9 month checkup ... good and not so good

Hi everyone, Went for my (early) nine-month checkup last Monday, and the results were good and not so good ... First of all forget what I told you all about Centrum Silver ... don't take it. As a result of using that for my vitamin during the last 3 months, my iron levels have dropped too far (and I take an additional Iron supplement!), my folic acid is down too far, my calcium is down, my vitamin D is down, my B12 is down ... you name it ... it was down. I was kind of deflated at all that. Apparently the Centrum Silver doesn't have what is necessary to maintain proper vitamin levels for patients like us. I have to start on Centrum Complete (haven't found that specific label in stores yet, but did buy the reg Centrum Chewables until I do), have to change to Citracal (Calcium citrate) with D, have to start B12 drops one per month, have to get more lab work done for other levels he (my BS) wants to know about. Still on the not so good news, he now tells me when he did an endoscopy back in April, he saw an ulceration at my pouch anastomosis, and so I'm to have another endoscopy next Tuesday to check on that. (First I've heard of an ulceration .. hmmm). Also, he says I have a pretty sizable incisional hernia. By this time, I was sitting there thinking ... Ok, what else is bad? (The good side of the hernia? It will be provide additional medical reasons for TT later since Medicare doesn't want to pay for much more than a paniculectomy. So thumbsup and thumbsdown on that.) He was pleased, over all, with my weight loss ... but wants me to aim for another 50 pounds off in the next three months. The good news? -153 lbs. So I'm letting that be my focus right now, the rest, I'll fix or he will. If we want to climb to the top of the hills, we have to pass through the valleys once in a while, right? ((hugs)) everyone! Myra

AWWWWWW MYRA SORRY YOU R GOING THRU THAT BUT HEY YOU GET A FREE TUMMY TUCK NOW WOOOOOHOOOOOO YOU WILL BE LOOKING FAB FOR WHEN I GET THAT WILD STREAK TO COME OUT

Well, Candy Cane .. maybe one day on that wild side ... I'll be a little bit busy Tuesday morning it seems, but HEY!, I'll only be "out" for about a half-hour that morning so I'll still have you on my mind and in my prayers all the rest of the time! See how symphathetic I am to you? I'm putting on a hospital gown too, just in honor of your surgery!!! (((hugs))) Myra

Myra, Sorry to hear that your levels werent what they should be! I know that you try to do all you can to keep things up like it should be.. I am glad to know that the centrum silver isnt good though! Saves me from finding out the hard way!! I was considering buying me some but now Ill just stick with the vitamins that my surgeon suggested to me.. With all the bad news in your post atleast you ended it with good news.. 153lbs gone!! Yippeee!! Your doing great!! Please let us know what happens with the next scope- Amber

Thanks, Amber ... the Centrum Silver tasted good, so I should have known it wasn't going to do its job, right? (knocking forehead here) What vitamins are you taking? Myra

Myra, Luckily the nutritionist at the weight loss surgical center warned us off any vitamin formulation for seniors, like Centrum Silver, they don't have enough iron or B12. One thing my doctor did at 3 months out is prescribe FOLTX (she calls it Foltran, I think the FOLTX is the generic). It is a prescription vitamin loaded with iron and B12. I also take 1000 milligrams of Citracal (calcium citrate) with Vit D and Magnesium each day. And I put a little b12 pill that I get from GNC under my tongue every morning. My 6 month blood work was stellar, so I guess I'm doing the right thing. I'm so glad your doctor did the blood work and caught all of this as these deficiencies can lead to giant health problems. None of us need that! I'm a bit shocked that he wants you to lose 50 more lbs in the next 3 months. My doctor wants me to lose 8 to 10 lbs a month at this point. Do you think it is reasonable? Anyway, more power to you! You've done great. Get on the all day plan with the vitamins and your bloodwork will improve, I promise! Lori 384/267/168

Thanks for the headsup on the FOLTX, Lori ... I'll check it out. The most distressing thing about these results are that they've only occurred in the last 3 months ... at my last checkup, my labs were pretty "stellar" too. Just goes to show us how tentative things can be, doesn't it? But the BS I'm seeing now (not my original surgeon) is pretty thorough on the labs he orders and really stays on top of things, which is really good. My original surgeon had started me on B12 sublinguals like yours at first, but this surgeon took me off, saying there is no reason to take it unless my levels dropped. And until this check up, the level's been good. The good thing about the B12 they've prescribed is that I only have to do the "1 drop per month" dosage. Up til now they've had me on Caltrate 600 Plus, but now they're changing me to the Citrate ... which is a rather large tablet ... do you have any trouble getting it down? For that matter, is the FOLTX a tablet or chewable? My monthly average on weight loss up til now has been about 16 - 17 lbs per month, and I think that's where he's coming up with the 50 lbs he's wanting me to lose in the next 3 months. According to them, my main mistake in the last 3 months was choosing the Centrum Silver, which just didn't maintain levels like it should. (And this is made for older persons?!?) I've always been on an "all day" type of regimen, like you, and I totally agree with you on that. Thanks for the headsup on the vitamin you take and let me know about tablets and any secrets you might know to getting them to absorb better. Myra

holy buckets, myra. that's one heckuva checkup. the good news is wonderful. you're doing really, really well. the bad news, heaven help you, is kind of surprising. how come you're only finding out about all of this now? i'm glad you're calling it a valley - i'd be seriously bumming. glad you're able to put a positive spin on all of the above. and i'm also glad you found out about the deficiencies now so that you can correct them. good luck, girl. happy holidays. hugs dorthe

Morning Dorthe! I WAS rather surprised at the "ulceration" thing, because if he ever mentioned it to me I don't remember it (but then, hey, I'm getting ready to be 56 years old, I don't remember squat sometimes! ) At least I don't have to deal with the hernia repair until after goal. Now if I could just develop a "hernia" in each of my thighs ... (sigh) ... just kidding! Just kidding! Do you take tablets? Or are you still on chewables? What kind of vitamins do you take? Calcium? (((hugs))) Myra

SORRY ABOUT THE BAD NEWS BUT AT LEAST YOU FOUND OUT NOW INSTEAD OF DOWN THE ROAD. CONGRATULATIONS ON THE 153 GONE!! SANDRA A.