Post-op blood work and lower liver function?

[BlueBongo 52]

So I've been doing really well, I feel anyway... I've been meeting all of my daily goals (nutrition, exercise, etc). I had my RNY surgery on 1/27/16 and followed up with my surgeon two weeks post op with no issues, and decided to check in with my PCP as well last week because I felt like I needed to get on something for my anxiety....

Anywho, he recommended I also have my labs done to see how I am doing as well.... I got a call yesterday letting me know I needed to take a Vitamin D3 supplement as it was low and also that my liver was somewhat low functioning. They advised that I don't drink (which I haven't had any sort of booze in 8 months and I drink about a gallon of Water a day!) and that I don't take any anti-inflammatories... they said the rest of the results they'd go over with me at my follow-up in a few weeks.

I was wondering if this is pretty normal? My diet is on point, I don't drink or eat anything I'm not supposed to and I am very very active. I'm assuming this is normal... but I have just been a little on edge about it. I imagine this will all get better the more weight I lose and as I continue keeping up on all of these goals and lifestyle changes.

Just wondering if anyone else has had similar experiences?

Thank you!

[judy1234 27]

Idk if it's related, but during my pre-op they did a GI ultrasound and told me I had "severe" fatty liver, to the point where they wanted to do a liver biopsy during by gastric bypass. I had my bypass Feb. 29, and should be getting the results of the biopsy at my first follow up visit tomorrow morning. In doing my own research on fatty liver, I found that although most overweight people have some degree of fatty liver, if it is severe enough it can lead to cirrhosis, which would certainly affect liver function. Your diagnosis of low functioning liver might be related to having fatty liver or even early cirrhosis. The good news is, fatty liver is reversible, and though cirrhosis is not, lifestyle changes can enable you to live normally as long as the cirrhosis is not advanced.

Again, this might not be what your doctor is referring to at all, but it sounded enough like what I was told that I wanted to mention it.

[brindall 17]

My liver function tests went down too after surgery. I was surprised and thought it was a fluke because it was kind of soon but I guess not after reading this post!

[BlueBongo 52]

I was just surprised at even in my pre-op testing, or in getting my clearances, or even when I had my surgery was there ever a concern and even in reading all of my test results the numbers seems normal. I did look at my labs after my surgery and see that there is a difference though as the absorption rates change and though I've changed my diet/lifestyle for the past 9 months it will get better.

I did talk to a specialist that mentioned this is normal for a short period after surgery which is why they say to avoid alcohol and all of the fatty foods we shouldn't be eating in anyway. The liver has to work in overtime a bit due to the change in diet and until we are "normalized" per se, that will remain the case with the liver.

Thank you for the information and i'm glad I am not alone in this.... everything else has been good, I was just surprised by this but I suppose it is a learning process for me just as much as it is for me PCP as well as he doesn't have many patients who've had WLS surgery.

I did start Biotin and Vitamin D3 though. So hopefully that will help some as well.

[James Marusek 5,244]

My blood work showed I was low on Iron. After surgery, the doctor tries to fine tweak the Vitamin levels. So it is common to make adjustments to the daily Vitamin requirements after surgery.

As you lose weight, your body is consuming many fat cells. These cells contain many chemicals and hormones which are dumped into your blood supply. The liver filters and processes blood as it circulates through the body. It metabolizes nutrients, detoxifies harmful substances, makes blood clotting Proteins, and performs many other vital functions. Therefore during the weight loss phase you are putting an additional strain on your liver. Fluids especially Water is used by your body to flush these substances out of your system.

If you have liver concerns I would probably recommend that you use filtered Water instead of tap water and also drink the minimum daily requirements (but it looks like if you are drinking a gallon a day, you are on target).