kathy0529

Hi Everyone, I was wondering if anyone had any issues w/their Ferritin levels post surgery? I am 8 months out and on my past test results I went from 324 pre surgery to 640 8 months after surgery. Per the paperwork, the range is 10-170 ug/L. I am very good about taking my Vitamins and Calcium the scheduled 2, then 4 hours apart and my other Iron levels are good. I am going on vacation for 2 weeks, but have scheduled an appointment w/my PCP for when I get back. I just wanted to get any input from others who may have had this same issue? Thanks so much!!

Today is my 1 year anniversary from sleeve surgery. Down 140 lbs from pre-op diet weight and very happy w/the results. Here's to keeping it off!! :-) Pic on left is from 1/21/2015 - day of surgery; middle pic from 1/13/2016 - just cause I liked the pic; pic on right is from today - 1/21/2016.

Thanks @@Sherri297!! I have seen that mentioned when I've googled about the elevated Ferritin levels. It will be interesting to see what my PCP says. Unfortunately I haven't met her yet and this will be my first meeting w/her since she took over for my previous PCP right before my surgery. I have the appointment set up and made sure to stress that it is to go over my bloodwork. I'm off to Europe tomorrow so I'll see my PCP about a week after I get back to see where we go from there! Thanks again!

@@BLERDgirl Thanks for your response....I checked my Iron and my value was 64! He did the recheck of the Vitamins, not the iron, this time to see about the Ferritin. They said they weren't concerned the first time since all my other levels were good.

I was sleeved on January 21st and the amount of food commercials leading up to the Super Bowl was TORTURE!!!! I never noticed before, but boy it was rough. Catch up on movies if you can or DVR and watch later so you can ff thru them. :-) Good Luck!

@@provenzee I have Anthem BCBS in Massachusetts and never heard of the 6 month wait. I had my first appointment in November and surgery in January. Anthem was great to deal with and I'm still called by the nutrtionist to check on my progress. I'm 6 months out from surgery and she said she'd call 6 weeks from the last call. Not sure how long the calls will go on from Anthem, but if I miss the call, I just email her how I'm doing. Good luck!!!

@@MrsRoboto I also take a B12, but because of the dose, I take 1 pill every other day. I didn't take the Vitamin D and my last blood work came out fine. I think I'm getting a lot of D from all the walking that I now do! :-) There was something called Ferritin that was high on my last blood work and they'll check it again to see if it's still high. It's something to do w/Iron, but they said all the other levels were good, so I guess they're not too concerned.

What about Flintstones Complete? Love them...2 a day.

@@jands75 exactly as @@LifeIsGood14 states...2 a day...I take them first thing in the morning so 2 hours later I can take my first Calcium dose. Chewable, not gummy!

For Multivitamins - I take Flintstones...love them! For the Calciums, my pills are large, too, and I split them. I make sure to get a good amount of Water in my sip and hope for the best when it goes down.

I was instructed to wait 2 hours from having my mulitvitamin and my first Calcium, then 4 hours for the next Calcium. So, Multivitamin -> wait 2 hours -> Calcium - > wait 4 hours -> Calcium Good Luck!

I'm a very picky eater and Mashed Potatoes is a definite for me! I usually don't finish them cause I get full on the 2-3 oz of either chicken or turkey that I have. I don't think I'm doing too bad since I'm down 97lbs since my surgery on Jan. 21, 2015. :-) (that's from my preop weight, fyi - from surgery day it's 80lbs).

I just had my flup appointment w/my surgeon and the nutritionist (I'm 5 months out) and told the nutritionist that even if I could have slept more while recovering, I got out of bed so I could start drinking. I felt like I was drinking 24/7 and sometimes still could not get all the Water in. It was horrible!! Between the water and the Protein shakes AND having to drink slowly, it was a pain, BUT it does get better!! Keep the faith, you will get thru it!! p.s. I also could not wait to chew something, too!! :-)

I didn't have blood dripping from my nose, but had a lot of blood in my nose. Not to be gross, but I would use a q-tip and gingerly clean out my nostril. I attributed it to the oxygen tube. I had it for probably over 2 weeks from the date of my surgery, but don't remember it being as long as 4 weeks. Have you had your follow up yet? It's something to make sure to ask about. Good luck!

