2 year protocol - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

princesse · 05-27-2009, 09:14 AM

Since I went thru private as opposed to socialized medicine, the state takes no responsibility for my post op care.And the private sector has not agreed to long term care (too red tapey to explain, but trust me its complicated) for private payers.....My question is
As my doctor has agreed to take on the responsibilty (and believe me when i say he is NOT obligated to but is doing it as a professional courtesy...again, long red tapey thing...) I would like for someone to tell me what the protocol for blood work is 2 years post op.

MiladyB · 05-27-2009, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by princesse

Since I went thru private as opposed to socialized medicine, the state takes no responsibility for my post op care.And the private sector has not agreed to long term care (too red tapey to explain, but trust me its complicated) for private payers.....My question is
As my doctor has agreed to take on the responsibilty (and believe me when i say he is NOT obligated to but is doing it as a professional courtesy...again, long red tapey thing...) I would like for someone to tell me what the protocol for blood work is 2 years post op.

These are the ones my surgeon wants checked:

CMP
Lipid Profile
CBC with differential
B12
Bili-direct
Ferritin
Iron/TIBC
Magnesium
RBC Folate
Thiamine (B1)
Uric Acid
Vitamin D, 25-OH
PTH
Zinc
Phosphorus
Copper

Also he recommends a bone density test after you are one year postop. If the results are good it will be re-checked every other year. If not it needs to be checked yearly.

princesse · 07-07-2009, 03:06 AM

Thanks Sweetie....its taken me forever to log back on.

kmwing · 08-12-2009, 03:34 PM

I've never been tested & it will be 2 years halloween day...but I feel great...

poet_kelly · 08-12-2009, 05:19 PM

Why haven't you been tested? Doesn't your surgeon do any follow up? You really need to get checked. Vitamin deficiencies are so common after gastric bypass. You can't just go by how you feel. By the time it gets bad enough that you actually start to feel bad, you'll be in serious trouble.

Kelly

kmwing · 08-12-2009, 05:42 PM

My medical doctor did about 1 1\2 years ago, but no he didn't! I've never seen him since the morning of my surgery.....

MiladyB · 08-15-2009, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kmwing

My medical doctor did about 1 1\2 years ago, but no he didn't! I've never seen him since the morning of my surgery.....

It's completely your call but for myself I did this surgery to be healthy. I never took care of myself before. I avoided the doctor like the plague. To this day I'm pretty embarrassed. I mean here I am an RN and I didn't take care of myself.

By not getting routine lab work you are putting yourself at a HUGE risk. The further out you get the increased chance those deficiencies will show up. I had no problems until 3 years post op. Then they set in. I've learned how important it is to do all I can to stay healthy. I got my insides totally re-routed, why in the world would I want to take a chance with my health?

I'm a bariatric RN and all I can say to you is that you are playing with fire. You can't go just on how you are feeling. The problem is that once deficiencies set in you've pretty much screwed yourself, you really have. By the time you don't feel good you could find yourself in really serious trouble and in a really deep hole that will take a lot to get out of. Neurological problems, bone loss, muscle loss (btw, your heart is a muscle) are just some of the problems that can occur after a RNY.

I'm not just throwing out scare tactics. I honestly care about educating people to stay as healthy as they can after surgery and that means routine labs, taking all your vitamins (the right amounts and forms) an annual bone density test (men and women) and an annual appointment with your doc.

Like I said, its your choice but I think every one on here is worth keeping themselves healthy.

watfam4 · 08-19-2009, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MiladyB

These are the ones my surgeon wants checked:

CMP
Lipid Profile
CBC with differential
B12
Bili-direct
Ferritin
Iron/TIBC
Magnesium
RBC Folate
Thiamine (B1)
Uric Acid
Vitamin D, 25-OH
PTH
Zinc
Phosphorus
Copper

Also he recommends a bone density test after you are one year postop. If the results are good it will be re-checked every other year. If not it needs to be checked yearly.

Hi Beth,

I'm going tomorrow to see me PCP and was going to bring this list. Do the guys need to add/remove anything from the list (I was thinking that I could leave off the Iron test??). Also, I've seen a lot of talk about vitamin K levels on here recently, should I be getting this tested?

Thanks

MiladyB · 08-19-2009, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by watfam4

Hi Beth,

I'm going tomorrow to see me PCP and was going to bring this list. Do the guys need to add/remove anything from the list (I was thinking that I could leave off the Iron test??). Also, I've seen a lot of talk about vitamin K levels on here recently, should I be getting this tested?

Thanks

Hi Jim, you still need to get your iron tested. Men usually don't need as much iron but you can still develop a deficiency because of the malbasorption. You also need to be getting a bone density test.

I've heard some rumblings about Vitamin K. It is one of the vitamins that we don't absorb as well. My surgeon doesn't check it but it certainly can't hurt just to make sure everything is okay.

watfam4 · 08-20-2009, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MiladyB

Hi Jim, you still need to get your iron tested. Men usually don't need as much iron but you can still develop a deficiency because of the malbasorption. You also need to be getting a bone density test.

I've heard some rumblings about Vitamin K. It is one of the vitamins that we don't absorb as well. My surgeon doesn't check it but it certainly can't hurt just to make sure everything is okay.

Great! Thank you for the quick reply.