I call "bullsh*t" on RNY program nutritionists.

Having attended a few of the pre-op seminars as both a patient and a presenter, I am calling nutritionists in RNY programs out.

As we've seen here lately, MANY RNY patients report that they were not informed about the nutritional requirements of post-op living, and I believe it. Even in my surgeon's seminars-- and I truly believe I have one of the better ones, they downplay the amount and nature of the supplements you will need.

My surgical program is in an inner city hospital with a large urban clientele. I can tell you that by the nature of the questions I have been asked that they have a very rudimentary understanding of nutrition. The staff has a choice-- either educate the people, or leave them unaware. My belief is that RNY programs have a  moral imperative to educate-- but do they?

I don't think that nutritionists and RNY programs are simply unaware of their patient's nutritional needs: theres an abundance of literature out there about what's nutritionally necessary post op. So I am calling bullsh*t. While I'm not much of a conspiracy theorist,  I do think that some programs *intentionally* underplay/understate them in the interest of selling surgeries to people they do not believe will get on board or be compliant.

What do you think?

Addendum: If your nutritionist told you all you need is a multi- vitamin--- especially one called Dino, Barney, Betty or Fred-- you're being ill-informed and you need to take everything they tell you with a grain of salt. You really cannot trust people to advise you-- do your homework.

Waves from the Very Large Bariatric Program Whose Director Is NOW the PRESIDENT of the ASMBS.

I was told Children's Vitamins.

Albeit in 2003/2004, BUT, do I ever wonder?

I was told that Centrum adult chewables would suffice after surgery. Luckily I got informed through reading posts about the subject here on OH. I was especially pissed about the lack of information about Calcium and what vitamins not to take with each other, like iron and calcium. Never knew any of that, even going in.

I attribute all my post-op vitamin knowledge to peoplel here on OH, especially Pam T. She has been so informative.

 

Thanks to all of you who bring attention to this. I guess most of us just have to educate ourselves..

 

Awww... Thanks.  I'm glad my ramblings help! 

As a newbie trying to do some homework (i.e. research) how much do you need to take? What type? I haven't been to my meeting yet, that's next week. Would love to have an idea of what to expect from someone not trying to "sell me a surgery".

Thanks

MINIMALLY you need an adult multivitamin (or two), B-12 sublinguals (500-1000 mcg), 1600-2000 mg of Calcium CITRATE. (Taking no more than 600mg per dose)

Since we malabsorb A,D,E and K, (they are fat soluble and we malabsorb a percentage of fat)replacing those is a good idea as well, as is a B complex, and iron, especially in patients still of menstruating age.

This is what I take right now: 

In the morning
500 mg calcium CITRATE
250 mg magnesium
4,000 iu vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol in dry form)
1 B-complex
500 mcg B-12 sublingual
2 fiber-choice tablets
1 one-a-day multivitamin (generic, from Walgreens)
1 biotin (for my hair and nails)

2-hours later
50 mg Zinc

2 hours later
36 mg iron (ferrous fumarate)
500 mg vitamin C chewable (yummy)

2 hours later
500 mg calcium citrate

In the evening
500 mg calcium CITRATE
250 mg magnesium
4,000 iu vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol in dry form)
2 fiber-choice tablets
1 one-a-day multivitamin (generic, from Walgreens)

I also eat one banana a day... I was getting cramps from lack of potassium, and I find the banana a good addition to my daily food. Since I dump I was afraid of the sugars in the banana, but I only rarely will dump on a banana.

Hi! I dont post here but lurk VERY often around this site and find YOU very informational!:) I just read your above post and about the vitamins... I am pre op with iron deficiency problems....and borderline low B vits...
I am taking
B-100 1X/Day
325 mg Iron 2X/day
500mg vit C 2X/day
AND...... FLINSTONE VITAMIN... 1 CHEWABLE TWICE A DAY...

My question is this.. and I was going to post this but will ask here... I was told by my NUT that post op I will have this same routine but need to add citrical twice daily and bring the flinstones up to 4 per day... does this sound right or are the flinstones not high enough quality?

I often wonder this even though she said its fine... hmmmm

I think one reason that the programs "encourage" Flintstones and over the counter, easy to find products is just that:  easy.  And cheap.  BUT, folks need to know that wls is not cheap!  It is not how to scrimp and save and "oh now I can eat only one oz of food and so its gonna save me some money as well as make me thin."  NOooooo......  sometimes it costs just as much, if not more, to maintain a healthy postop life!  And Lord have mercy, if a person has any complications or supplement deficiencies, they will end up paying even more out of their pockets...  as we know, insurance does not cover many supplements. Thank God for flexible spending accounts! 

*It used to tiff me when a friend/coworker said she could not afford a $3 bottle of AchievOne (which would be an entire meal) but she could afford $15 on a breakfast bar at a local restaurant.  What is wrong with that picture?  It's just that protein and good quality proteins to boot, were not on her list of priorities.  Can supplements and proteins be done on a budget? Yes, but people who moan and groan about the cost of such products, yet they can afford all the other luxuries... well I guess I should go on and start my own rant for the day....

No flintstones for me.  Only bariatric supplements made for bariatric patients.  And, I'm not going to drink nasty tasting protein just because my doctor's office suggested it, when there are much better tasting stuff out there...  even if the nuts don't tell us about them or even suggest that we use them....  In the meantime, my labs are great so I evidently am doing something right.

I think one reason that the programs "encourage" Flintstones and over the counter, easy to find products is just that:  easy.  And cheap.  BUT, folks need to know that wls is not cheap! 

But for the sake of argument, here humor me....

WLS is covered by both Medicare and Medicaid (Medical Assistance) here--- so in a sense, yes, the surgery itself IS cheap, at least for the end user.  So many of the people in our program are of low income. Does this mean they should suffer inferior nutrition? Should their supplementation be covered?