So last night I checked she prescribed me to take now 50,000 iu once a week of vitamin D2, Should I stop taking this and switch to the D3 100,000 iu daily? I am sorry but where on vitalady do I find out what to look for to meet the needs of what I am missing? I just see all the products they sell. Also does anyone know if I should bump up my iron from 36? I feel like crap I was training someone and I had to stop I just feel like talking so much wears me out and drains me that I can't think, and I have to start teaching classes soon so this worries me. When I asked the last time I got my blood work in late March they told me I could not go in to get blood work on my own without my surgeons work up order has anyone else had this problem? She has my next blood work scheduled for the last week of June.
http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/vitamin-d3-vs-vitamin-d2/
Here's a link describing the basic differences between D2 and D3. But the most serious problem for me is that I don't think D2 comes in a "dry" form. All I could find were gel veggie caps, which as a DS'er you will not be able to absorb. Remember, you absorb now ONLY 20-25% of the fats you intake. That means also that any fat soluble vitamins will also be excreted out by your body. You need DRY vitamins, which is basically a way to make fat soluble vits water soluble in form to allow you to absorb it. Do you see why I'm soooo frustrated by your well meaning, but tragically uninformed doctor? She doesn't have ANY idea about something as basic as your need for dry vitamins. I'm saddened but NOT surprised by this. You also need to know you can no longer take sustained release pills, because of your changed biology. Most antibiotics nowadays come in a sustained release form...you need to be sure yours is not. YOU are the one that MUST be aware of all of this, because doctors are taught to follow cookie cutter models and to treat everyone the same. You need to tell them what you need, because they simply won't know. Think of this: Of the 179,000 people having bariatric surgeries in 2013 42% were sleeves, 34% RNY's, 14% lapbands, 6% revisions from one of those, and.....1% DS's. We are 1% or 1,790 people. How many DS's will the average doctor even meet in their lives? And even those doing the cutting, are geared towards sleevers and RNY'ers because they see soooo many more of them. In time, if you apply yourself, you will know everything there is to know on this subject. I know it seems overwhelming now, but you will.
As Liz mentioned, start by taking exactly the doses and schedule suggested in her link. Then you must watch your lab results diligently, and make corrections in your vitamin regimen accordingly. We are ALL different! You will absorb differently than I and have different metabolic needs for a variety of reasons. Some posting here take little to no iron supplements, others take daily doses and still require periodic infusions to keep up. Some require zero B12, while others take shots monthly. Just do what works for you. I really am worried about you because you are manifesting symptoms of severe malnutrition. That is something you need to jump on...yesterday. You're only 4 months out so probably not too far out of whack yet, but there is a tipping point when it's difficult to restore your levels. Don't let it get to that point! Some vitamin deficiencies can result in PERMENANT damage to your body. B12 at critically low levels results in a melting away of the myelin sheath covering your nerves (which helps them to conduct electrical impulses). Once it's gone whatever damage results (from atrophy,etc)...is there forever.
Anyhoo, now's the time to get things worked out so you can proceed to the new you as smoothly as possible. Please don't be offended by anything I or others have written here. We have been through much of what you are going through now. We understand! But I felt compelled to speak out forcefully so that you would understand the gravity of your situation. The only way to truly fail your DS is by carelessness in following your supplementation regimen. There are cautionary tales posted on this site right now of folks who have died or suffered serious debilitation because of failing to take their supplements. We want you to be gushing about how wonderful your life is now that you've hit your goal weight, in the not too distant future. Not begging for help here because you went blind, lost renal function, have severe osteoporosis with multiple fractures,etc. all as a result of a silly failure to take some damn vitamins. Okey dokey?
