Clueless here on the losers bench!

Ok, so I'm here.... now what.... I drink all day, and don't eat, just like a "good little patient" (per my doc's instructions).... but it drives me nuts, this gurgling sound coming from me like I'm starving hungry (and I'm not)... I wonder why I'm sooo tired of drinking but always so thirsty, my throat is sore still from the ET tube, and I have uncontrollable diarrhea. Despite all that, I have energy to do all the things I'm not supposed to yet... told not to walk too much, small amounts like maybe a block.... and dangit I'm off in the malls walking half the mall for my vitamins. BY THE WAY - GNC carries the Tropical Oasis liquid calcium.... it's like $35 for a huge bottle. And I got some kind of strawberry flavored womans vitamin drink mix (has calcium citrate in it already). Not sure I'm willing to try the 12 g of sugars per (10 fluid ounce) serving in it though... afraid of dumping. Anyone have an answer for the B complex vitamins? I was told to take b1 and b12 specifically, but can't find a liquid that has b1 in it. I found some capsules that I can open for the powder inside... but WOW that is nasty stuff. So... here I sit... "healing" and feeling like I need to get up and walk walk walk, even though I'm not yet cleared to.... and tired of feeling full after only 2 sips of water when I hafta drink 4 bottles! Ok, I guess I'm done venting.... just feels weird... I wanted to be here, but was clueless as to what it would FEEL like being here...

Welcome to HERE! You are doing great and progressing according per your doc's instructions. I'm thinking of a meet and greet next Friday night at the Denham library. How's that sounding to you -- SUPERSTAR KAT? Praying good feelings and less pounds your way. Fran

Hi Kat, I'm so glad everything went well. We've chatted before. Dr. Richardson did my surgery in December 2005. I think we had an excellent surgeon. I barely remember those first days but remember that I didn't want anything. I tried popsicles, Crystal Light -- I couldn't drink plain water because of nausea. I don't know your whole story but know you waited a long time to have this surgery because of insurance issues. I had to end up self-paying but don't regret it at all. I wish you all the best and look forward to reading about your progress on this board. Linda

Kat... ask your doc for an Rx for Nascobal. Yes, the Nasal B-12. I use it and it is by far the easiest way to get that in. As far as the B-1, I dunno. I use Bariatric Advatantage Vits and my labs have always been good (thus far). I almost always stick to Dr. Hausmann's protocol (I say almost b/c everyone has a bad day once in awhile) and I have done well. My point is that you will do well by following your Dr.'s instructions. The BA Vits are the best. They come in chewables and are specifically formulated for our absorbtion issues. They are a little pricey tho, so it's up to you on that part. Hope to meet/see you at the meeting Frances is planning for us! Good luck to you with everything! Cindee

Wal-mart carries a liqiud B complex. I've been taking it since surgery and it works great. It's made by Spring Valley it's a B-Complex sublingual liquid. It cost around four dollars and has 59 doses in it. I put one drop under my tongue every morning let it sit for a few minutes then drink it down with water. It has 1200mcg of B-12. Hope this helps. Tina

Tina, does it have any B1 in it? That's the one I've been warned is needed to prevent a severe neurological disorder not just the neuropathy from the B12 deficiency.

It does not have B1 in it but my doctor says that B12 is what you need that is what your body will not absorb anymore. And you can get the amount of B1 you need from food. Here is something I found on B1..... Vitamin B1, also known as thiamin, helps fuel your body by converting blood sugar into energy. It keeps your mucous membranes healthy and is essential for nervous system, cardiovascular and muscular function. Nutritionists categorize vitamins by the materials that a vitamin will dissolve in. There are two categories: water-soluble and fat-soluble vitamins. Water-soluble vitamins, whi*****lude the B-complex group and vitamin C, travel through the bloodstream. Whatever water-soluble vitamins are not used by the body are eliminated in urine, which means you need a continuous supply of them in your food. Vitamin B1 is a water-soluble vitamin. How Much Vitamin B1 Is Enough? Women should have 1.1 milligrams every day, and men should have 1.5 milligrams every day. Sources of Vitamin B1 The best sources of Vitamin B1 are yeasts and liver. The following foods are good sources of Vitamin B1: Pork Whole-grain cereals Rye and whole-wheat flour Wheat germ Navy beans and kidney beans I have been taken this B Complex and my labs all come back great. And believe me my doctor checks everything. It also has other stuff in it you need as well. Like Ribofavin (B-2), Niacin which is great for hair. and Vitamin B-6.

I also found this..... Vitamin B1 can be found in multivitamins (including children's chewable) So you could supplement your regular vitamins with a child's chewable but it should be in your regular vitamins already. It may not be listed as B1 it is also called Thiamin so look for that on the label as well. I personally take a chewable prenatal vitamin that has everything in it already. Your doctor could prescribe them for you. I started taking them six months before I even got pregnant. They are called nutrinate. They are the generic ones so insurance should cover them. And they don't taste that bad either. If you would like I could swing by and let you try one one day. Just let me know. Tina

Since several recent studies indicate serious risks are present, and my surgeon tells me to use B1 in a supplement, I really think I'll stick to that. Thanks for the info, but I'd be afraid to skip it knowing the serious disorder that can result from being noncompliant with my dr's instructions I'll just need to keep searching to find what I want... prenatal vitamins make me sick, I couldn't even take them while preggo.

I wasn't suggesting you skip it. The last post says it's already in vitamins and is present in the childrens chewable's as well. And I'm sure you can buy just the B-1 and take it by itself if you can't find a mixture.