DS maintenance cost

I am planning on having DS surgery I need to know how much is the DS maintenance of vitamins and protein.  I know those are the most important things after surgery therefore I want to make sure I am successful and is prepared for the cost of maintaining.  Please tell me cost of protein and vitamins.

Thank in advance


Martina

Vitamins are around $100 a month.  Protein totally depends on how you eat.  If you eat all your protein in food, then protein powder would be useless to you.  If you're like Lori Black (I have a girl-crush on Lori) and do 3-4 protein shakes a day, then it'll cost you a pretty penny.

My vitamins don't cost me that much and I have good labs.  I guess the initial start up would run you something like a hundred maybe a little more, but usually, you just buy vitamins as you need them.  Therefore, the monthly cost is somewhat reduced.  Also, I buy most of mine at HEB or Walmart.

Betty

 And don't forget routine labs.  This shouldn't be an issue if your insurance covers them, but if they don't labs can be expensive.  The preop labs (which came from my DS surgeon) I just had run were about $1200 on my Explanation Of Benefits from my insurance company.  I was shocked, to say the least.  I'm not sure if that is about par for what they run?  Maybe someone else here can weigh in on that.

I've found a way to get all the vitamins on Vitalady's plan, ordered between her and Costco for $50 per month.  As for protein, YMMV.  It will depend on how much you can get in by food, and how much you will need to supplement.  I strongly recommend to look for coupons, join the Vitamin Shoppe (it's free) and at least one membership club store (Costco, Sams, BJs ect) and not to stock up on anything until you know what you like (and I've heard that changes postop too).  Hope this helps :)

My vitamins run me about $50 a month.
I order from vitalady but also where ever I can get something on Sale that works for me.
 
I use protein powder just sometimes when I know I can't get enough protein in with my regular food.
That does not happen very often.
Besides I don't like the taste of the protein drinks very much. So the cost is really very little.

If you have insurance for your labs no problem, but it can get very expensive if not.
The labs I had drawn last Oct. where not coded right and so the lab sent me a bill because my insurance did not want to pay for it the way it was coded.

The bill was for over $3000. I almost had a heartattack, but the doctor told the lab to resubmit with a new code and they paid, thank goodness.

Good Luck

Inge

I would say I come out even with the money I save on food and eating out. I will get a $7 lunch and eat it for 3 meals. Plus I'm not buying all the junk that I used to snack on. My labs are covered by insurance and the vitamins are not that much .

Vitamin costs definitly vary by what your body needs.  I spend around $20-30/month, buying much in bulk when it's on sale or BOGO.  I haven't needed to depend on protein drinks since my 6 month post op time.  I've been able to eata 100g of protein with food ever since.

I was saving lots of money on not doing fast food until the KFC double down came out. $5.29 per sammich is messing with my budget!! hehe.

I spend about $100 on vits per month and about $25 on protein powders for supplementation (about 1 shake every other day if my food intake is low).

Hugs,
Ratkity

My first order from vitalady was about $250, but that included a ****load of protein samples (that I still have most of sitting in a box in the bottom of my pantry).  I reordered once more for about another $100 or so and will need to do so again, but just for A, D and calcium.  I'm at 6 months out.

I do spend more on quality meats at the grocery store now, too. 

Even with insurance my lab "copay" for my 3 month stuff was about $300.