Faiz Shariff MD

05/28/2026

05/21/2026

The patients I worry about most are the ones who felt great at 6 months and never came back.

Nutritional deficiencies after bariatric surgery are slow and silent. By the time you feel them, levels have been low for a long time.

Here’s what to watch for:

Vitamin B12 → fatigue, brain fog, tingling or numbness in hands and feet, memory issues

Iron / Ferritin → exhaustion, shortness of breath, hair loss, pale skin, restless legs

Vitamin D → bone pain, muscle weakness, low mood, frequent illness

Thiamine/ Vitamin B1 → nerve pain, difficulty walking, confusion — one of the most serious and most missed

Folate → fatigue, mouth sores, mood changes, especially important if you’re considering pregnancy

Zinc → hair thinning, slow wound healing, changes in taste and smell

Copper → numbness, weakness, poor balance — often missed and can mimic B12 deficiency

Calcium → muscle cramps, brittle nails, dental issues, and long term — silent bone loss you won’t feel until a fracture

Your surgery permanently changed how you absorb these nutrients. Annual labs aren’t optional — they’re part of the procedure.

💬 Type VITAMINS below and I’ll send you the specific labs to ask for based on your surgery.