..)  

First off, you have a legal right to a copy of your lab work. ask for it and get it. Do not let them tell you it's okay and just pass you off. Do not leave your doctors office without it. I've always gotten a copy of mine, and never had an issue with them giving me a copy.

Now, they do have a right to wait until they talk to you first BUT they do have to give you a copy so get it before you leave their office. Just tell your doctor, I would like a copy please and expect it to be in your hands before you leave. That simple. Don't make a scene but don't leave without it.

Once you have a copy of your labs, then you can figure out what is missing and ask why they aren't testing for those things.

Liz

Getting my first round of labs drawn this week. Cant wait to see the results.

I think I need some help with the spreadsheet, I cant open the file to print it.

Ice storm came through last night. No school for kids today. Glad I am off.

Maria

I LOVE my PCM.  She doesn't know a whole bunch about WLS, but she is willing to learn!  When I ask her for extra labs she'll order them without question.  I have been teaching her what levels are good for RNY's (most tricare patients are rny or lapbanders.)  

Sounds like a pretty good night overall for support group.

I'd like to find a local PCP that knows *something* about WLS.  I had to see a different Dr in my Dr's practice a month or so ago because my Dr couldn't get me in, and I stated I had WLS because I was questioning the script she was wanting to give me (wondering if it was time released, ibuprofen, etc).  She stated she's familiar with WLS... I was kinda surprised.  It seems my surgeon's office just scans the lab results and doesn't get back with you either way.

Because I had GREAT advice early out I've tracked my labs religiously.  Seems I'm taking all kinds of stuff now....  I was discussing that with BF yesterday that I tend to forget why I take something sometimes, then when I run out I may not get them again, then remember why later when I'm wondering why something is/isn't doing something.... (like probiotics).

Gina, sounds like a great evening. Wish we had a support group like that here. A couple of us would love to put together one but the doctor here is so RNY oriented and the groups here spend time going around the room introducing everyone that no one gets any discussions. Liz

 Hey Gina,
Do you know the reasons behind his exercise theories?