Low Hemoglobin, Ferritin, and Iron 3 years out, anyone else?

[FishingNurse 1,210]

Try dgl licorice to replace ppi

I am going to look into this after my Endoscopy!

[Pattyhdz 32]

I go in for a physical next month with my pcp. Do u mind giving exams I should ask her for? (Labs)

[FishingNurse 1,210]

I go in for a physical next month with my pcp. Do u mind giving exams I should ask her for? (Labs)

your surgeron should order all your labs every year and they do a very comphrensive list of them. Have you been post-op of more than a year?

[swimbikerun 1,046]

You dont have to go to your surgeon after a year. Mine said after 16 months a sleeve has "no further surgical" needs even though they never had me on a regular schedule. You can save yourself the extra $$$ for copays and go to your regular doctor for bloodwork.

Note that one of the reasons they want you to come back once a year *may be* for the figures for the ASMBS. I believe they report figures back to there if they are a Center of Excellence.

If you did CBC with differential, lipid panel, CMP, and the following vitamins/minerals: B1, B9 (folate), B12, D, full Iron panel, zinc, and if you have eye problems Vitamin A, and if you take Flintstones or any Vitamin that doesn't include Vitamin K, get that done.

No joke guys, my Vitamin K has been tested twice and NEVER by my former surgeon, and it is so low it never registered. I did Flinstones and then changed to a few generics around until I went to the powders because pills started to become a problem.

[gomekast 559]

You dont have to go to your surgeon after a year. Mine said after 16 months a sleeve has "no further surgical" needs even though they never had me on a regular schedule. You can save yourself the extra $$$ for copays and go to your regular doctor for bloodwork.

Note that one of the reasons they want you to come back once a year *may be* for the figures for the ASMBS. I believe they report figures back to there if they are a Center of Excellence.

If you did CBC with differential, lipid panel, CMP, and the following vitamins/minerals: B1, B9 (folate), B12, D, full Iron panel, zinc, and if you have eye problems Vitamin A, and if you take Flintstones or any Vitamin that doesn't include Vitamin K, get that done.

No joke guys, my Vitamin K has been tested twice and NEVER by my former surgeon, and it is so low it never registered. I did Flinstones and then changed to a few generics around until I went to the powders because pills started to become a problem.

My program wants yearly returns to do labs and tell us for 5 years minimum. Each program varies in this greatly.

[swimbikerun 1,046]

Actually they all tell you to come back at one year or yearly intervals but the labs they run can be run by any doctor. I have wondered if it is not due to the fact that Centers of Excellence use the data for medical research.

My surgeon is a different story. What they tell people and what they do can sometimes be two different things, so that's why I tell people verify, verify, verify. When you have problems and the docs office doesn't follow you up like the other doctors ask them too, but says any one can treat stuff, that should alert you.

[FishingNurse 1,210]

You dont have to go to your surgeon after a year. Mine said after 16 months a sleeve has "no further surgical" needs even though they never had me on a regular schedule. You can save yourself the extra $$$ for copays and go to your regular doctor for bloodwork.

Note that one of the reasons they want you to come back once a year *may be* for the figures for the ASMBS. I believe they report figures back to there if they are a Center of Excellence.

If you did CBC with differential, lipid panel, CMP, and the following vitamins/minerals: B1, B9 (folate), B12, D, full Iron panel, zinc, and if you have eye problems Vitamin A, and if you take Flintstones or any Vitamin that doesn't include Vitamin K, get that done.

No joke guys, my Vitamin K has been tested twice and NEVER by my former surgeon, and it is so low it never registered. I did Flinstones and then changed to a few generics around until I went to the powders because pills started to become a problem.

My barriatric team wants us back in every year as well. Actually I'll save money because they know how to code the labs unlike most PCPs. But my insurace covers everything but my 20 dollar copoy once a year.

[swimbikerun 1,046]

You are lucky. Most insurances I know require more $$ for a specialist. From what I've seen, they sort of ignore you and there are a number I know that are not in the first year, so they're at the bottom of the barrel. They tend to stop coming because they've gotten on with their lives and the fact that practices, when it comes to aftercare after a year out, seem to shuff it off on others (not a surgery issue).

