Vitamin Deficiencies

Hi Everyone,

My surgery is scheduled for Tuesday 2/24.  As is gets closer a git a little more excited and a little more nervous as well.  Lately I have been a littled worried about possible vitamin deficiencies.  I already have my bariatric chewable vitamins and plan to take them religiously.  I have always taken vitamins several times a day so this won't be much of a change for me.

I was wondering what steps people take to try to minimize any problems with vitamin malabsoption.  Also, does the periodic bloodwork we will have to do include tests for these vitamins?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Yes, you will have to have a full blood work-up every 3 months for at least the first year for Barix - not sure what they require after that. Until you're back on solid foods and getting all your proteins in you may be a little vitamin deficient, but once you start reaching your protein goals and are taking your vitamins that Barix requires you should be fine. Some people do need B-12 shots - I am a fortunate one who does not.

Follow doctor's orders and you're going to be just fine!! Congratulations - your big day is almost here!

Kathy

I agree with what Kathy said, and I just wanted to say also that I can tell you first-hand that Dr. P is very conscientious about following up with vitamin deficiencies, so as long as you get your scheduled bloodwork done, you should be just fine.  My three-month bloodwork showed Vitamin D and Vitamin B-12 deficiencies, and they've been easy enough to correct.  

Best wishes for your surgery!

Thanks for the reassurance.  I kind of thought that was the case, but it is nice to hear from other patients of Doctor Pupkova. 

People have been making a point of telling me all the horror stories they know about other people who have had Gastric Bypass and all the complications they have had.  I have been combatting these with all of the facts I know from the research I have done, but then I always have this little niggle of worry about all of them. 

I wish people would just keep their mouth's shut some times and just be supportive!

Thanks for all your support (the right kind of support)

I understand, believe me!  I am one week away from my six-month surgiversary, and as I was driving to work this morning I was thinking about how I was feeling exactly six months ago right now, when I had one wee****il surgery.  I was distracted with worry that I remember feeling like I was working with half a brain (if that!) the whole week before surgery and all I wanted to do was drive over to Langhorne, hope on that operating table and be done with it.  I heard so many horror stories from supposedly well-meaning people (and also some who I'm sure were anything but well-meaning!).  I really don't know why people feel moved to say things like "Oh I know someone who had that done and she gained the weight back / has everything in the world wrong with her / blah blah, etc" but I know that I found it so hurtful and discouraging.  My sister told me recently that people ask her all the time how I'm doing and expect to hear about complications, etc and instead she tells them "Well, other than the fact that she's lost a ton of weight, you'd never even know she had surgery!"  I consider that a big "IN YOUR FACE!" to the nay-sayers!  

I know this final week before surgery can be tough, so keep coming back to the boards for support.  Also, the post-op support meeting is tonight at Barix, and lots of us will be there!

I am definitely at the point where I would LOVE to just hop up on the table.  I can't wait to start with the rest of my life. 

I can't make tonight's post-op meeting but I am definitely planning on going to March's meeting (as long as I feel up to it). 

Thanks for your support (and commiseration about people prior to surgery).

It helps a lot.

As has been said, Dr. P is wonderful about informing you of anything out of the ordinary with your bloodwork.  She is just generally wonderful!

I think so long as you adhere to the schedule of taking your vitamins you should be fine, it's just about not taking any vitamins with iron (or iron supplements if you have a need to take one) within 4 hours of taking calcium supplements.  After the first year, I was told that I only needed to have bloodwork done yearly with regard to my vitamin levels, but that may be because mine were stable and I also don't have menstrual periods anymore, so not drained in that way.

Sounds like you are doing the legwork for a successful life journey.

Good luck as you join us on the road to WLS successing.

Laureen