Vitamin Defiences!

Hello everyone-I haven't been to the site for years. I'm 6.5 years out from a RNY. I felt great for the first 3.5 years. I have lost and maintained my weight of 130lbs. So no problem gaining any weight back. I have experienced severe defiences and have nerve damage. I take vitamins and have B12 injections-but doesn't make much difference. Anyone have any problems that have had surgery years ago?  Thanks and good luck to all!!

Hi Vicki!  I'm only a couple years out and so far, so good, but I wanted to just pop in and say hi.  I'm sorry you're having problems.

Can you post your latest set of labs and what vitamins you take and how often?  There are a lot of really smart people here who have learned through experience what works and what doesn't, and maybe some of them can help you try to straighten things out.

When was your last set of labs?  What are you deficient in? What supplements are you taking and how much of each.  You say you have nerve damage - is it from B12 deficiency or B1 deficiency or both? How low are your B1 and B12?  How often do you inject your B12 and did the doctor tell you that the nerve damage is permanent?  I give myself B12 injections 3 times per week to keep my levels up.  Once I have the answers to some  of those questions, I might be able to advise you better.

Hi.

It's obviously possible, but we would need to know your labwork values in order to help you with giving you some ideas as to help you with some supplemental ideas.

Hi! Thank you for your response. I just had lab work  on the 4th of August.   Chloride-UIBC-TIBC-Mthylamalonic Acid-are all high.  Total protein-albumin-Ferritin-B12-Iron saturation are all low. Ferritin results are 5.2./ B12 is187. I have had issues for the last 3 years with levels jumping all over the place. I have a terrible time with Iron-it seems to harsh on my  stomach.  Any advice? I also have been diagnosed with a severe essential tremor-debilitating.

B12 is 187?????!!!  That is critically low!!!

A B12 level of 187 is dangerously low. Have you seen a hematologist? You need to get injections and quickly. Probably daily or atleast a few times per week to get your levels up quickly for a month and then recheck your levels.. You need a doctor that understands your malabsorbtion because otherwise they are just going to tell you to take a shot once per month.

Your ferritin is also really low. You can get a really good iron at vitalady.com - it is called Tender Iron and it is really easy on your stomach. It is carbonyl iron with the vitamin C already in the capsules - 60mg each. With a level like yours, you would need to take atleast 3 per day. Many take up to 5 per day.

How much protein are you getting in per day? Try getting atleast 100-120mg of protein per day, including atleast 2 protein drinks per day - we absorb protein drinks better than food. See if this helps.

You also need to get your vitamin B1 checked - low b1 levels can cause nerve damage as well as B12. Are you taking any vitamin B1? You should be taking atleast 100mg per day.

My surgery was 6.5 years ago. We weren't very well informed  about what to do afterwards. The hospital closed and the doctor quit performing the surgery. I have never heard of vitamin B1-what's that under on the blood work? No one has ever mentioned a hematologist. Already my lab results have been laying on a desk somewhere for 2 weeks-it's a neurologist that ordered them. There seems to be a big lack of communication between doctors and patients. The B12 has almost always been low. I was put on injections weeky-then monthly-after a year-they took me off of them for some reason. Our doctors must have there heads in the sand around here. I also don't have alot of faith in them-so-I don't got to them regularly-work too much and just gets BILLS-BILLS with no answers!! I go when- I absolutely have too. I have had tremors for over 2 years-thats another story. It's taken 3 neurologist to finally get an answer-and they are still messing around. I can't write-my toes won't move on the right foot-my entire right side is affected-it''s debilitating. I could go on and on! Doctors just don't want to listen anymore-they try to assess you in 15 minutes. I have been on Lyrica-Inderal-Primidone-Senemet. I just give up sometimes!  Thanks for listening!

DON'T GIVE UP!!

Unfortunately, the doctors are not really educated in what is NORMAL for post op bariatric patients; they know what is NORMAL for normal people. You must advocate for yourself; and getting help from the likes of Andrea and Vitalady will help you do that.

Here are a few blog posts from members here that help me keep my doctors on track:

http://wlsvitagarten.com/2010/02/10/my-supplements/

http://pamtremble.blogspot.com/2008/10/labwork-recommendatio ns-after-wls.html

GOOD LUCK!!

Why on earth did they take you off the B12 injections? If your levels were low on the weekly injections, stopping them is just going to make them worse.  Please take yourself to a hematologist and explain exactly what is going on. Hematologist specialize in B12 deficiency.  But make sure they know that your levels were low on weekly injections.  We have to be on B12 for the rest of our lives.

B1 is also known as Thiamine - unfortunately not all doctors test for this but it is very important that we get tested for it.  If you are seeing a Neurologist, he will know about it since B1 deficiency can also cause nerve damage.  Depending on how low your levels are, some can be treated with pills and some need injections.

Is there anyway you can become the patient of another local bariatric surgeon - you really need someone to follow you up - both a surgeon and a nutritionist.  My Nutritionist takes care of all my supplements and lab work.