Question:
What is all this talk about rotting teeth?
I am about a week post-op and I am freaking out wishing I never had the surgery at all after hearing all this talk about rotting teeth, what the hell is the point of being smaller if your teeth is horrendous? Does anybody know how much calcium citrate we should be taking? and where can I buy calcium citrate? Anybody know what ferrous gluconate is? — TotallyTori (posted on March 14, 2003)
March 14, 2003
Victoria, calm down. As a new post-op, you will be feeling differently
about having this surgery when the weight starts flying off of you. Our
bodies do not absorb certain vitamins/nutrients as well anymore due to our
rearranged and bypassed insides so we have to supplement for life. Calcium
citrate should be started right away-1200-1500 mg a day. You can buy the
citrate with magnesium and Vit D anywhere, from Walmart to on-line.
www.vitalady.com has several of the vitamins, calciums, protein
drinks/shakes that we need post-op. As for the teeth issue, that is a new
one for most of us and I don't know if the answers are out there yet. Many
post-ops have had no teeth problems and yet others have. Is it WLS
related? I dont think we know. This surgery is still fairly new and as
time goes by, and we are all in the guinea pig category, we will learn more
and more. Thats what makes these support groups so important. Although
that can be unsettling, look at it this way. When you lose your weight and
are no longer obese and your co-morbidities go away, and your mental and
physical well-being improves, was the surgery worth the possibility of
future complications or would you have been better being obese, with
co-morbidities, a rotten quality of life and a shortened life span? At 96
pounds lighter, happy, and a size 10-12, I vote for the surgery.
— Cindy R.
March 14, 2003
My surgery is scheduled for 4/11, and I saw my dentist last week for a
regular cleaning. When I told him I was scheduled for surgery he was
THRILLED for me, and told me he treats several WLS patients. I think the
key is to TAKE YOUR SUPPLEMENTS and keep current with visits to the
dentist. But was concerns me is the number of posts for post-ops who don't
seem to know what vitamin regimen to be on. I have had to complete two
nutrition classes already, and am thoroughly comfortable with what I'll
need to take post-op. If there is a dietitian in your surgeon's office,
call him/her immediately for a consultation. Otherwise, ask for a
referral. It's really critical that you get the proper nutrition these
first six months. Best of luck to you!
— momstah
March 14, 2003
Is it possibkle that after we have WLS we get more intersted in our health
and appearance and start going to docs and then uncover a problem that took
many pre op yeaRS TO DEVELOP?
<P>
Many folks go to the dentist and find a mouthful of problems that never
even considered WLS. Once post op we fear any health troubles are somehow
WLS related and thats not necessarily so.
— bob-haller
March 14, 2003
I asked my dentist about the teeth and is there anything that he needs to
be informed about my WLS. He said that is just started to be relized in the
medical community that WLS patients can do alot of throwingup, and that
breaks the floride down on the teeth. He told me to ask my surgeon for a
floride treatment to apply to my teeth and if the surgeon was not aware of
the benefits of this treatment, that he would give my a precription for the
treatment. Also, the lack of vit and min for any length of time can show
on the gums and teeth, so be sure to let your dentist know that you have
had the surgery.
— cindy
March 14, 2003
Throwup with a RNY post op is a low no acid deal. Doubt it would do much
damage to teeth enamel. A lifetime of eating many times what a normal
weight person eats and chews might lead to tooth wear and my problem TMJ.
Mostly fopr me its noise.
— bob-haller
March 14, 2003
I just wanted to put my two cents in, my friend is 16 months out, and was
religious with her vit's and calcium supplements, and the problem with her
teeth, is lack of calcium even though her levels check out fine. Her teeth
have turned almost irredescent with a black tint to them over the last 4
months. There was nothing she could do to prevent it seeing that her
levels were all current and up to date. I believe that if you have history
with bad teeth in your family then it will be evident; however, so is
cancer, and other family medical history problems. Don't let it deter you
from the choice to be healthy. There are always alternative things when it
comes to our teeth. <br><br> Have a blessed day! <br>
~Ang~
— angel_wls
March 14, 2003
My doctor and Dietican said to chew tums with calcium for the calcium.
— Lana Rush
March 14, 2003
Victoria, I am 7 mos out, I have thrown up 1 TIME SINCE SURGERY B/C OF
SURGERY (2 MORE TIMES FOR DRINKING TOO MANY COSOMOS) and my teeth aren't
rotting but they lost their enamel. I don't know why, I am probably going
to get them professionally whitened some day. But, they aren't pretty
anymore like they used to be. Heather (Open RNY 8/15 - 305/205/150)
— heathercross
March 14, 2003
Uh oh, Lana! Let me jump in before the calcuim police get you! LOL! We
post op RNY-ers don't absorb the calcium carbonate in Tums. Switch to
calcium citrate. There are all kinds - check with your local pharmacy. I
buy the store brand of calcium citrate at my local pharmacy. I figure that
it is probably better to take the calcium citrate than possibly be sorry I
didn't down the road. Michelle Curran posts here often and can tell you
everything you want to know!
— koogy
March 15, 2003
The ferrous gluconate is Iron, I believe.
I just bought some calcium citrate + D at my pharmacy today and they're
horse pills... i'll have to chop them or crush them, but should get 4 of
them in a day.
— Darlene M.
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