Question:
POSTOP CHECKUP

HELLO ALL IM 14 MONTHS POST-OP AND IM FEELING GREAT, AND IM BELOW MY PERSOAL GOAL, BUT 6LBS FROM MY SURGEON SUGGESTED GOAL WEIGHT. I GO TO MY PCP FOR A CHECKUP NEXT WEEK. CAN ANYONE TELL ME WHAT TYPE OF TEST I SHOULD HAVE WHEN I GO SEE MY DR. IM FEELING FINE, I TAKE MY DAILY MULTI VITAMIN, 1 PREVACID A DAY, B-12 MONTHLY. 2-4 TUMS A DAY. I DON'T HAVE ANY MAJOR PROBLEMS, I TEND TO VOMIT A BIT MUCH IF THE FOOD DON'T AGREE WITH ME OR IF I EAT TO MUCH, THAT IS THE MOST MAJOR ISSUE I HAVE RIGHT NOW. I HAD MY CHOLESTOROL CHECK A FEW MONTHS AGO (NO PROBLEMS) I HAD A ENDOCOSPHY AT THE END OF THE YEAR (NO PROBLEMS)I ALWAYS GET MY BLOOD PRESSURE CHECK (NO PROBLEMS). PLEASE IF THERE IS ANY TEST SPECIFIC I SHOULD GET PLEASE LET ME KNOW. IM POSTING THIS BEFORE I SPEAK WITH MY SURGEON, I WILL BE CALLING HIS OFFICE IN THE MORNING. THANK U ALL IN ADVANCE 260/154/145-150    — sexysag37 (posted on April 28, 2004)

April 27, 2004
I asked my doctor to order a bone scan......I believe it's called a dexascan just to get a baseline since osteoporosis is a concern. I will ask for one per year to be sure I'm getting enough calcium. I did switch from calcium carbonate to calcium citrate based on the research I did on this site. When I finish this bottle of tablets, I'm switching again to get calcium citrate with vitamin D to help with absorption. I believe Tums has calcium carbonate and all my research says we don't absorb that as well so you might want to research and make a decision whether to switch to calcium citrate or stay with the Tums. Congratulations on your great success!
   —  SCbabe B.

April 27, 2004
I don't know what all my doc tests, I'm sorry! But is this the first post-op checkup/bloodwork you've had since surgery? It just seems that with you being 6 pounds from goal, you had this surgery at lesat 6+ months ago, and therefore should have had a few checkups by now...I also wanted to inform you that your post-op body cannot absorb the type of calcium in Tums. You need to find a calcium citrate, you can get it in health food stores, online, or even at some WalMarts. Otherwise you sound as though you're right on track as far as your supplements go. Do remember, though, if your multi-vitamin has iron in it, you cannot take your calcium at the same time, as the iron prevents the calcium from being absorbed. Good luck to ya!
   — jenn_jenn

April 27, 2004
here is the blood work you wsill need done: Test CBC CMP (Fasting) Lipid Profile Fastng Iron Profile Ferritin Vitamin B-12 Vitamin A Level Uric Acid TSH Thiamine Level (frozen Specimen) I hope this helps
   — Rosemary L.

April 28, 2004
As well as the issue with Tums that was mentioned already, I don't see a regimend of iron supplements either. Most multivitamins have iron in them but it is the wrong iron for us. We need to take ferrous fumerate or gluconate (sp) since we can't absorb the common iron of ferrous sulfate any longer. I take 2 multi's, 2 calcium citrate (with vitamin D and zinc to help absorb it), 2 ferrous fumerate (w/ a chewable vitamin c to be able to absorb it since you can't absorb it by itself), and a vitamin supplement for my hair (I am almost 7 months post op and haven't lost any hair) that I bought at WalMart. When I say 2 of these it means to servings which would be at least 2 hours apart from each other(and the calcium has to be at least 2 hours apart from the iron). I know this sounds like I am taking pills all day long but once you get used to it you don't notice it as much. Sounds like you are doing pretty good but don't let the blood tests fool you. You have vitamin stores in your body that will make the tests look like everything is fine even if you are not taking the right kind of vitamins for a couple of years then when your stores are used up you will be in a lot of trouble, like needing blood transfusions for the iron loss and having osteo bone loss. I don't mean to scare you I just think you need to do some more research on your special nutritional needs after gastric bypass. Just because you feel great doesn't mean you are doing great if you aren't taking the right supplements. God bless you on your journey.
   — tntwildlife77

April 28, 2004
I would have a full blood panel and some sort of calcium check. Are you RNY? We can't abosrb the calcium in tums. It requires stomach acid to break it down. I'd switch to calcium citrate.
   — mrsmyranow

April 28, 2004
Im RNY and im post-op 14 months. i have had many test done since my surgery. i was just enquiring what type of test is done at this point of my post-op.
   — sexysag37

April 28, 2004
If you have had an RNY you need to be doing calcium citrate not tums or anything calcium carbonate because it requires stomach acid to be absorbed properly. Email me if you would like to see my research on the calcium question and I will be happy to send it to you. What tests does your surgeon routinely do? Mine has me in for tests every three months for the first year. It is great that you are feeling so good, but it is a good time to make sure that you are getting the necessary tests to complete the picture and avoid future complications. Do you belong to the yahoo group OSSG-Protein? It is an excellent resource and they have a file on their site with suggested tests. You can find them at http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/OSSG-Protein/ Do you track your test results to make sure that you can see trends? That was an excellent suggestion that I discovered via the OSSG-Protein group. Good luck. Sandra
   — Arizona_Sun