Re: Males, Labs, Supplements and Health Management

[Guest guest]

> Bottom line for me (and I thought I was taking it seriously) is that

> supplements are not optional, the deficienecies and health effects are

real

> and they do apply to males. Just think, my surgeon was one who was still

> advising tums to counterbalance calcium deficits just a little more than a

> year and a half ago. I have also learned that while I am not medically

> trained, nor do I desire to be, I sure need to be even more of a personal

> health manager for me than I have been in life so far. I cannot blindly

> trust just anything anyone tells me and I owe it to me and to those who

> depend on me to assume the responsibility for self education and taking as

> advice what I get from other sources and assuming total responsibility for

> health care decisions myself.

>

> Dan Slone

> Surgery 5/2/2000

****************************************

Dan,

You hit it exactly right! We ALL need to be aware and need to take our

supplements. Females who still menstrate are not the only ones who need to

watch their labs for iron. Being female and having had a hystorectomy in 98,

doctors were not so worried about my iron levels. " It's a little on the low

side...just add more iron....see ya next year. " My iron level was down to 7

two testings ago. To my surprise, was not included in my last set of labs

and I have no idea was my level is right now. I need to get my labs done

again this month.

As for the calcium intake...we ALL need to stay on top of this as well. Tums

is what my surgeon also said to take. My dexascan taken last year showed

Osteopenia, Spine Lowest T Score -2.1. Hip Lowest T Score -1.9. I was told

to just take more calcium with D and to be retested in 5 YEARS! I still have

my ovaries and am not menapausal. I'm 37.

Another area that we need to watch as well IMO, is our B12 levels. I don't

feel that this is of enough concern within the " normal " medical community.

With this group, I have been able to learn so much. I have always trusted

that the doctor knew best. It is so important that ALL WLS patients be as

educated as possible. The above information and advise is from a so called

specialist. Now I am working closely with my family doctor. He trusts what I

tell him that I need. I have brought him more than one copy of information

from this list and resources I have found. While I am not male, I don't fit

into the mainstream of concern for patients. We ALL need to be educated!

Dawn

[Guest guest]

Seems when I cut back on my C, I get sick. Coincidence? I dunno, but always

seems to happen. I'm back to taking 7000 mgs a day...I know...I probly pee a

lot of that out...but at least my bod is getting all it needs and I'm not

sick!

Thanks Dan, for reinforcing the " forbidden " calcium subject...as even the

most proximal of proximals obviously can lose bone..even WITH

supplementation. Everyone needs to get that baseline Dexa.....esp. if we are

a bit...ahem...older, or menopausal, or on thyroid meds, or steriods...or

have been...and yes, MEN too! I've been what people consider overdosing on

calcium for a couple of years now...my last scan showed osteopenia in my

wrist and hip....they had to throw out the back study as it is so calcified

with arthritis they couldn't use it. It was felt, I probly have it in the

spine too. So, once again, I upped my calcium and D-3. (Yes, you must

advocate for yourself...the endocrinologist had a fit when she heard how much

calcium I take...and she thinks I should be on carbonate! No wonder she is

expecting me to get a kidney stone any minute now!) My next scan will be in

August or September. I'm anxious to see if there are any changes for the

good OR the bad. I worry a great deal about my daughter who had surgery 6

months before I did, and never supplements anything. No protein, no vites.

She has crashed, and called me in tears, begging me not to say " I told you

so. " Who me? I don't say that....I figure the consequences should be

enough! But, this girl, who is 44 years old....no not a girl, but acts like

one....stops taking her supps once she begins to feel better. So, what's it

gonna take? I can't bear to watch. Anyway, hope your post spurs others to

action regarding supplementation, because when we do this surgery, we are

committing ourselves to a lifetime of supps IF we want to live, and have

quality of life. Just my 2 bucks worth!

Regards~

Jacque

Distal RNY, 5/30/00

Drs. Fox and Oh

310~126

Beginning BMI 50.0

Current BMI 20.3

> but in the last three years this chronically

> bronchia challenged human has not had a bit of a cold or flue thing

> although

> my daughter and wife suffer constantly and take loads of antibiotics and

> other meds continuously it seems. The C might be doing me a great deal of

> good. I hope so! Doing some labs again next month and will get the Iron

> checked again.

>