Hypothyroid and DS surgery

Blood draws, depends on the doctor but most of us have them drawn every three months the first year, after that we do slow down a wee bit to maybe twice a year at the least amount. Hard to fix trends down if you don;t know they are headed downhill.

Some doctors do flip out and go nuts when they see the 2000, some don't. If they are educated about it, it helps. Our primary care now has two of us with a DS and is slowly learning what levels are best for us versus his normal p[atients. A pcp/surgeon you can "train" is your greatest asset.

Okay, assume the worst...if you are only in the hospital for a few days, don't worry about your vitamins, they can't drop in just a few days (a week at most) but if it ever goes beyond that, try and get some into you somehow. Spouses are great at getting things to you when you can't do for yourself. IF you are in a position to not be able to swallow the vitamins, don't worry about them til you can swallow again. It's really that easy. If swallowing is an issue, you will probably be on liquids nutrients and that wiol get into your system far easier than pills ever will.

You be surprised how many are here til after their surgery and then start getting to their goal and get busy with life. And all of a sudden a year has gone by...and they do eventually poke their head back in the door.

And some of us hang around to "pay it forward" for all the help we got early on and still get.

Glad you are chatting with my husband. He is a good role model for anyone. :) And a really nice person to know.

Liz

Well that all makes sense.  Again I really appreciate all your help and your husbands along with everyone else I been talking with.

Its almost 9pm need to spend some time with my wife, been on here since 6pm and its so easy to get lost in time with so much to read and learn, god my brain is hurting and my eyes are bugging out from the LCD screen LOL

Thank you again

Tony

You're more than welcome, Tony.

Another good resource is the FB groups, we have one for the LW's here and another for the DS'ers from here. If you want, friend me on there, https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1641192025 and I will add you to either or both, your option.

Liz

Thanks Liz,

For some reason I have a fobia about facebook and twitter so I don't use them. My wife loves it, but me, nope LOL

But I appreciate the info :-)

Tony, not everyone likes FB. But if you ever change your mind, let one of us know. :)

Liz

I had a kidney stone from taking calcium... but it's calcium carbonate that increases the risk for this. Post-op we need calcium citrate, not calcium carbonate.

What is the difference between the two?  I had 3 kidney stones last yr all at once on the right side and they were all 1/4 by 1/8th inch.  Believe it or not I passed them all over 4 month and had NO PAIN at all. 

My Dr couldn't believe it cause he kept telling me when they leave the kidney and enter the Uitter call me and I will meet you at the hospital,  Next thing I know I feel it moving though me and TINK in the comode.

If thats the only luck I have in life I will take it cause I know so many people who had stones and the exteme pain they were in.  I must be plumbed with 1 inch PVC tubing :-)

Oh it was Carbonate that I was taking for 2 yrs prior and I was not even coming close to 2 glasses of water let alone 8 daily which I do now :-)

WebMD: 

What kind of calcium supplement should you take?

"I tell my patients to take the kind that they tolerate best and is least expensive," Bolster says. She says she recommends calcium carbonate because "it's inexpensive, won't cause discomfort, and is a good source of calcium."

Some people may have problems producing sufficient stomach acid, or may be taking medications that suppress acid production. For them, says Puzas, a calcium citrate supplement might be better because it "dissolves a little better than calcium carbonate for these people."

What about other types of supplements, like calcium plus magnesium, coral calcium, and so on? Not necessary, the experts tell WebMD, although they note that supplements that combine calcium with vitamin D -- which is essential for the body to appropriately absorb calcium -- provide an added benefit.

Dietary supplements
The two main forms of calcium in supplements are carbonate and citrate. Calcium carbonate is more commonly available and is both inexpensive and convenient. Both the carbonate and citrate forms are similarly well absorbed, but individuals with reduced levels of stomach acid can absorb calcium citrate more easily. Other calcium forms in supplements or fortified foods include gluconate, lactate, and phosphate. Calcium citrate malate is a well-absorbed form of calcium found in some fortified juices [6]. The body absorbs calcium carbonate most efficiently when the supplement is consumed with food, whereas the body can absorb calcium citrate equally effectively when the supplement is taken with or without food [7].

Calcium supplements contain varying amounts of elemental calcium. For example, calcium carbonate is 40% calcium by weight, whereas calcium citrate is 21% calcium. Fortunately, elemental calcium is listed in the Supplement Facts panel, so consumers do not need to calculate the amount of calcium supplied by various forms of calcium supplements.

The percentage of calcium absorbed depends on the total amount of elemental calcium consumed at one time; as the amount increases, the percentage absorption decreases. Absorption is highest in doses ≤500 mg [1]. So, for example, one who takes 1,000 mg/day of calcium from supplements might split the dose and take 500 mg at two separate times during the day.

Some individuals who take calcium supplements might experience gastrointestinal side effects including gas, bloating, constipation, or a combination of these symptoms. Calcium carbonate appears to cause more of these side effects than calcium citrate [1], so consideration of the form of calcium supplement is warranted if these side effects are reported. Other strategies to alleviate symptoms include spreading out the calcium dose throughout the day and/or taking the supplement with meals.

And I found this as well:
Urine Calcium: Laboratory Measurement and Clinical Utility (have to be a member to read but free to join)
Gastric Bypass Patients More Likely to Develop Kidney Stones

So taking calcium citrate and drinking PLENTY of liquids will help avoid them plus help your bones.

Liz


 

Ok, joined Webmd thank you again LOL  I did have one of the 24 hr urine and calcium tests done last yr I believe by my Endo.  I see him next week Fri and will ask for copies of those tests too.  Now to call the Dr office this moring to get my fax