Hello everyone. I just finished the last of my tests before submitting my
paperwork to Blue Cross. I am wondering what vitamins and supplements you
took both pre and post-op. I had my nutritional evaluation back in April
that went through this, but I’m curious to hear what other have to say.

I’d also appreciate any other pre-op advice you might have. Skin care, etc?

Thanks everyone!

Bernadette~
354 - First Consult
367 - Today

160 - Sometime in 2006 :o)
Dr. Pamela Foster/Lap RNY

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Pre-op, I took a multi and started my protein drinks so I’d have plenty of
protein on board to heal quickly. I also had a baseline dxascan and
discovered that I was osteoporotic (glad I had it or I would have blamed
that on my surgery, too). So I took extra calcium citrate and I was a bit
anemic, so I took an OTC iron. The most important thing that I think helped
me heal so fast was the protein drinks.

After surgery, (I’m an RNY proximal) my surgeon suggested the tums and
flintstones and no proteinshakes after 2 weeks routine. I said to myself,
looking at the area that was bypassed and what was absorbed there, that my
surgeon was a great cutter but he was not a great nutritionist - and I
didn’t expect him to be so.

My suggestion would be to go to the files section for the
obesitysurgerysupportgroup and look for a file called "what is absorbed
where" - I think that’s what I called it - it’ll be something like that -
it’s from a nutrition text and gives you an idea of what is absorbed where
in the body. Then get familiar with the surgery you’re going to have -
figure out what is bypassed, so what is not going to be absorbed, or what is
going to be absorbed in a very limited amount. I’ve found that even
so-called bariatric nutritionists are not really up to date on how
rearranging our plumbing affects what is absorbed. <sigh>

My labs (other than my Vit D, which has been problematic) have been very
good. I’ve gotten an elevated PTH down into the normal range. It’s just the
Vit D that has been a problem.

I take

2 chewable centrums

2 400IU dry vit e (all the fat soluable vites should be taken dry, since
the duodenum is where we absorb fat, and that part of our body is bypassed.
The intestine will try to take it up, but it doesn’t have the same capacity
at all, so we’re going to be short "fat" for life. My skin, which was
always oily, is now normal to dry.)

1 glutamine

2000mg of elemental calcium in the form o f calcium citrate (take the UpCalD
in my protein shakes)

4 protein shakes a day

1x a week, I do a 50,000 of Vit D

1x a week, I do a Dry Vit A&D

2 ipriflavone (for the osteoporosis)

2 boron (for the osteoporosis)

1,000 magnesium citrate

200mg of carbonyl iron (tender iron from vitalady)

1.5 gms of chewable C a day

I give myself 1 b12 shot a week

With these, I watch my labs. Only your labs will tell you what you need to
increase or decrease.

If you’re going to lose hair, you’ll lose it, but usually between months 3
and 7 and then it starts to come back. There are a lot of reasons to lose
hair - no one knows for sure what it is. Trauma from the surgery, or
anesthesia, or low protein - I’ve heard all these reasons. But once the hair
is "shocked" it takes a while to fall out and for the new to come back in.
Just have patience.

Good luck! You’re on an exciting journey!

Pam in Niceville

_____

Hello everyone. I just finished the last of my tests before submitting my
paperwork to Blue Cross. I am wondering what vitamins and supplements you
took both pre and post-op. I had my nutritional evaluation back in April
that went through this, but I’m curious to hear what other have to say.

I’d also appreciate any other pre-op advice you might have. Skin care, etc?

Thanks everyone!

Bernadette~
354 - First Consult
367 - Today
160 - Sometime in 2006 :o)
Dr. Pamela Foster/Lap RNY

_____

_____