Lab Results - 3 mos follow up

Did you add some vitamin A?  Make sure it's dry A, not in oil.

Your B12 is much too low.  I know the lab sheet says it's normal, but below 550 people get tired and depressed and below 400 you can get permanent nerve damage.  How much B12 do you take and how do you take it?  You need LOTS more.

I don't see a vitamin D level.  Why did your doc tell you to decrease it?  How much have you been taking and what is your level currently?

Your ferritin is fantastic by iron on the low side.  Are you taking iron now?  The ASMBS recommends 36 mg iron per day for people that do not menstruate.

In addition to not seeing vitamin D, I don't see copper or PTH.

Kelly

Thanks so much, Kelly, for reviewing these results!   I don't think I was tested for copper or PTH - I can look into it at by 6 mo.  The 3 mo. tests required 17 tubes of blood - I don't know if I have enough blood for additional tests!  :)     I have a couple of follow up questions for you: -Is there a certain kind of iron that I should be taking?  I switched to Citrical which does not provide any iron. -Below is my D test.  It looks normal to me. I currently take 800 total of Vitamin D from the Citrical and 500 from the Upcal D.  Is this too much? -Is there a particular B-12 that you recommend? I currently take Jarrow Formula Methyl B-12 (1000 mcg) per day. Again, many thanks, Kelly.  I am so grateful for your advice. Amy

 

Component	Result	Ref Range	Units	Abnormal	Result Status
VITAMIN D, 25-OH, D2	21	See Note:	ng/mL	N (Normal)	Final
Reference Range: Reference Range Not established
VITAMIN D, 25-OH, TOTAL	37	30-100	ng/mL	N (Normal)	Final
25-OHD3 indicates both endogenous production and supplementation. 25-OHD2 is an indicator of exogenous sources, such as diet or supplementation. Therapy is based on measurement of Total 25-OHD, with levels <20 ng/mL indicative of Vitamin D deficiency, while levels between 20 ng/mL and 30 ng/mL suggest insufficiency. Optimal levels are > or = 30 ng/mL.
VITAMIN D, 25-OH, D3	16	See Note:	ng/mL	N (Normal)	Final

 

what Kelly said and OMG, your D is scary low. You need more D3, dry.

The beta carotene sources of A are useless to you. You need dry A in retinol form.

I think you're mixing up iron and calcium in your thinking.

Iron goes with C, so has to be taken separately, not "in" another vitamin. Your ferritin is nice for now, but it won't last.

Calcium is taken with D or near D if you take it with an addition larger dose. By larger, with this score, I'd be thinking 20-25,000 IU. We don't count it in 100's, but in thousands. Your calcium level is OK, but is it higher or lower than before? Looks like you're not taking enough to hold this good level for long.

Iron + C

Calcium + D

But they are two separate entities, don't mingle them

Okay, let me see if I got this straight.  I need to take the iron with C at a different time than the Centrum (I meant to say Centrum but wrote Citrical - product of a tired mind!).  I need a lot more D3 (dry) in the range of 20-25,000 IU daily.  I should also up my calcium. 
Finally, I need dry A in retinol form. 

BTW, what is the difference between the total and the elemental contents in my calcium - which should I be monitoring?

Thanks for your advice!
Amy

some minerals are quoted in "salts", such as ferrous irons. What we care about is the elemental iron in it.

The best analogy I can give you is gasoline. We buy "a gallon" of fuel, but of that gallon, only 87% (or so) is actually OCTANE, the stuff the car wants. The rest is adders, cleaners, etc.

Back in the day, the octane was nearly 100%, and the lower grades were like 96%.

Today, the higher grade is like 92%, with the cheapo being 87%. Times change, but the car still runs on octane, no matter how much stuff they add to the octane to call it "a gallon"

What a great analogy!  So, how much elemental calcium do I need each day?  I really want to get this right now so I don't have problems later.

Thanks!
Amy

"enough calcium" is an oxymoron to me! Well over 2000, for sure

Done!  I just ordered A and D3 from your site.  Thanks for helping me get this straight, Michelle.  I have found this aspect of managing post-surgery to be one of the most challenging.  I think it will become easier with time and knowledge.

Amy

Citracal is a calcium supplement, and  calcium supplements typically don't contain iron since the calcium would just block the absorption of iron.

I like carbonyl iron because we absorb it well and it is unlikely to cause constipation.  I use Sundown Perfect Iron from drugstore.com but Feosol also  makes carbonyl and you can get it at  Walmart or CVS.

Your D is horribly low.  Research shows that below 80, we are at increased risk for stuff like osteoporosis, heart disease and some cancers.  No, you don't take too much, you don't take nearly enough.  At 37, I would do 50,000 IU dry D3 (I order mine from vitalady.com) several times a week.  Why on earth did your doc tell you to decrease your D?  Even according to the normal range on your lab report (which is much too low) you are at the low end of that range?

If you're taking the methylcobalamin 1000 mcg daily, and it's sublingual, right?  If so, I'd consider switching to the nasal spray or injections.  You could try doubling the dose or even tripling it for a couple months and see what happens, but if your level is that low when you take 1000 mcg a day, it just seems like you're not absorbing it real well for whatever reason.

Kelly