@@AELee Do you like Egg Beaters? I eat them every morning and it's nice and easy to just pour it in the measuring cup, then cook them. I had my surgery a month before you (Jan. 21st) and I get most of my Protein from a Premier Protein Drink a day - 30 g. I just got a Protein Bar that has 20 g in it that I'm going to try. I won't have the bars every day, but it's nice to have when I'm out shopping, then to bring a cooler w/my Protein shake in it. I did try the Premier Protein bars, but didn't care for the taste. I have to get some Qwest bars to try, right now I have Think Thin to try, then a Nature Valley one, but it's only 10 g of protein. For dinner, I'm a very picky eater, I pretty much have 2 ounces of chicken or turkey w/a side of mashed potatoes or carrots. Good Luck!!

@@Fatdiva14 It has gone fast!!! I'm doing well. Walking at lunch and got a Fitbit one to track it. (Forgot it today though!). I'm having an issue w/my heal so I took yesterday and today off. I do weights though on the walking and non-walking days. Special K has 2 Protein cereals. Both are good and one you could eat w/out the milk. I wonder if that's what the gurgle is about!! The liquid/solid combo. I just thought I was intolerant of the milk and when I measure what's left in the bowl, I've only consumed 1/4 cup! I don't want to have it everyday, just the option for something different. It's funny, I knew I loved Carbs before the surgery, but I also loved chocolate, too. After the surgery I have zero craving for Chocolate, but at Easter the doughy rolls were calling my name, but I said NO and had none of it. So, I guess I WAS more of a Carb addict than Chocolate! I bought Protein Bars to try - I did not care for the Premier Protein Bar even though I drink their chocolate shake every day. I have a Nature Valley box that I bought, but didn't realize it had peanuts and I was told to wait 3 months for nuts so the box is waiting till after Tuesday! Keep up the great work!!

@@Fatdiva14 I was wondering how you were doing!! I can't believe we're celebrating 3 months from our mutual surgery date on Tuesday!!! I worry too about stretching, but I am learning to stop eating when I'm content and immediately push the plate away. My old habit would be to finish, heck, my old ways food never filled me! I was always hungry so the feeling of being full is still such a shock to me, but a good one!! I just keep thinking, I've never had this feeling. That was one of the major things I was worried about before the surgery - that I'd still be hungry. I have had a Protein Cereal that my nutrionist recommended and I think I'm a bit lactose intolerant. I'm hoping it goes away eventually. I don't eat the cereal a lot, but just wanted an option to occassionally have in stead of Egg Beaters every day and being a bit (not too bad - just gurgling, bit crampy stomach) is a bit of a bummer. I know that I sometimes have hunger pangs, but have realized that it could be due to not having all of my liquids. I am hitting my protein with the help of a shake that has 30 grams and so far, but need to be a bit better w/the liquids. I still weigh, measure and write everything down. Good Luck & Happy Sleeveversary!

I was told to wait at least 3 months for nuts, Pasta, red meat & POPCORN... I know each program is different, but I wouldn't risk it especially 10 days out! I'm over 2 months out and follow my program to a T as I don't want to mess this up! I'm not a huge movie popcorn person...I love the soft pretzels, but never again for me. Bummer, but I'd rather be more comfortable in the seat and w/myself. I've been to the movies a few times and bring a Protein drink and Water. I hate to say it, but if going to the movies are a "trigger" for you, then wait for the DVD. :-( Good Luck!

Hi @@newrose2427! I was sleeved in January and per my instructions I was told to not take the Calcium with the Multivitamins. I have a follow up appointment this Wednesday to clarify the wait time between each dose, but per my notes I was told to take the Multivitamins (I do 2 Flintstones), then wait either 2 or 4 hours (this I need to clarify) and take my first Calcium dose - for me this is 2 Calcium pills that I have to split because they are large, then 4 hours later take the 2nd Calcium dose. I take this with whatever I am drinking - Water, G2, Crystal Light, etc. Good luck!!

Dionna - I had Dr. Shikora, too. He was awesome! I was sleeved on January 21st this year. Down just over 50lbs from my 2 week preop diet weight. I have a follow up with him next week.

@@RedSalamander I hate to say it, but there's more snow coming on Thursday and Sunday!! I can't take it! I'm going to try and finagle 2 more weeks off of work from my Doc tomorrow. Not sure if I'll get it, but I don't want to deal w/the commute on top of recuperating!