Track Your Bloodwork! - Page 2 - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

Corrine · 10-26-2008, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AmityA

I have my 6 mo appt this wednesday and plan to ask my dr for copies of ALL my bloodwork. At my 3 mo appt, I was told my vit D was low and i needed to get more sun and play more golf. I started taking a vit d supplement. Hopefully with the bloodwork we will go over wednesday this will have resolved itself.

What i find weird is that when i went in for my 6 mo post op bloodwork at Quest Diagnostics, I asked if they could send me a copy of the results. The technician said they could only send the results to the doctor. That kinda made me upset, i mean it was my blood in those 9 vials that they took, why cant I have a copy of MY results?

guess I will have to ask my doctor wednesday.

What a crock!

I've been on 10,000IU dry form D3 a day and have still only managed to get my blood level up to 42.

To get that amount of vitamin D from the sun on a daily basis, I'd end up looking like a pig on a spit-roast!

MiladyB · 10-26-2008, 11:20 AM

Excellent point, Corrine. I've recently started tracking my labs on a spreadsheet myself. I had my baraitric surgeon send me a copy of all of my labs post surgery. To record them. I also get a copy of all my labs my pcp does. I have my pcp duplicate all of my surgeon's labs plus add in a couple others that I felt were important. I have labs with each physician once a year, 6 months apart from each other.

Here are the labs I get:

Surgeon: (in Feb)
CMP
Lipid Profile
CBC w/ diff
B12
Bili-Direct
Ferritin
Iron/TIBC
Magnesium
RBC Folate
Thiamine
Uric Acid
Vitamin D, 25-OH
PTH

PCP: (in August)
CMP
Lipid Profile
CBC w/ diff
B12
Bili-Direct
Ferritin
Iron/TIBC
Magnesium
RBC Folate
Thiamine
Uric Acid
Vitamin D, 25-OH
PTH
TSH
Copper
Zinc
UA
Stool for Occult Blood
DexaScan

Corrine · 10-26-2008, 12:44 PM

Copper and zinc is something I'll ask to be checked next time - thanks for including it on your list Beth.

I found this article "Severe Ataxia, Myelopathy, and Peripheral Neuropathy Due to Acquired Copper Deficiency in a Patient With History of Gastrectomy" interesting: Severe Ataxia, Myelopathy, and Peripheral Neuropathy Due to Acquired Copper Deficiency in a Patient With History of Gastrectomy | JPEN: Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition | Find Articles at BNET

And that alarms me because I was diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy and was told to increase my B12 and B vitamins. Now, with my folate and B12 levels way in excess of high, I still have the problem!

And this one on zinc SpringerLink - Journal Article states:

Quote:

These results suggest that RYGBP promoted, besides change in body composition, an alteration in the zinc plasma and erythrocytes concentrations which in the medium and long term, could cause problems for these patients.

It's good to see more and more research being done about the potential for vitamin and mineral deficiencies amongst the WLS community. But the sad fact is that not all of us can rely upon our health care providers to keep up with it.

And that's why "I don't rely on anyone other than myself to track my bloodwork results .......".

Phoenixfire · 03-17-2009, 04:18 PM

In researching something else I found this very helpful information about the realities of vitamin deficiencies post WLS.

Vitamin Deficiency in gastric bypass

Hopefully this is a continuing thread. It's critical information, trust me, because I've been lucky with my bloodwork (so far). Newbies will hopefully search through all of the other threads here about vitamin information.

Delane · 08-11-2009, 09:32 PM

Im so glad this thread was brought back up. Im going to start my spreadsheet ASAP.

Tribeca · 08-12-2009, 07:15 AM

Thanks for the info. I have been getting my results but I like the idea of putting them all on a spreadsheet.

My mom keeps telling me not to obsess ...but this is my life at risk and it isn't obsession it is taking control so I can make the best choices.

white_tiger · 08-12-2009, 10:52 PM

Does anyone have a list of what labs should be done? I realize corrine posted a list, but admited there was extra stuff in there. I need a list of what is vital for me to check. Thanks!

Samantha. · 08-13-2009, 12:59 AM

Thanks for bringing this up-- I start my consult in a two weeks and its a smart thing to start.

Just a question-- I've asked around,but I'm still not sure

Am I able to call my doctors and ask for time to go in and go through my records(rights wise-- obviously I'm not asking permission

)

. I just got approved through insurance, and have my consult soon and I have a 10 page question and answer to fill out however my PCP has 17 of my 20 years of life documented; I'd rather have the correct information than have my mom and I guessing at dates and weights.

Thanks again!

poet_kelly · 08-13-2009, 01:32 AM

Yes, you have a legal right to review your medical records. Most doctors will be pretty good about letting do this, although the receptionist may not have had this request before and may want to check with the doctor before scheduling a time for you to do it. Some doctors will prefer to sit down and go through the records with you rather than just turning you lose with them, and that's acceptable. Occasionally a doctor will balk at letting you see your records, in which case you just need to remind them that you have a legal right to the records. You also have a right to copies of the records if you want them. They are allowed to charge you a fee for the copies if they want.

Kelly

Beth in Texas · 08-13-2009, 04:46 AM

Thanks so much for the advice...I have been spending my time with planning what I need to do to prepare for the weeks just before and after surgery, and just trying to get through the hoops for approval that i didn't consider capturing this kind of detail.