How is Dr. Paul Macik

Sunshine I attended 5 seminars and had consults w/ 4 surgeons before choosing Dr. Houston.   Why don't you meet with both of them and even a few more if you can.   You learn something new from each surgeon. They all have their own perspective on things.

This is one of the most important decisions in your life and you need to be well informed, and well educatedabout all the surgeons available to you and all the surgical options, and you need to be 100% sure you're making the right choices.

You know LaShelle, I really considered the DS, but the vitamin and Supplements where too much.  However to respond to your email, I went to Dr. Dennis Smith seminar.  I heard you can't get no better than him when it comes to surgery. I meet with him on Friday, because I never met him before.  Just out of curiousity how many vitamins you take per day, and how do you feel each day?  Do you have alot of energy?

Thanks!

I take:
2 centrum multi vitamins
1 vit A
1 vit D
1 vit E
1 vit K
(the ADEK comes in a pill where you can take just 1 per day, but I prefer to take them seperate, so I can customize the dosages for my lab needs)

3 calcium citrate citrical over the counter (you can do 2 of the big ones, but I choose to do 4 of the small ones., since they are easier to swallow.)

b-12 nasal spray 1x a week



I take all my vitamins in 2 doses am and pm because the calcium does not get absorbed with the iron in the multi vitamin. The # of pills are similar to a rny regime, but I order higher doses from vitalady, so I get higher doses of the things I need in the same amount of pills.

If I did the ADEK combo vitamin and the big Citricals instead of petites, that would only be 5 pills a day. I am not sure how many pills a rny'er takes, maybe someone else can share their regime. I imagine they have to be taking around the same amount of pills though.

I feel great. I am full of energy. I am happy and I am healthy the 1st time in my adult life!  My labs are better than they were pre-op. My vit D has been low for years as well as the iron and zinc and they are all NORMAL now!!!


If you are not wanting to take vitamins, you should not be considering any malabsorbtive surgery. so, DS or rny would not be good options for you.  Even banders and sleeve patients should be supplementing because your tummy will be smaller and you will not be able to get all the nutrition you need fom food.  These people on her bragging about only having to take a flintstones are not good people to be getting vitamin advice from.

If you are not ready to commit to taking vitamins, doing the protein shakes, exercising, attending support groups, following up with your surgeon. DO NOT HAVE WLS!    This does take some work no matter which wls you have.  I would be doing you a disservice to tell you otherwise.

We have an OH member sitting in a wheelchair in Albany wearing a diaper because she didn't take her vitamins. This is serious business!

Perhaps I did not express my concern for vitamins correctly because I take Iron and Vitamin C every day, and Vitamin D in the evening.  You take it your vitamin twice a day, but I read people taking 40 vitamins a day, over 100,000 iu per pill.  Its just so unbelieveable.  I'm going to a testimony support group meeting THursday, and I have a office visit with Dr. Dennis Smith Friday.  Hopefully I come to some type of resolution.  THis research is exhausting.  And I read how unfortunate the lady in Albany is, that is extremely scary. 

 

I know several local DS'ers and none of us are taking 40 vitamins a day!!!


You almost made me spit out my coffee, that was so funny!!!!     Another DS myth...

I guess you heard we have to wear diapers too because we can't control our bowels??? Do you really think if DS were so horrible people would be fighting so hard to get it and giving up their life's savings for it?

I LOVE My DS!
I DON'T HAVE TO TAKE A TON OF VITAMINS omg 40 a day, still laughing!
MY LABS ARE EXCELLENT
I DON'T HAVE EXCESSIVE GAS. I DIDN'T POOT AT ALL YESTERDAY COME TO THINK OF IT.
I DON'T HAVE UNCONTROLLED BOWEL MOVEMENTS
I POOP 1X PER DAY BEFORE I GO TO WORK
I DON'T DUMP
I ENJOY SUGAR AND CARBS IN MODERATION - well more than in moderation some days...
I EAT NORMAL SIZED MEALS
I AM STILL LOSING  A FEW POUNDS EACH WEEK AND I EAT LIKE A HORSE!
I HAVE PLENTY OF ENERGY AND STAMINA
I HAVE GOOD MUSCLE TONE AND MINIMAL LOOSE SKIN
I HAVE NORMAL MENSTRAL CYCLES 1X PER MONTH 5 DAYS
I DON'T FEEL LIKE AN ODDBALL WHEN I EAT OUT WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS BECAUSE I
      CAN EAT WHAT THEY EAT IN NORMAL AMOUNTS.
DID I MENTION I LOVE My DS???
I AM CONFIDENT I WILL GET TO MY GOAL WEIGHT AND I WILL NOT GIAN IT BACK. 
I CAN TAKE NSAIDS AND ANY MEDS I NEED IF I AM SICK.
I DON'T HAVE A BLIND STOMACH HANGING OUT IN MY BODY.

OTHER WLS ARE A TOOL TO RETRAIN YOUR WAY OF EATING. YOU HAVE TO DO SOME OF THE WORK TO MAKE IT EFECTIVE. OVER TIME TOUR TOOL WILL STRETCH AND YOU WILL BE MORE ACCOUNTABLE FOR STICKING TO YOUR PLAN TO KEEP OFF THE WEIGHT.

DS IS A WEAPON. DS WILL NEVER STOP WORKING! DS DOES MOST OF THE WORK FOR YOU,  AND YOU SIT BACK AND ENJOY THE RESULTS.

I suggest you hang out with some real life DS'ers and real life rny'ers. Over a meal preferably. And, do it often.    Are you involved in any support goups or social networking groups with real wls patients offline?  Please come to the meet n gret Ahari is planning and to the meet n greet next month Stacy is planning.  Meet as many wls patients as you possibly can... TRY TO TALK WITH PEOPLE SEVERAL YEARS OUT FROM WLS TO SEE HOW THEY HAVE MAINTAINED THEIR LOSS.  Take notes of their failures and try not to make the same mistakes.   You CAN be successful long term with RNY, plenty have done it.  If 30% of people fail with RNY, that meens 70% succeed.  Be one of the 70! Be honest with yourself  and if you can stick to the plan, go for it.
 

If you are apprehensive about tthe DS and feel 100% comfortable with the RNY, get the RNY. You need to be happy about your surgery and confident it will work for you. If you go into it with doubts, you are sure to fail.
 
You have to carry around your altered tummy for the next 50-60 years, so don't let anybody else make the choice for you.

I've been going to him since February and ironically, this afternoon will be my 3rd visit. I am very impressed with him as a Doctor and his results are awesome.