Labs & confusion

nfarris79
on 8/10/11 9:18 am - Germantown, MD

SO I just got a letter from my surgeon's office with some confusing notation on a poorly photocopied form letter but I wanted to get some feedback for the only specific values she'd marked on my latest bloodwork a week ago:
- Vitamin B12 is 486. Indicates a mild deficiency. Except the orders to "up" dosage are actually less than I take now! I'm doing liquid B12, 1000mcg daily; the orders are to do 500-1000 3x/week. Ugh! So my plan is to talk to her about monthly injections, if the daily isn't sufficient. Thoughts on that?
- HDL is 32. Low. Not shocked on that one. Historically low and still on Crestor which is supposed to improve HDL. Any thoughts on improving the value?
- Copper is 295. High. Order is to have ceruloplasim drawn before seeing her and copper values to be repeated in 1 month. I'd asked if anyone knew of abnormally high copper values at my 1 month labs and this seems just like a medical mystery. The multivit I take does not have copper in it and I try to limit my intake of high copper foods. I also take Feosol daily, which iron is supposed to beat out copper absorption... Sooooo, any thoughts?

I follow up with the surgeon for my 4 month appt on August 22nd, so keeping fingers crossed that I don't have something seriously wrong - the copper stuff has me a bit worried. Anyone have experience with chelation?

First ultra: Stone Mill 50 miler 11/15/14 13:44:38, First Full Marathon: Marine Corps 10/27/13 4:57:11, Half Marathon PR 2:04:43 at Shamrock VA Beach Half-Marathon, 12/2/12 First Half-Marathon 2:32:47, 5K PR Run Under the Lights 5K 27:23 on 11/23/13, 10K PR 52:53 Pike's Peek 10K 4/21/13, (1st timed run) Accumen 8K 51:09 10/14/12.

Dave Chambers
on 8/10/11 10:46 am - Mira Loma, CA

RNY on 05/10/06

B12 should be 900-1000. Just take more of your liquid daily, or supplement with sublingual. 500mcg is the minimum daily dosage, but somne need much more. Most post ops have low D levels too. You'll need a dry D3 to get your D labs up to the desired 80-90 levels indicated for optimum health and the best absorption of your calcium citrate. Make sure your labs have a D level on them. 50K IU taken 4 times a week is likely a good place to start. You can adjust up or down later. I had an 8 for my first post op labs. I was put on script D, but that does not work well with post ops. I used 4 of the 50K IU dry D3 for over 2 years. Labs showed a 65 for my D last October. I now take a 50K IU dry D3 daily now. DAVE

Dave Chambers, 6'3" tall, 365 before RNY, 185 low, 200 currently. My profile page: product reviews, tips for your journey, hi protein snacks, hi potency delicious green tea, and personal web site.

poet_kelly
on 8/10/11 12:12 pm - OH

RNY on 11/04/08

Your B12 is not just mildly deficient. It's getting close to the permanent nerve damage range. Ideally it would be about 1000.

What your doc is telling you to take is not enough. The ASMBS says RNY folks should take 500 mcg EVERY DAY. And that's if your level is good. Shots would be a good plan but more than once a month, at least right now. Once a month is for if your level is good (and stays good on once a month). I would do shots once a week for a couple months, then consider doing them less often after that.

Kelly

Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.

rbb825
on 8/10/11 7:17 pm - Suffern, NY

RNY on 10/27/08

Make sure you get your copper retested and the cerulaplasmin done. I don't know all the significance to it but I know my Neurologist is always ordering these tests on me. He says that sometimes WLS patients have trouble - but I don't know if he expects them to be high or low. I do know that high copper levels can be a sign of something called Wilsons Disease which is a liver disorder where you accumulate too much copper. IT can also be diagnosed by an eye doctor because you get copper rings around your eyes.

The B12 - you obviosly need alot more than you are taking. If you can get injections that would be great but you probably need them more than monthly or if you do it monthly, then you would need to take the sublinguals daily along with the injections. Your levels are dangerously low. If you want to just try the sublinguals at a higher dose, try either 2500 or 5000mcg daily

nfarris79
on 8/11/11 1:01 am - Germantown, MD

RNY on 04/13/11

Thank you so much for the info on copper! You're the first person who's said anything about it, including my surgeon! I'd done some "research" on Wilson's Disease, as that seems to be the only indication of high copper. Fortunately, I don't have any of the symptoms. Even saw the optomatrist a couple months ago and she said nothing about rings. We'll see if the ceruloplasmin shows anything. It does make me worry about my liver... but bought some zinc as apparently that might reduce copper, fingers crossed!

First ultra: Stone Mill 50 miler 11/15/14 13:44:38, First Full Marathon: Marine Corps 10/27/13 4:57:11, Half Marathon PR 2:04:43 at Shamrock VA Beach Half-Marathon, 12/2/12 First Half-Marathon 2:32:47, 5K PR Run Under the Lights 5K 27:23 on 11/23/13, 10K PR 52:53 Pike's Peek 10K 4/21/13, (1st timed run) Accumen 8K 51:09 10/14/12.

rbb825
on 8/12/11 2:57 pm - Suffern, NY

RNY on 10/27/08

Before you take zinc, and yes zinc does bring down copper levels but how is your zinc level? Did your doctor test your zinc when you had your labs done? I would find out your level before you start taking any. Just like you don't want a high copper level, you also dont' want a high zinc level. Last year, for some unknown reason I developed a high zinc level and I don't even take any zinc other than what is in my multi. Thankfully, a few months later at a redraw it was back to normal. We have to be careful in what we take to correct one thing in that it doesn't affect something else.

If your zinc is on the low or mid range, it is okay to take some but also know you can't take zinc anywhere near your calcium

nfarris79
on 8/11/11 12:58 am - Germantown, MD

RNY on 04/13/11

I very much appreciate your feedback!!! I'll be doubling up (at least) on my B12 until I see the surgeon at the end of the month. Gonna try to make an appointment to do the Ceruloplasmin labs today - and bought zinc to hopefully work on bringing down the copper. Also emailed a nutritionist that I trust - b/c the one at Sinai Hospital sucks.....

First ultra: Stone Mill 50 miler 11/15/14 13:44:38, First Full Marathon: Marine Corps 10/27/13 4:57:11, Half Marathon PR 2:04:43 at Shamrock VA Beach Half-Marathon, 12/2/12 First Half-Marathon 2:32:47, 5K PR Run Under the Lights 5K 27:23 on 11/23/13, 10K PR 52:53 Pike's Peek 10K 4/21/13, (1st timed run) Accumen 8K 51:09 10/14/12.

Labs & confusion

Our Mission

Follow us

Links

Select Photos

Labs & confusion