ObesityHelp

From Michelle (vitalady)

Not to be construed as medical advice, this list includes labs we have had performed as gastric bypass patients.  The first group, every 3 to 6 months for life, as we are able.  The second group, annually, as long as the results were comfortably within normal limits for more than 2 years in a row.

 1^st Group

 *80053          Comprehensive Metabolic profile: (sodium, potassium, chloride, glucose,BUN, creatinine, calcium, total protein, albumin, total bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase)  (10231)

* 84134          Pre-albumin:

* 7600            Lipid profile: (cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides, chol/HDL ratio)

* 10256          Hep panel: includes ALT (SPGT) & GGT)

* 84100          Phosphorous – Inorganic:  (718)

* 83735          Magnesium:

* 84550          Uric Acid:  (905)

* 7444            Thyroid panel: (T3U, T4, FTI, TSH)  (84437; 84443; 84479; 84480)

* 85025          Hemogram with platelets:  (1759)

* 7573            Iron: TIBC, % sat

* 83550          Ferritin:  (457)

* 84630          Zinc:  (945)

* 84446          Vitamin A:  (921)

* 82306          Vitamin D: (25-hydroxy)   (680)

* 84052          Vitamin B-1: (Thiamin)  (4052)

* 84207          Vitamin B-6: (Pyridoxine)

* 7065            Vitamin B-12 & Folate:  (82607; 82746)

* 83970          Serum intact: PTH

* 83937          Osteocalcin:

* 84597          Vitamin K:

* 85610          PT:

* 85730          PTT:

 

2^ND GROUP

 

* 593              LDH:

* 31789          Homocysteine, Cardio:

* 83921          MMA:

* 367              Cortisol:

* 84255          Selenium:

* 84590          Vitamin E:

* 82525          Copper:

 

 For diabetics: *496 - HEMOGLOBIN A1C   

 

POSSIBLE DIAGNOSIS CODES

  269.2              Hypovitaminosis

 268                 Vitamin D deficiency

 275.40            Calcium deficiency

 266.2              Cyanocobalamin deficiency  (B12)

 281.1             other B12 deficiency anemia

 281.0              Pernicious anemia

 280.9              Iron-deficiency anemia

 281.2              Folate deficiency anemia

 285.9              Anemia, unspecified 

 269.3              Zinc deficiency

 244.9              Hypothryoidism

 250.0              Diabetes 

 401.9              Hypertension

 276.9              Electrolyte and fluid disorders

 272.0              Hypercholesterolemia

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

 *579.3             Surgical malabsorption* 

 *579.8             Intestinal malabsorption  *

 
*  Bands or sleeves should not use these codes as they are not accurate.

 *Some insurance companies will not pay for any procedure that uses these codes.

  

LAB TARGETS

  This is NOT medical advice, just my own targets for the main blood levels I watch. 

 

Protein: 7's  

Albumin:           4's

Pre-Albumin:   20-30's

 

Iron:                 80-100

Ferritin:           200-300

HGB:               12+

HCT:                36+

 

Vit A:               60- 80

Vit D:               80-120 

 

Calcium:           9.0-9.4

PTH:   20-40

 

Vit B1:             Mid to top of range

Vit B6:              Mid to top of range

Magnesium:      Mid range  (but also go by if we have leg/foot cramping)

Zinc:                 Mid range

 

Vit B12:           1000 +

Folate:              Top of range

 

AST (sgot):      Below 40

ALT (sgpt):      Below 40

 

We usually want to "meet or beat" pre-op levels.  In some cases, higher is better, and in other cases (Cholesterol, PTH for example), lower is better.

 

The only things *I* don't mind being on the high end of out of range are Ferritin and B12.  But that applies to ME. 

 

My doctors don't show interest in any of these until I am out of range. *I* am interested when I begin heading that direction.

Here's my take on flourless PB cookies.  I added chocolate.  What could be better?

