Two Questions for today.

Question#1-About how much a month on average do you spend on vitamins,protien powders and all the stuff like that ,that you need to have everyday? Question#2-For Dr. Hornbostel's paitients-What pre-op tests does he have you take? And does he have you go on liquid diet before surgery? Thanks, Tammy

Tammy, Now remember that I am about six months out so I mostly eat regular food but I think I probably spend about $20 for Citracal chews, $25 for NewWhey protein bullets, $20 for protein bars and $15 for vitamins.  I get vitamins, except Citracal, at WalMart or Sams Club and don't take too much exotic stuff.  I just take Sam's Prenatal vitamins for the general vitamin and their B-Complex too.  I take a B12 sublingual (under the tongue) and have just added Biotin for new hair growth.  I got that at Walgreens because I was there.  I find that I still buy too much grocery stuff for myself - it looks good so I get it and then never get it eaten.  I try to buy stuff that freezes or is canned.  I was really concerned about the expense before I had surgery but it hasn't been all that bad because I have completely cut out snacks and sweets.  Helps alot because in general they are expensive.   Hugs and love, Lana

Dear Tammy, I cant answer Dr. H's pre-op testing-but as far as vitamins and protein powder etc-I buy my protein by the 5# tub-for under $30 and it lasts me a couple of months-then I purchase pre-natal vitamins, biotin, B1, B12 sublingual and Calcuim Citrate-and I buy everything at Wal Mart-and then Prilosec-I buy everything in generic, except the Prilosec. I spend about $20-$25 per month and only because the Prilosec is expensive. Not everyone has to take that though.  The prenatal, Biotin and B's last quite a long time actually-and so the only thing I really spend PER month-is maybe $4-5 on one thing or another I run out of-like this month it was the B1-last month I bought prenatal....and so on-its just the Prilosec/Pepcid that gets a little costly-but Lana is right-its really no change in what I used to buy-its just that NOW its healthy vitamins and such, instead of soda and snacks. Plus our food bill has gone down due to my not eating nearly like I used to.....I did read somewhere that Dr. H now requires the liquid diet beforehand too-but I dont think its as long as my surgeon required it-which was 2 weeks-but not sure...sorry I couldnt help you out there.  Hope this helps somewhat.  Janet

Hi Janet, I have a question , the pre-natal vitamin you take is it chewable or do you swallow it?

I am currently taking Optisource baractric surgery vitamins but I'm to the point that it about makes me sick to chew them up. Plus they cost $25.00 a bottle which is a one month supply. Also how much Biotin do you take a day?

Is the Calium Citrate a generic?  I take Caltrate 600+D chewable. Thanks

Dear Brenda, I know, I hate chewing anything anymore too!!  Okay-here is what my NUT and I talked about and what she recommended since I told her that I would rather not have to pay for the bariatric vitamins each month-instead, this is my regimen (or the other option they gave to us) I take the pre-natal vitamin called one source-purchased at Wal Mart-there are 120 coated caplets per bottle-they are very thin-and I just snap it in half...I have no problems swallowing them and havent ever. I have been taking them for 3 months or so. They are less than $5 a bottle and last 4 months! Just make sure whatever brand you buy has AT LEAST 18g of iron-this specific brand has 28g-so its good. (I take one every morning) I take 1 biotin every morning-its 1000 m c g, purchased at Wal mart-brand is spring valley-comes 150 to a bottle-its less than $5 also I take B1 every morning as well-same brand-same store-LOL

I also do the B12 sublingual 3x per week-same brand/store. Then the calcuim-I have a WHOLE bottle of the chewables-and I just couldnt chew them anymore-they would make me vomit before I could even swallow them-so I know what you mean-I was going to just lump it until I was done with the bottle-but Mel gave me her Citracal w/Vitamin D-and I take 3-4 per day-at least 2 hours after the prenatal, so the iron and calcuim dont cross each other off. It says petite on the bottle-but there is nothing petite about them-even when they are cut in half-they are wide and stick a lot-I cut them in 1/4s now! The chewable calcuim citrate I have is from a fancy place-cost way too much-but tastes like chalk or barium-they are so gross!! I would say in total-I spend less than $5 per month-I never run out of any one thing at the same time-LOL-which is really nice on the pocketbook-I buy my protein about every 2 1/2-3 mos-and its under $30 at Food 4 Less....My girlfriend sent me a packet of the bariatric chewables as a gift after surgery-and to be honest-I didnt care for ANY of them she sent-but did them for a month because it was a gift-and thats why I knew I didnt like them and would rather just do whatever else I had to-I just make my protein shake every morning and line the pills up and take them with the shake, except, of course the calcium citrate-I do 2 every 2 hrs afterwards and one before bed. Thats it.  I hope that helps-IF you have any other questions, let me know....I know its cheaper and if you can handle swallowing pills-none are bad but the calcuim and I cut it with an exact-o knife....Have a good day, Brenda...and oh, because I have you here-Thanks for posting the inspirations for the day-I LOVE reading them and hope you continue that.  All my love and prayers, Janet

I just had surgery with Dr. H May 10th, he does the basic test and a scope, and yes he does have you do the 2 week liquid diet. Take care and good luck

I agree with the others. I do not see an increase in my monthly spending. Actually I see a drastic decrease. It's just my husband and I at home, our monthly grocery bill has been cut in half. That tells ya how much junk we used to buy. I had such a bad habit of going through drive thrus to get my sodas and other fattening foods, I did not realize how much I was spending. You may not have this problem, but it is a costly one.
My vitamins are as follows.
Multivitamins about $5 every other month.
Calcium citrate is $12 month
B12 injections I give myself are $1 month.
I am a nurse at st Johns so I do get a discount on my stuff except for calcium citrate.
I hope all this helps, Tara.