This and That

OK, So I have been reading this and that about vitamins, the RNY procedure etc.  I just received my approval from the insurance company yesterday and will call Dr. Gens office tomorrow.  I will ask him these questions as well but I just wanted to get a patients answer first.

What should I have for supplements post op.  I read one blog where a guy took a laxative a few days before surgery.  Is that necessary?  Another took a calcium supplement on top of his daily multi vitamin.  Also, another was talking about B-12.  So, what the hell should I buy for supplements to have ready.  I will meet with Jackie on Tuesday but I want answers damn it!  LOL

Let me know.

Denny Wood


PS.  Is it true that 50% of by-pass patients have their gall bladder removed?  Why?  How many of you had yours removed.  I like my gall bladder, it is special to me.  Can I keep it?

Hi Denny,

I think every surgeon is different, but I'll tell you what my surgeon told me I need to do.  First off, I didn't take laxatives prior to surgery.  After surgery, this is what I take/took:  Pepcid (to prevent ulcers) twice a day 25mg (I think) and only for the first 2 months, Ursodiol (to prevent gallstones) twice a day and for the first 6 months only after surgery (this is a prescription RX), B-12 sublingually (under the tongue) 1000mcg twice a week (I do Mon. & Fri.), Chewable multi-vitamin 2 per day (1 in morning, 1 at night), Iron 55mg once a day, Calcium citrate (not carbonate) 1600mg (I take 4 pills throughout the day.)  Just be sure that you take your Calcium separate from other meds because it may affect the absorbsion of other meds.  So, I set my oven timer for 2 hours and take 1 every 2 hours after my morning meds.

I'm not sure about the statistic on gall bladder removal.  I still have mine.  Funny, but I had a dream last night that I had it removed.  It looked like a large ear...??  And the person said it looked bad.  Thank God it was just a dream! 

So, take good notes when you see your surgeon or nurse.  Mine gave me a big packet of vitamins that I will need to take.  I look at it occassionally to make sure I'm still doing everything right.

Good Luck!  Lisa

Hey Denny:

This is what I take and meets with Jacquie's approval.  Might be different for a man, though.  This is per day.  If I take two of something, it's morning and evening.

2 Centrum Chewable Multi Vitamins

2 Spring Valley Chewable Calcium with Vitamin D

1 Sub-lingual B12

When I engage in strenuous exercise, I take a potassium and a magnesium pill at night.  Otherwise, I get leg cramps.

As far as bowel prep, Dr. Paciulli didn't require one, but I did it on my own anyway.  I used a bottle of magnesium citrate the morning of the day before my surgery. 

I can't give you any info on gall bladder.  I had mine out 12 years before my RNY.  But, if it starts bothering you, you'll be happy to get rid of it, trust me! 

Wow you guys!!!  That is a lot of pills!!!

Denny

Yeah, but you have to remember that we don't absorb everything we take in.  Nobody is 100% sure how much we absorb of our nutrients, so that's why you double your intake on vitamins and stuff.  Makes sense when you think about it that way.  And the ones I take aren't really "pills".  For example, the calcium chews taste like tootsie rolls, and they're sugar free.  So, it's not that bad.  I use them kind of like a mini-dessert. 

In my mind, having to take a lot of supplements is a small price to pay for what I've gotten.

Yes, that's exactly what I thought too, but you get use to it and get into a routine so it's not "that" bad.  You don't want your nut. or surgeon yelling at you after your labs come back with deficiencies. 

Lisa

Good luck with your appointment.  You will have to guide me as I approach that time

Karen

Geez, I thought I was the only one who worried about that!  Although, I don't think either of them would yell at me, it was something that crossed my mind.  But, my labs all came back great at the one year mark, so I guess I'm doing it right!

Hi Denny,

I had my surgery done on 12/19 by Dr. Looser, the only vitamins I take are two multivitamins (chewable) a day, two viactiv with calcium per day, and one solutab prevacid(for ulcer prevention).  I don't have a gallbladder, it was removed years ago.  But that's what I take.
Good luck 
Jen