What in particular are tested by your surgeon during bloodwork? I thought all vitamin levels as well as protein was measured. I had my regular physician run test and they only tested my vitamin D & B12 levels which were normal. I am coming up on my year anniversary and decided not to go back to my surgeon, Dr Nicholson, for my year follow-up which would have included bloodwork. While Dr Nicholson is a phenomenal doctor, I feel my follow-ups are a waste of time for the $25 I have to pay. Plus my experience with the office staff pre-op was not the best.

I had a vitamin panel, a metabolic panel and a lipid panel at 6 months. Also checked the LDL and HDL levels. They had to take like 6 vials of blood. Lol. All my levels hit the middle of the standard ranges except b12 which I had way high levels. The follow up with the AARN was very high quality and I am super happy with post op follow up meetings.

I guess my vitamin panel only included two vitamins. Oh well. That's another thing with my surgeon, he wanted to wait until a year out to do bloodwork which I found to be really odd. My family physician also completed a lipid panel since I have constant issues with cholesterol since junior high.

Wanna hear something that will sound crazy? If you want to improve your cholesterol, avoid sugar as much as possible. Real and artificial. Natural sources like fruits, raw honey, molasses, and 100% real maple syrup are good in moderation, and even can imoroc your health. But in moderation. Sounds crazy I know but do it for 3 months and check your cholesterol levels again. Your blood pressure will also improve if that's an issue.

Wanna hear something that will sound crazy? If you want to improve your cholesterol' date=' avoid sugar as much as possible. Real and artificial. Natural sources like fruits, raw honey, molasses, and 100% real maple syrup are good in moderation, and even can imoroc your health. But in moderation. Sounds crazy I know but do it for 3 months and check your cholesterol levels again. Your blood pressure will also improve if that's an issue.[/quote']

I know the blood pressure improves. Recently I had mine measured 3 times in the last couple of weeks. Two were 110/70 and one was 100/60. Pretty good if you ask me after having 154/105 back in May 2012 and needing to take medicine. Totally off the blood pressure medicine since day after surgery, 7 months ago. I think it is also because I can deal with stress better now.