Besides, easier to get the PCP or go to urgent care than trotting half way out in many of our cases, to the surgeon. Any one can run the labs.

[Pattyhdz 32]

Mine is 45$. And I have followed up at 6 and year and even ar yr and half cuz he took my gallbladder out. So I had basic labs. Only cuz of gallbladder. I go for an annual pap and he usually runs full labs. And I Basicaly will tell her to go all way and do the works

[swimbikerun 1,046]

Yeah even the people I know supporting the program, after a couple of years, what is the point in going back? Pay extra money and only have a couple or one day open to me, I may or may not see the surgeon, and if it is a COE, I have to wonder that it isn't for their ASMBS records.

They do nothing for those who are farther out having weight gain except to say pay more $$$ to join their non surgery weight loss program. Then there are other places you can go and compare what you get.

I've seen the surgeries and done the investigation: what a racket. I'm getting ready to do a blog post. The surgeon's office I had? They asked for people to give them recipes that they'll publish and SELL a book for. Now why would I want to give my recipes up for free so THEY can make $$ off of it and possibly have the copyright too? Who's making $$$ off me?

Is this how you want to be treated by your surgeon's office?

[carstanger 346]

My surgeon wants to follow up for life. I see PA now and periodically him. Had osteoporosis when O was younger, on meds for 8 years , off them nor several years bits hips have gotten worse. Both my Mom and paternal grandma had it and broke hips. 67 and having more bloodwork and 24 hour urine test. See Dr in osteoporosis clinic it's end of month for results and plan.

[swimbikerun 1,046]

Carols how much are they really following you that a regular doctor can't do? Are they in the ASMBS? Did they tell you they use you records and report the data back to them? I also have osteoporosis and the like and mine just said go follow up with regular doc. End of story.

They were supposed to be doing something for me that 2 other doctors referred them to me for, nutritionally related, but said I had "no further surgical needs". Amazing how they knew better than the ASMBS and the other docs ... but then again when you violate HIPAA retaliation laws, I would have expected this.

[CowgirlJane 14,259]

Swim... is your issue with them that they report data?

[swimbikerun 1,046]

That is just one issue.

Look at it like this: if you are 1 of 20 people at your place that has a problem, that is 5% complication rate. If another 2 places have 20 people and no problems, now they can say 1% complication rate. So maybe the rate is due to surgeon issues, that place, or whatever, but it gives the impression that there are less complications than there might be.

Second, I don't auto give my permission to be someones' lab rat. I'll give it IF I get all the details. Otherwise forget it.

Third, the ASMBS hasn't done us any favors. Why should I help them out? I'm not getting paid and I do know places that get paid when the data goes out of the office.

Fourth: just WHAT data goes out? Is that aggregate or do they break it down in terms of male/female, age, etc. ?

Fifth: I would to know a LOT about this data (ok yes I'm a nerd/number cruncher). If they break down the data to things like at 5 years out osteoporosis rate is ... I want to know that. I have bone issues in my family and due to my physical state (or the lack thereof actually) I am at an even bigger risk of osteoporosis. Things like that, anemia, B12 issues, B1, K, all sorts of things, if they're going to track them, I want to know because it tells me is this right for me or not or is a different surgery better given my background? I want to see the data, not just some docs' take on it. He's looking at $$$ and a quota to do. I'm looking at living with this crap for the rest of my life.

So someone who has only possible issues with GERD/reflux might want to see what the reflux % is, I would want to see other things.

I can't access that data and I want to know that the doctor is giving me hard facts behind his "stuff". I've been bitten one too many times by a doctors' going on their experience vs. research/cold hard facts.

That and the fact that the medical profession has given me "opinion" not supported by "data" and when I'm paying for the product, I want to see data.

[CowgirlJane 14,259]

I see your points except for one thing. I want MORE info so medicine is based on actual data and not just personal experience or whatever. I want ALL of our results to be better tracked, reported on etc. And I am willing to participate in the procesd. My surgical practice told me I am always welcome to come back annually, or if anything is needed but I am officially graduated from their program