Bariactric surgery complications

My son had a roux en y (which may have been a roux en o- which means an "error") 10 years ago. He was diagnosed with a copper deficiency 2 years ago. Not a single dr that he has seen had a clue as to what it is. It is not rare! It is misdiagnosed as MS, Lupus, etc. He has much neurological issues. He has malabsorption and this has resulted in mild brain damage, digestive issues, severe pain everywhere, spinal problems... and can cause osteoporosis and much more. He researched his symptoms a year or so before he saw a Dr.. No insurance. When he finally had to leave his job and had a couple of trips to the ER, he was granted financial aid from the local hospital. He had realized that he had a copper deficiency and on his first visit to the primary care physician, he asked the dr to please check his copper and zinc levels. The dr rared back in his chair and treated him like an idiot. At his 4th visit, he finally consented ito check his levels. The copper lab took almost a week to come back. By that time my son was deathly sick and transported by ambulance to the hospital. That very day, his results were in and his copper level was bottomed out. Even in the hospital, no one knew anything. Bariatrics surgery is a living, breathing nightmare, with symptoms showing up 10 or 20 years down the road. His surgery was an emergency due to a duodenal ulcer, but he was never told that he should have certain vitamins and minerals checked every year (copper and zinc every 6 months) for the rest of his life. I know this is probably too much info.. I am just so frustrated. There is a Dr. Heeraj Kumar at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota that really knows his stuff. If you can read some of his articles, it may help you. Praying for you and her!

What were all of his symptoms? It sounds like what I’m going through, and no one has a clue what’s causing it.

He was falling due to his knees giving way. He had numbness in his feet and pain, if that makes any sense. On his job, he had to climb steps, and just got to the point that he couldn't. His gait had started to change about 2 years before.. If you research copper deficiency, he began to have every symptom. He had to leave his job and about 2 months later, he was able to see a doctor. Somehow through research on his own, he just knew he had copper deficiency. As I said, the dr wouldn't check it for 2 months. He got violently ill...very high fever, dehydrated, hallucinations. Of course the hospital immediately started an antibiotic, and never found where the infection came from. His Copper deficiency was due to the roux en y, 10 years prior. He also had a vagotomy and part of his stomach removed at that time. He has Romberg Sign Positive;problems with light and dark;sensitivity to heat and cold temperatures; back pain; his knees, feet, and neck pop so loudly that you can hear them from across the room. He can not read or use the computer without having vision disturbances... an example, a green lighter may turn gray, he sees flashing lights. This can last for a few minutes or an hour. His sleep is badly disturbed, despite medication.
He has had other defiencies also...Vitamin A, D, E, protein, calcium, B6, potassium, selenium. That's is a list of vitamins and minerals that should be checked-once a year, and copper and zinc every 6 months, for the rest of his life. He was never told this after the bariatric surgery (roux en y). This was an emergent surgery due to a bleeding ulcer, but it is the same surgery for weight loss. At this point, he must use arm crutches to walk, can not sit or stand for very long at all. This deficiency can cause osteoporosis, brain damage, and so much more. We just have to have labs constantly to check many levels.
We are praying for his disability to go through so that we can find doctors that know and understand this condition. I hope you can find out what is wrong. Let me know. Praying for you!

Had he been taking the post-surgery bariatric vitamins for the last 10 years? Is he taking them now? How old is he? Best wishes.

He was only told to take a multi vitamin, and he did. Only a few months ago was he told to take a bariatric supplement. He is 39. We truly didn't even realize that it was even called bariatrics surgery. I have been researching for 3 years now and it is mind boggling. He recently saw a gastroenterologist that knew nothing about copper deficiency so he sent him to a bariatric surgeon. This dr knew nothing about it either. after my son went through 2 endoscopies, the gastroenterologist slipped up and said that the surgeon had never seen this
problem...that it was very rare. My reply was that it isn't rare, just misdiagnosed as Lupus, MS,, and other conditions. He was ready to Usher me out quickly at that point. Through this entire ordeal, no one knew anything about copper deficiency. I don't mind that so much, if they would have been honest and offered to educate themselves about it. I just hope that others may be helped by my son's journey. The issue of malabsorption is very serious and can happen 10-20 years or more after surgery.

Have you gone to the Mayo clinic?

I had the surgery about 15 years ago. I take 2 multivitamins a day. 1500 mg calcium a day. 1,000 ml of B-12 injected once a month. Iron supplements daily. Magnesium supplements. 30,000 mg of Vitamin D2/once a week.

I get bloodwork every 6 months. Awhile ago I contacted my surgeons team down at the University of Pa., for updates on supplements as needed. They were very thorough with what needed to be done for the rest of my life. I’ve successfully have managed to keep off all the weight that I had lost. You got to work at it. PSA for women, I now have Osteoporosis. More than likely it was from deficiency of calcium. It’s really important to keep up with these supplements, it’ll pay off in the long run.

If it was me, I’d definitely go to a really good/teaching hospital and get a complete check up I understand a lot of people have the surgery and the Drs. Do not instruct them what they need to take and do. I’m on so many supplements that are needed daily/weekly/monthly and cannot be neglective in not doing so, or your body is going to break down. Was she set up with a nutritionist, psychologist and weekly/monthly/yearly follow ups? They are so important to keep. If you don’t get answers try to see the best Bariatric surgeons for evaluation. Good luck.

Did anyone have Bariatric surgery and after, 15 years be told, to stop taking B-12 because your levels were too high? We all suffer from Malabsorption syndrome, so I cannot figure out how the B-12 level will get too high. My friend is going through this now, and it just seems weird to me. I had it done 15 years ago, and I know if I don’t keep up with my B-12 it goes right into negative bloodwork. I’m wondering if there isn’t something else going on with him medically. Thanks.

He was never told to take a bariatric vitamin for any length of time nor
to have any labs done to be sure he didn't deveop malabsorption . This was
an emergency surgery due to life threatening, bleeding ulcers. It
shouldn't have mattered. Thanks for your input. The damage , over the past
11 years, is done ... physically, mentally, emotionally. There are so many
people that are misdiagnosed with MS, Lupus, etc. that are suffering due
to circumstances like his. With God's help, he is learning to adapt. Thanks
again!