Newbie Question

Hey yall...

Im scheduled for RNY in 10 days and I am wondering if I could get some honest unbiased opinions on the importance of purchasing vitamin supplements.  Money is an issue, and I would like to know if it's really necessary to take vitamins if you are drinking protein shakes and vitamin water and all that kind of stuff all day.   

Did you do any research at all? Supplements are not optional. They are an absolute must if you want to live and be healthy. Please, do some more research and be prepared to take supplements the rest of your life before you go ahead with surgery.
Karen

It is absolutely necessary. If you don't take your supplements you will end up deficient and quite ill.

I had the surgery done recently. I do take my vits every day. I don't do protein drinks so this early out its hard to get enough protein in but I am coming pretty close to the 60 g per day requirement. (I do think the vits they have me taking aren't quite enough so I am going to up them on my own).

Water is major. I do struggle to get enough in every day. I didn't think water would be my major issue but so far its showing up to be one of the harder parts for me to do right now.

Don't get this surgery if you aren't fully prepared to take your vits every single day without fail. I did a great deal of research before getting the surgery and the 3 main things to keeping good health post op are:

1. Daily vitamins
2. Protein
3. Water

Those are 3 things are a daily MUST. At one point the Mal-absorption part of this surgery goes away and we absorb all our calories BUT we ALWAYS mal-absorp micro nutrients so you can never stop taking them. You will find many many stories on this board of people who ended up quite ill due to not taking their vitamins as they should.

You betcha they are necessary, just like brushing your teeth is necessary to have a healthy smile. You can buy quality supplements for not a lot of money if you shop around. Centrum Chewable and Citracal Petites are available at Wally world and many other places for less than $10 each. There is no rule that says you have to pay outrageous prices for your Vitamins. There is more to this than Protein and water, if you don't supplement you Vite's you will have major issues, maybe not today, or in a month from now, but it will happen and it isn't pretty.

Ask your Surgeon for a list of the supplements you will need and get them!

ET: corrected the name of the calcium supplement

Caltrate is calcium carbonate which we do not absorb.  We need to take calcium citrate which there is in Citracal, and other calcium supplements.  If you take calcium carbonate you might as well just flush your vits down the toilet.

My bad I meant Citracal Petites... I am sitting here looking at a bottle of them an typed Caltrate. I used to sell both of them when I was a sales rep back in the day!  Thanks for the correction.

This is why I should be alseep at 1am not posting on OH!

Definitely HAVE to have the supplements!

I remember seeing on Bariatric Advantage that they will work with patients who are financially unable to buy their supplements. Your doctor has to fill out a form I believe.  Here is the link:
http://www.bariatricadvantage.com/page/oac

 

I just wanted to thank you for that amazing and awesome information!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   I had NO clue! 

Thank you, you're an angel!!!!

:)

they're not necessary-- but only if you would like to get really sick and possibly die.

sorry to be sarcastic.  but you need to take your supplements.  you can find some inexpensive supplements at wal mart.

maybe you need to rethink your surgery type.

VSG'ers don't need to take as many supplements.

Seriously, you need to step back and reassess, as everyone else has said, you MUST take vitamins for life and get your levels checked on a regular basis.

this is a HUGE deal and not one to screw around with

your attitude frightens me. Hasn't your surgeon's office had a class with all of this info for you?