No Vitamins for 3 Weeks?!

They told me at the PS office to stop taking all vitamins two weeks before surgery until one week after surgery. It sounded like wrong advice to me so I posted it on the PS forum. Absolutely nobody agrees--even a PS *****sponded. I understand that Vitamin E and fish oil can cause you to bleed more, but I think it's total over kill to stop all vitamins. I left messages for the nurse at the PS office 3x with no return call. Can you believe that it's less than two weeks away!! It's starting to sink in now and feel more real. I'm not as freaked out as I was. I'm just hoping for a good outcome. I'm not as worried about the TT/BL but that BA..oh my. It seems like everybody asks for a full C and comes out DD. I'm sure I don't want that!

No Wanda, this doesn't sound right to me either. I know a girl who had a BL and her PS insisted on mega doses of vitamin C to help reduce bruising. I have never heard of stopping all vitamins. Are you sure they weren't refering to just herbal supplements? Big difference. I wouldn't stop bugging them till you get a straight answer. I thought you were set against the BA? I am sure it will be fine if that is what you decided on. Just reiterate to the PS that you are not Pamela Anderson nor do ever intend to look like her. I am sure he will get the picture. C means C darn it! I am excited for you! Valorie

No, I'm sure that she said NO vitamins or herbal supplements. I believe they were just lazy about reviewing what people actually take. It's easier just to tell people not to take any. It was the OR tech who was going over my instructions with me. The nurse overheard her tell me not to take protein shakes and she corrected her about that. I was set against getting the BA. My PCP and Britt both suggested it to get the correct shape. So I went all the way back to Orlando to ask the PS about it. He really didn't try to sell me on it but he did say that it could help with better long term results. I told him I wanted to stay basically the same size that I am now. We settled on 350 cc. It's funny 350cc on some people are small. One person I talked to had that size and ended up with DD. My friend got 600cc and ended up DD. I guess you never can tell until it's too late. It all depends on how much actual breast tissue is there. Right now, I'd say I'm mostly skin with little breast tissue, but who knows.

I have heard of stopping vitamins before and after surgery, but I don't know about for WLS people... That does not make sense to me... I would be even more persistent and get a hold of someone there to confirm it... I am sure you will be more than happy with your BA.... I can't wait to have mine done, but it will probably be like 3 - 5 years before I can go under the knife due to finances... We HAVE to clear up some debt before we make more.... Keep us posted on the vitamin thing.. that is a good fact to know.... Shawn M.

The nurse tried to return my call this morning, but I was in a meeting. She was in surgery for the rest of the day. I'm in Tampa for a seminar all day tomorrow. At thiis rate it will be my surgery day before I get an answer. I'm still taking the vtamins. I guess I can be called a non-compliant patient! Now about that debt, check out DaveRamsey.com. I love that guy! I listen to him on XM almost every day. They hold Financial Peace University at churches throughout the country. It's a good common sense program.

do speak to your bariatric surgeon or nutritionist about the PS recommending you stop all vitamins for 2 weeks and confirm its validity. anytime there is a concern, even which to take motrin, advil, etc for a headache, i give my doc office a call and confirm if what is ok or not. i do that all the time and i expect them to be there for me with any concerns or questions regarding my health and postop regimes.

Hi Pretty Dove. At this rate the two weeks is a mute point. Surgery is only ten days away! I still haven't reached the nurse at the PS office to confirm. I'm still taking my vitamins (minus the Omega 3). I think that they tell people to not take anything as a safegaurd so that they don't take vitamins that affect blood clotting like Vitamin E or fish oil. I really don't think that my other vitamins are a problem. I will comprimise and stop taking the vitamins 7 days prior to the surgery. You're right, I should depend on the bariatric surgeon more often. I never call them with questions, but after all--they are the experts!