Post-op lab work is
very important, because gastric bypass surgery causes malabsorption of
protein, and certain vitamins; such as A, D, E, and B12 and minerals such as
calcium and iron. You need to be very pro-active in being sure that your
vitamin, mineral, and protein levels are checked regularly post-op. Some
surgeons will have a post-op schedule and suggested lab work for you to have
done, other surgeons do not have a post-op plan. My research has suggested
that at a minimum this lab work should be done at least every 3 months for
the first year post-op and then every 6 months after that. If you are having
to adjust your supplements to keep your levels up, then ask to have those
labs checked more often.
If your surgeon did
not give you a list of labs and your primary care physician is not sure
which labs you should have done, click this link for a list of suggested
labs and diagnosis codes: Lab Work.
Then I would suggest that you ask for copies of your labs and track them
yourself.
Not sure what the
labs mean, click on this link:
Meaning of Labs.
Charlotte County Gastric Bypass Support Group
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