20 Month Follow Up Post Op DS Lactose Intolerant?!

Hey, Rita.  Yes, I was low on D, too.  My own surgeon gave me prescription D, packed in oil.  I don't know what was on his mind!  He knows we can't absorb anything in oil.

People on the board recommended that I move from the prescription D to a dry D, and I did, but the dose I was taking wasn't high enough for me.

I ended up having to go on TPN for a while.  The dietitiian (re) explained that I needed D3, not D, because of the DS and our anatomy.  She recommended dry vitamins, just like Vitalady does.  I take a 50,000 iu D3 every day, and my D numbers are better (I get blood draws weekly).  It comes in a tender capsule, easy to swallow in a single dose.

You have already been given tons of info on D3 so I won't even go there.

Dr. A is my surgeon too and if you are following his supplementation schedule I fear for your body and health.  I LOVE me some Dr. A but he knows that I don't agree with his level of supplementation, as he and I have discussed it plenty.  Dr. A is a phenomenal cutter - that is his skill - but his aftercare/follow up for DS'ers is lacking, as it is in many other practices.  I also do not agree with the labs that he wants run, I think they are totally lacking.  If you want to get a good picture of how healthy you really are you need to be looking at all your labs, not just a select few.  I have also told him this and I have my PCP run what I think should be run and then have that all faxed to Dr. A.  Because ultimately it is up to ME to make sure I am healthy - not just depend on what I'm told by my surgeon or pcp.  I am sure he sees me as being needlessly overzealous - but I do NOT want to become deficient in anything and have to work twice or thrice as hard as the normal bear to bring up the numbers.

ALWAYS get your lab report in your hot little hands.  A doc, no matter how awesome they are, really doesn't "notice" or care until they see an H or L on the lab sheet.  If they don't see those indicators, you're "normal".  Just being in normal ranges is not good enough for someone who malabsorbs at the rate that a DS'er does - it wouldn't take much to drop down into the low range.

I recommend you have these labs run every 6 months - https://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AV2etbFI-X2ZZGhkcW5nZzhfM GZtbW1mOWQ0&hl=en&authkey=CLiaoNsO

I recommend you use some sort of spread sheet to track your labs - https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0Al2etbFI-X2ZdGJIaXc 1ZEozN1lMNEhFMVoySlZadnc&hl=en&authkey=CPTql6cJ

I recommend you start supplementing based on Vitalady's DS plan - https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B12etbFI-X2ZZjUxNjJiZGQtMDg yNy00ZGMzLWJjOWQtNzc0MmRiNzhiMDFh&hl=en&authkey=CPPBtrsH

Its really sad that there is so much bashing of this amazing surgeon that gave me my life back.

I just read the same thread you did - and NOT ONE person bashed Dr. A!

We have the same surgeon and if you depend on him to tell you everything you need to know about how to care for yourself post-op you are going to, at some point, be in a world of hurt.  I have TOLD him that what he suggests for supplementation and the labs that he has run isn't enough.  It isn't my job to educate him but I try, each time I see him, just by telling him what I am taking and what labs I have run.  That does not make him a bad surgeon.  It does mean that his post-op care program is lacking and it IS.  I deal with the same people you do at his office. 

And really when it comes down to it - I don't see it as Dr. A's job to tell me exactly what I need to be taking, eating, labs to run, etc - I see that as my job to have figured out.  I knew going into this that I would have to do my own research, advocate for myself, and that there was no way in HELL I was just going to follow along any surgeon's post-op care program.  Period.  I am responsible for me.

The people that posted above that you accuse of bashing Dr. A - ARE TRYING TO HELP YOU.  Take the information that they have so kindly give you and run with it.  Realize that you have the wrong D and change it NOW before it drops anymore.  But for the love of God - quit playing the victim.  Each person who posted to you is only trying to help you stay alive and healthy.

LOL_ I am no victim LOL- I can see why so many have told me why they don't post on OH anymore.  What you may interpret at the meaning of bashing sounds off from what I meant but I do not care.  I don't mind a little advice but seriously... why wouldn't I take the advice of MY SURGEON?!! Geez.  I am so sorry I ever came back to OH and posted here.  Very sorry.

 I had an excellent surgeon, one of the best. He was the first to admit to me that his specialty was not in supplementation or nutrition. That was not what he trained for. He gave me basic guidelines but it was up to me to track my labs and look for trends and to find the correct doses that my body needs. I agree that many people offered you help on this thread but it appears you aren't interested in any of that. I wish you the best!

Thank you.  I don't mind a little help but where I get defensive is when I am told that my surgeon and I need educated.  Regardless of how it was meant- it sounds rude.

I am not coming back.  Thanks anyway.

Bu bye!

 Hey Rita,
I'm sorry you feel like the information you got here was rude. But, you're a Team Beachbody Coach. P90X is no joke, and I assume that means your health is your number one priority.
The delivery might not have been great, but the information the thread is giving you is accurate:

The type of D Dr. A prescribed isn't going to raise your blood levels. You need Dry D3.

Please don't ignore the DS'ers who are living with this surgery and many of them Anthone patients just because of HOW the information was presented. You work with lots of people trying to lose weight and get fit. It's really important that you have the best information out there, regardless of whether the source is folks you find likable or not.