What specific labs do. I need?

[Katrina]

I went to my doctor on Friday to have a couple of labs drawn that I need before having my breast lift done on the 6th. While there I asked them if they could just go ahead and check all my vitamin levels. The nurse looked at me confused. I told her (again) that I'm a weight loss surgery patient and that in 3.5 years since my surgery they have never checked my vitamin levels. She said " oh, we don't do that. What vitamin levels? We can check your b12. We should do that, but what else do you think we should check?" Uhhhhh, huh?! Help me! Shouldn't they know? I don't know. I feel pretty good, so hopefully despite my ineptness and hers, I'll still be ok. I don't take any vitamins except the zinc and C that I just started two days ago in prep for the breast lift. Can anyone tell me exactly what I should request they check? I know I should know this already.

[Katrina]

I know I should be taking vitamins. They make me so sick. Just these last two days of the zinc and C have had me puking my toenails up.

[SuzyLove]

The labs they make me do about every 6 months, are Thyroid,Vitamin b12 levels, Vitamin B1, B6,Iron test,Floic Acid test,Phosphours level, Clycohemoglobin, Blood Cell count, Metablolic test, Those are the Lab works I get done as every 6 months.

[Katrina]

received_10215630461862587.jpeg

This is what the plastic surgeon ordered and the nurse from my regular doctor's office added b12 after I asked.

[Stacey03]

Katrina... Gawd girl you make me worry for your health. I know from your posts that you live off junk food and lollies and now I hear you don't take vitamins. I know you have had a pretty hard time (which is an underestimate) over the last couple of years but you need to be healthy for yourself and your family. I know people haven't really said anything to you on here in that respect and I'm not just having a go, but you're a hot mess girl! I wonder if there is some way you can get some help towards a better diet and some way of getting vitamins into you. Although you feel fine now, you might not down the track. You could have some real issues to deal with later. I'm sure you don't want to hear any of this but I am coming from a place of concern and I do wish you would get some help with it. I'm also astounded that nobody checks your vitamin levels regularly, someone should be doing this for you so thats just not good enough.

[sraebaer]

My primary care physician knows exactly what blood work should be done for a bariatric patient every 6 months. If yours doesn't, could you go back to your surgeon?

[Christie13]

Also, my doctor checks my vitamin D.

[Katrina]

Stacey, you made me laugh out loud. I truly am a hot mess. I'm ok with hearing it. If it makes you feel any better, I don't live off just junk. I do eat a lot of it at bedtime, but I do throw some healthy stuff in there too. I only ate protein today, and no junk at all. ;-)

Sraebaer, you'd definitely think any primary would know what to check for, right? The nurse looked at me like I was an alien, as if this was the first time she'd ever heard such a thing. I suppose I'll see exactly what all they checked when the results come in.... if they actually give the results to me.

Reading this just reminded me that I have to take these vitamins for the 2nd time today. Zinc 50mg 2x daily and C 500mg 2x daily. It makes me dizzy, nauseated, and throw up every time I take them. Why do vitamins (any and all I've ever tried) do this to me? I never was able to take prenatals when I was pregnant many years ago either. I'm trying really hard to be compliant as I know it's to help with healing after I have my surgery. I just wish I knew how to keep them down.

[sraebaer]

Stacey, you made me laugh out loud. I truly am a hot mess. I'm ok with hearing it. If it makes you feel any better, I don't live off just junk. I do eat a lot of it at bedtime, but I do throw some healthy stuff in there too. I only ate protein today, and no junk at all. ;-)

Sraebaer, you'd definitely think any primary would know what to check for, right? The nurse looked at me like I was an alien, as if this was the first time she'd ever heard such a thing. I suppose I'll see exactly what all they checked when the results come in.... if they actually give the results to me.

Reading this just reminded me that I have to take these vitamins for the 2nd time today. Zinc 50mg 2x daily and C 500mg 2x daily. It makes me dizzy, nauseated, and throw up every time I take them. Why do vitamins (any and all I've ever tried) do this to me? I never was able to take prenatals when I was pregnant many years ago either. I'm trying really hard to be compliant as I know it's to help with healing after I have my surgery. I just wish I knew how to keep them down.

I'm lucky my PCP knows all about the sleeve, as my insurance doesn't cover bariatric surgery. So I can't go back to my bariatric surgeon as I'd have no coverage. But you're right, any PCP should know this stuff. Is yours 100 years old or something?

