Quick info on Vitamin Deficiency Symptoms by Andrea U.

May 23, 2009

So many WLS patients just aren't given proper education about vitamin deficiencies, thankfully some of us care enough about our bodies and WLS buddies to continue researching and learning.  Andrea U is a WEALTH of information for post-ops, she's experienced some deficiencies so she knows what you might experience without proper supplementation.

I am scared to experience such severe problems because I'm not willing to learn and listen to my body, get labs drawn and being an advocate for my health.  People listen to those that are wanting to educate you, I have friends IRL that are not doing so well because they knew but felt good and didn't follow a health post-op supplementation plan. 

Get copies of your labs and track them yourself, you will find trends before your doctor is concerned.  They look for deficiencies not future problems.



Posted 5/22/09 by Andrea U
So deficiencies in the following can result in:

B1 or Thiamin
 - irreversible neuromuscular disorders
 - permanent defects in learning and short-term memory
 - coma  (aww.. this isn't so bad..)
 - death  (Nothing worth worrying about, right?)

B9 or Folate (Folic Acid)
 - forgetfulness
 - irritiability
 - hostility
 - paranoid behaviors

B12 or Cobalamine
 - neurologic sumptoms
 - numbness and tingling of extremeties
 - difficulty walking
 - memory loss
 - disorientation
 - megalobalstic anemia
 - permanent neural impairment
 - extreme delusions
 - hallucinations
 - overt psychois
+ Permanent damage can occur if treatment doesn't start soon enough!

Calcium
 - chronic low intake creates metabolic bone disease presenting as
  - osteoporosis
  - osteomalacia
  - hypoparathyroidism
  - combo of above
 - muscle cramping
 - hypotension
 - bone pain

Vitamin D
 - rachitic tetany
 - mucle pain and spasms
 - weakness
 - bone pain
 - decrease in daily calcium absorption
 - rickets (osteomalacia)
 - osteoporosis
 - concentrations in blood greater than or equal to 80nmol/L, there was a 50% reduction in colorectal cancer rates
 - concentrations in blood greater than or equal to 50nmol/L, there was a 50% reduced risk of prostate cancer
 - risk for type 1 diabetes increased dramatically in vitamin D deficient children
 - higher circulating levels of vitamin D linked to a significantly lower Multiple Schlrosis risk

Iron
 - anemia
 - fatigue
 - hair loss
 - feeling cold
 - pagophagia (constant desire to eat ice -- pica)
 - decreased immune function

Zinc
 - decreased sense of smell
 - altered taste
 - poor wound healing
 - poor appetite
 - hair loss
 - low libido
 - lethargy

Vitamin A
 - problems with skin and mucous membranes
 - dry hair
 - broken nails
 - increased risk of infections
 - linked to anemia and iron absorption
 - ophthalmologic consequences such as night blindness

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