Vitamins...protein..etc?

Hi everyone, Has anyone started to get all the vitamins and protein that we need after WLS? I got my centrum chewables, but haven't gotten calcuim citrate,iron or vitamin C are there any others that have been recommended to you? I just got samples from unjury for their unfavored and the new chicken broth, I don't think I will be able to do shakes..I don't like milk shakes now with real ice-cream so I doubt I'll be able to handle fake ones. So I hope I can use the unfavored in suger free pudding, jello, eggs , bean, etc. and the chicken broth one as chicken broth so we'll see. I also bought a icey maker, I love slushie ice, with no flavor or crystal light, I figure that will be good after surgery when the need to chew arises. I still want to get a grinder and fax seed. What are some of the things everyone else is doing to prepare? I know there is probably more that would be helpful, so I figured we could help each other out. lol Jen

You won't need it for the liquid phase, but I just got a digital kitchen scale for experimenting with purees (I'm a couple days early but it's going down very well, hee ) and it's a huge helper. I don't know about things to do differently for RNY. You might (as I did) want to buy a little milk of magnesia too. Things move a little differently after abdominal surgery, if ya know what I mean! good luck to you, you'll do great... gwen

Hi Jen Of all the multivitamins I have tried, the Centrum chewables were the best! For calcium citrate I first tried a liquid form (orange flavored) but it tasted sour to me. Personally, Citracal Creamy Bites work for me. While they're chocolate flavored, the flavoring is a bit off as expected, but totally tolerable if you ask me. I bought mine at Walgreens, but I suspect they carry them at similar stores such as CVS. I bought my Iron at GNC and it's called "GNC Women's Iron Complete." My surgeon requested I take 36mg/day and these are 30mg. Added to the 6mg in the multivitamin, I'm covered. They're smooth tablets that I split in half and are easy to swallow. I also purchased my B Complex and B12 Sublingual vitamins at GNC. The B Complex is a liquid form with a dropper and the B12 is sugar free with folic acid. Both taste a little citrusy and very tolerable. I've tried a few protein drinks and so far the Zero Carb Isopure in Alpine Punch flavor is my favorite. I tried Profect because it's only 2.9 oz and didn't like the taste. My surgeon suggested, however, that if the taste doesn't appeal to me I could dilute it in water and still gain the effects of the protein. Fortunately, the nutritionist in the bariatric center I go to provides patients with a recommendations list for all these things - check with yours (or someone in your surgeon's office) to see if they can do the same! Good luck to you and keep us all posted! Nicole

you can get protien that has no flavor or some that taste like juice best of luck

WEEKS before surgery, or as soon as you can: Get off of the caffeine, and stop using straws. Start forcing at least 64 ounces of water every day. Start getting in the habits of: eating your protein first (and THEN the fries, lol) Chew your food really well. Don't drink during meals, I started off by ordering something to drink, but not taking a drin****il after my last bite of food. Get 30 minutes worked into your schedule EVERYDAY for you to excercise Order Med Alert Jewlery ("Gastric Bypass. No blind NG tube. No NSAIDS. No sugar") Make sure everything in your house works and isn't overdue for service or batteries...the car, the TV remote, the appliances. You will not want the stress of broken things when you get home from the hospital. Order your vitamins (you need sublingual B12, and a B1 isn't a bad idea either. Remember you won't be able to swallow pills for at least a month) Get the heavy housework done. It is so much more pleasant to come home to a clean house, and you won't be tempted to push yourself if the clutter and the dirt aren't there to nag at you. Make sure you have some soft, comfortable, LOOSE clothes. Your belly will be swollen for 2 weeks or so, maybe as much as a size bigger. You'll need something to wear home from the hospital and something to wear to your first post-op appointment. Load in the groceries if you have a family. You won't be able to eat most of it, but you won't be able to drive to "run to the store" for them either. Buy a strainer, too. Good luck, and try not to worry too much.

Hi. The nutritionist that I met with pre-op recommended a chewable vitamin made specifically for bariatrtic patients - Resource Optisource. You can buy it at Walgreens. 1 bottle costs about $28, but it's a month's supply. You have to take 4 a day, but they aren't too bad. If you are like me and took St. Joseph's baby aspirin as a kid, that's what the taste reminds me of. I wasn't advised to worry about any additional vitamins at this point. Wendy