3mo post op labs showing high vitamin levels and above normal liver enzymes

[annaisbananas 2]

I should start this out by saying I am not looking for any medical advice, this is mostly just to vent because I am frustrated and scared.

I was sleeved on 10/15/18 and have not had any complications except for a kidney stone 1 month post op. For the last 2 weeks however I have been feeling extremely run down, muscle aches all over and daily headaches. I definitely felt like something was wrong with me, but in my head I thought it could be low Vitamin levels or just my body adjusting to the weight loss. I am scheduled for my 3 month post op appointment on 1/22 and had my 3 month labs drawn last Friday, mostly expecting them to show low vitamin levels (although I have been compliant with my vitamins) and maybe that my thyroid medication would need to be adjusted (I have hypothyroidism).

Well, the lab results that have come back so far have me really worried (lab results get auto released to me on mychart). My labs show that my B12 level and Ferritin level are higher than the normal range. My TSH was low, which i did expect. The most alarming result however is that my ALT, AST and Alkaline phosphate labs are significantly high. I know that those labs have to do with liver function so I am pretty worried. Also, the Vitamin A and zinc labs have not resulted, which is unusual for them to have not been released by now unless they are "critical" results (at least this is what I understand from the way things result to mychart).

The only thing I can think that may have caused this is that I was taking additional Vitamin A on top of my bariatric Multivitamin as instructed by my NUT, because my Vitamin A labs were under the normal range before surgery. I stopped taking the additional Vitamin A mid Dec. as instructed. I do know that Vitamin A can cause liver problems in high doses so maybe that is what happened... I have only taken a couple of Tylenol and I have not drank post op.

Most frustrating is my PCP looked at my labs and said the surgeon "definitely need to review them". The problem with that is my surgeons office has terrible follow through. I called first thing Monday morning and conveyed how worried I was about the labs and I was told I would need to send them the results to review (even though they ordered them and should have gotten the results faxed from the lab). I sent them over and confirmed that they were received but did not hear anything back, and now here we are with them closed on the holiday. I do understand I am not their only patient and they are understaffed currently. I will call again tomorrow afternoon if I haven't heard anything as my surgeon only works M-Wed.

Sorry for the long rant, I am just really worried about the potential for any liver damage.

[Jazzy1125 1,010]

Good Luck and keep us posted!

[Born in Missouri 1,266]

3 hours ago, annaisbananas said:

I should start this out by saying I am not looking for any medical advice, this is mostly just to vent because I am frustrated and scared.

I was sleeved on 10/15/18 and have not had any complications except for a kidney stone 1 month post op. For the last 2 weeks however I have been feeling extremely run down, muscle aches all over and daily headaches. I definitely felt like something was wrong with me, but in my head I thought it could be low Vitamin levels or just my body adjusting to the weight loss. I am scheduled for my 3 month post op appointment on 1/22 and had my 3 month labs drawn last Friday, mostly expecting them to show low Vitamin levels (although I have been compliant with my vitamins) and maybe that my thyroid medication would need to be adjusted (I have hypothyroidism).

Well, the lab results that have come back so far have me really worried (lab results get auto released to me on mychart). My labs show that my B12 level and Ferritin level are higher than the normal range. My TSH was low, which i did expect. The most alarming result however is that my ALT, AST and Alkaline phosphate labs are significantly high. I know that those labs have to do with liver function so I am pretty worried. Also, the Vitamin A and zinc labs have not resulted, which is unusual for them to have not been released by now unless they are "critical" results (at least this is what I understand from the way things result to mychart).

The only thing I can think that may have caused this is that I was taking additional Vitamin A on top of my bariatric Multivitamin as instructed by my NUT, because my Vitamin A labs were under the normal range before surgery. I stopped taking the additional Vitamin A mid Dec. as instructed. I do know that Vitamin A can cause liver problems in high doses so maybe that is what happened... I have only taken a couple of Tylenol and I have not drank post op.

Most frustrating is my PCP looked at my labs and said the surgeon "definitely need to review them". The problem with that is my surgeons office has terrible follow through. I called first thing Monday morning and conveyed how worried I was about the labs and I was told I would need to send them the results to review (even though they ordered them and should have gotten the results faxed from the lab). I sent them over and confirmed that they were received but did not hear anything back, and now here we are with them closed on the holiday. I do understand I am not their only patient and they are understaffed currently. I will call again tomorrow afternoon if I haven't heard anything as my surgeon only works M-Wed.

Sorry for the long rant, I am just really worried about the potential for any liver damage.

My Vit B12 was so high that it was out of the highest range possible. I'm talking in the thousands plus. My doctor, to my surprise, laughed. I took that to mean it wasn't the end of the world. She suggested that I take my B12 once or twice a week instead of every day.

I showed my sons my results, too (they are both medical doctors) and they told me not to be alarmed either. At 6mos I am slightly anemic as well, but even then, I was told not to be overly concerned. Eat meat. Don't forget to down my Iron.

Take your Vitamins as directed and it will be okay. I wouldn't say this if I hadn't experienced the same feelings as you did. While it is possible to overdo the fat soluble vitamins (A, D, E, and K), your Water soluble vitamins (B and C vitamins) just pass in your urine. It actually takes a long time to get to genuine danger levels.

I have Hashimoto's thyroiditis (an autoimmune disorder). Perhaps you have an undiagnosed thyroid condition. Hypothyroidism is extremely common and is easily treated with medication.

Write to me privately if you want to talk more or if you'd like me to ask one of my sons about any specific lab results. (Not a substitute for your own doctor... just an offer to perhaps ease your mind until you can see someone.)

[chellyvillen 21]

I had to go to the ER after getting a stomach flu and not able to keep Water down, I got severely dehydrated. They ran a bunch of tests and saw that my liver enzymes we're very high - not high enough to do anything about it, but high enough that I had to get it checked every month for a few months. It got worse before it got better, but it did get better and after about 4-5 months it was down to normal.

I was told that it was most likely caused by bruises that the retractor left on my liver during surgery.

I'm not saying that this is the same for you, but I can relate, because I was freaking out for months about it.

[Frustr8 7,886]

Hope everything is working out better for you now. That kind of sickness is scary.

[annaisbananas 2]

Thanks for the replies. I still haven’t heard anything and can’t get my surgeon to call back. I’ve calmed down a bit and figure if it’s urgent they will call me 🤷‍♀️
For now I’ve stopped taking my Vitamins since the levels are high.

Still not happy with the lack of response from them, but I’ll have answers by my 1/22 appointment at the latest.