1 cup peanut butter
1 Egg
1/4 tsp stevia extract powder (see HERE for tons of wonderful information on this product)
1 to 1.5 scoops protein powder (I used Designer whey french vanilla...but anything will work)
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder (I used Hershey's Special Dark)

Combine well.  Roll into balls, flatten with tines of fork, bake at 350 for 10 minutes.

You can also add vanilla extract, but I often forget it and my cookies taste just fine.

Now, I just KNOW once you see these photos you will hopefully go run off to buy some stevia extract powder because I simply cannot sing its praises enough.  Yum--these cookies are the bomb.  THIS is why you need to go buy that extract.  Because you don't have to use a whole cup of splenda to the batter in order to add stability, you're able to REALLY boost the nutrition of these cookies with the addition of protein powder.  No Splenda aftertaste - only yummy goodness.  I recommend the NuNatural brand.  It's NOT bitter at all -- other brands can be.

They have a nice peanut butter flavor.  The cocoa flavor isn't strong, but it's there and it's yummy.  Look how beautiful!  These make a sturdy cookie.  The outside has a delightful chewiness and the inside -- wow, a little softer and delicious.  They do not crumble.  These are also awesome when you flatten them extra-thin and they get a little more crisp.  It would make an awesome pie crust.



Mmmm....



Look that that.  Yum.  Are you hungry yet?  I am.  Or at least I would be, had I not just polished off like 6 of these puppies.  Do you SEE that wonderful outer chewiness?  And how the inside is more fudgy?  Can you really resist?

Try these.  Try stevia extract.  Separate yourself from the carbs and potential stomach upset of artificial sweeteners and sugar alcohols.  You won't go back.

What is Stevia?  It's an herb used for sweetening, and it's amazing.  Now, a lot of us have tried Stevia and some have found it bitter.  Never fear--give this brand a try.  I LOVE it.  It is SO delightfully sweet, all natural, and no yucky stuff like maltodextrin which is found in so many non-sugar sweeteners.  I was a Splenda lover through and through.  I just had to have 2 packets in my coffee.  But in large amounts, it upsets my stomach.  With an extract, there's so little actual bulk, there's no crap in it to upset your stomach. NO SUGAR ALCOHOLS as are found in things like Truvia.

It is soy-free, wheat-free, milk-free, gluten-free...and of course carb and sugar free, too.  100% natural amazingness.

NuNaturals NuStevia Pure White Stevia Extract can be purchased HERE at iherb.com.  If you've tried NOW brand stevia or some other brand -- give this a try.  It's infinitely better.  I buy this stuff at my local health food store for about $10 and it lasts approx 1 month for all my sweetening needs.

Here's what it looks like:

(See that in the background?  That's my butter dish!)
Here's what the bottle look like.  Look closely: that's 1oz of this fine, white, beautiful, sweet, lovely, WONDERFUL powder.  Teeeensy tiny amounts.  If you're not sure you got the right stuff, look on the back panel, the serving size will be 1/64 to 1/32 of a teaspoon and I believe it says there are 700 servings in that tiny bottle.

How to use it:
COFFEE! - I use approx 1/16th of a teaspoon for a whole cup.  Or, this much:


That's a 1/4 tsp measuring spoon, yes it's ancient. :)  And yes folks, that's all the powder you need to sweeten a whole cup of coffee.

KOOL-AID:
Buy some unsweetened Kool-aid, and make an entire 64oz of it.  Add a scant 1/4 tsp of stevia extract.  There is your sugar free, artificial sweetener-free beverage.  No aspartame.   Cheap.  Delicious.  I make an entire 64 ounces almost everyday.

Greek yogurt:
takes about 1/16th of a tsp as well per cup.

Baking:
Baking with stevia extract can offer some challenges, because you lose the bulking quality of sugar or Splenda.  My way around this is to add protein powder, which actually thrills me to death because it improves the nutrition of the final product without flour.  Watch out for the post I'm going to make using Stevia extract in flourless PB cookies.

Buy it, try it, you won't be disappointed.  Let me know what you think!

I haven't had to buy splenda packets in about 4 months since I discovered this great stuff...I'm on my fourth bottle.  I use it every. single. day. in my coffee and kool-aid.