Question:
I am 6 1/2months post op Ihad surgery at Kaiser South San Francisco

I say the surgeon at two weeks postop and then at 3 months and I am not scheduled to come back till 8 monts post op I have had no post op blood work done is this normal I asked the doctor at my 3 month check up and he repiled you told me you where feeling fine so I don't see any reason to test you I am currently tiered all the time and am covered with brusies I get them from just about every thing daughter laying her head against my arm, on my hip from the seat belt buckleI have 11 I can see on the front of my legs and 6 on my arms and I have at least a 4 inch purple bruise on my but check I think I got it from sitting to long (noticed it day after 6 hour flight)Wondering if any one else is having this problem and also how often do you see the doctor and have blood work up and is it you surgeon or regular doctor whodoes this    — kathy B. (posted on July 11, 2003)

July 10, 2003
I am six months postop and I have been seeing my surgeon often - 3 month postop - with bloodwork done the week before and today, I have 6 month postop along with bloodwork done earlier in the week. Your doctor should be doing bloodwork on you. You sound as if you might be anemic with being tired and the bruising, etc. If I were you, I would insist on bloodwork being done - that is the only way to tell if your system is in good working order. Bloodwork will tell if your calcium, lipids, etc are all in normal limits - if not, then adjustments have to be made to your supplements, etc. I hope this helps and good luck.
   — Pam B.

July 10, 2003
Have you discussed this with your primarcy care provider (PCP)? Make an appt with your own doctor and have him/her do the labs--iron, B-12, calcium, CBC, etc. I have Kaiser So California and went thru Pacific Bariatrics in San Diego. I saw the surgeon at 1week, 1 month, 3 months, and have an appt for 6 months. Labs are needed before each appt which I get down at Kaiser and then take hard copy of lab results with me to San Diego. You need to get your own doctor involved if the surgeon is being so hard nose. I assume that you have a docotr who was pro WLS and referred you. Good luck and be persistent.
   — Margaret S.

July 11, 2003
Every surgeon is different, however, I would have insisted on having my labs checked at 3 months and 6 months, so that you could compare the two to see how you are doing. Feeling fine is not the same-you can feel fine but still have a low count in a particular area. Tiredness could be from not enough water (dehydration), low B-12, or low iron, not enough sleep, not eating enough to fuel the body, etc... My surgeon required a 10 day, then every month until month 6, then at 1 year, 18 mo, 2 years, 3 years. In between, you can always visit your PCP, however, some PCPs are not knowledgeable of our unique needs, particular surgery or the lab work required, so I would try your surgeon first.
   — Cindy R.