[AnnieG]

Stacey, you made me laugh out loud. I truly am a hot mess. I'm ok with hearing it. If it makes you feel any better, I don't live off just junk. I do eat a lot of it at bedtime, but I do throw some healthy stuff in there too. I only ate protein today, and no junk at all. ;-)

Sraebaer, you'd definitely think any primary would know what to check for, right? The nurse looked at me like I was an alien, as if this was the first time she'd ever heard such a thing. I suppose I'll see exactly what all they checked when the results come in.... if they actually give the results to me.

Reading this just reminded me that I have to take these vitamins for the 2nd time today. Zinc 50mg 2x daily and C 500mg 2x daily. It makes me dizzy, nauseated, and throw up every time I take them. Why do vitamins (any and all I've ever tried) do this to me? I never was able to take prenatals when I was pregnant many years ago either. I'm trying really hard to be compliant as I know it's to help with healing after I have my surgery. I just wish I knew how to keep them down.

LABS: at 3 months, 6 months, 12 months - then annually
CBC Iron TIBC (Iron Status) Ferritin (Iron status)
Thiamin (B1) B12 (Cobalmin) Vit D3 (25-OH) Serum Calcium
PTH A1C Phosophorus HDL

VITAMINS: Try the "gummy bear" chewables. You can pop one in a few times a day and they do stay down. They don't taste bad, and even though regular ones or the citrus-chew ones make me sick, these don't. Maybe they will work for you.

I am approaching 66 and I promise that your body may be handling this okay right now, but it does have a memory of depleted things. So please see if you can't find them. Like Stacey03 said, its scary if you are not doing healthy eating.

Annie

[Stacey03]

Stacey, you made me laugh out loud. I truly am a hot mess. I'm ok with hearing it. If it makes you feel any better, I don't live off just junk. I do eat a lot of it at bedtime, but I do throw some healthy stuff in there too. I only ate protein today, and no junk at all. ;-)

Sraebaer, you'd definitely think any primary would know what to check for, right? The nurse looked at me like I was an alien, as if this was the first time she'd ever heard such a thing. I suppose I'll see exactly what all they checked when the results come in.... if they actually give the results to me.

Reading this just reminded me that I have to take these vitamins for the 2nd time today. Zinc 50mg 2x daily and C 500mg 2x daily. It makes me dizzy, nauseated, and throw up every time I take them. Why do vitamins (any and all I've ever tried) do this to me? I never was able to take prenatals when I was pregnant many years ago either. I'm trying really hard to be compliant as I know it's to help with healing after I have my surgery. I just wish I knew how to keep them down.

You're a beautiful hot mess Katrina! I'm so glad you too that well as after I wrote it I was worried you would think I was being harsh. I'm just worried about you and your whole hot messiness!!! LOL. In NZ we used to give people big bags of vitamin infusions, they probs cost a fortune though gahhhh. I used to feel really sick with the vitamins but that has passed but sometimes happens, I do have sympathy because it does make you feel pretty ropy! Try some different ones and keep on being a hot mess in all the good ways xxx

[hookydad]

I used to have the same problem with Vitamins. I hated taking them because of how they made me feel. My doctor "prescribed" or highly recommended the brand called Bariatric advantage and more specifically, the chew-able multivitamin. I have had ZERO issues with this and actually enjoy the flavor. No chalkiness or anything. I also take the Bariatric advantage, super free calcium supplements. They are like three little Starbursts candies. Many flavors available. I take one Multi in the morning and one before bed. I chew the three calcium's with my lunch at noon. Labs have been spot on and not one bout of nausea. I even take the vitamins on an empty stomach in the morning and no issues. Just a thought as I have been then with the "Regular" vitamins.

http://www.bariatricadvantage.com/

Best of luck to you and I hope you find an answer!!

[Marsh17]

Please, please, please take your vitamins. Everything I have read leads me to believe this is CRITICAL to your health after this procedure. I have never been able to take grocery store vitamins, they upset my stomach. Pharmaceutical grade vitamins are not that expensive. HSN has a line call ProCaps by Andrew Lessman and I am sure there are others out there. If they make you sick you can also return them. Have you tried liquid vitamins? Nasal spray vitamins? I received a sample bag of the Bariatric Advantage chewables and they are pretty good and they have several flavors. For the B vitamins there is a product called 8Greens which is a tablet that you put in water which tastes great and has no carbonation. Wishing you the best!