Sleeve stretching and vitamin ****tails

Some surgeons don't even use an actual bougie. They just eyeball it.

Vitamins: daily 1 prenatal multi (just for extra iron), 250 B12, 1500mg calcium citrate & 3000 IU vit D3, spread out in 3 dozes during the day for proper absorbtion.  This is what my center recommends. Don't take Calcium with anything else cause there is absorbtion interference.

On the stomach, it's not really about stretching - it's more about tolerance and jamming more down your throat more frequently than 3 times plus 2 snacks per day. It is all about control after 1-2 years out.

Thank ya ma'am! 

When I think of the future it scares me. Trying to do the head work so solidly I won't turn back to the behavior that made me sick. * crossing my fingers *

HEre's a link to the most recent ASMBS guidelines - http://asmbs.org/resources/clinical-practice-guidelines-for- the-perioperative-nutritional-metabolic-and-nonsurgical-supp ort-of-the-bariatric-surgery-patient

As for my own vitamins, I use patches for multivitamin, calcium, and iron.  I supplement with a calcium citrate blend (500mg), vitamin D (2000 IU), and iron (60mg), and B-12 spray.  My regimen is a combination of the ASMBS guidelines, my own needs as evidenced by lab results, and research via PubMed.  

For stretching, I don't know... I know that a lot of people who complain about stretching seem to be eating mostly slider foods and not dense proteins.  It's not something that I feel is relevant to me.  I'm almost 3 years post-op and my restriction is still fantastic.  I don't feel that my stomach has "stretched" since finishing the healing process post-op.  

Bless you Gwen! Excellent link and thanks for the vitamin info! I'm amassing binders and binders of info (lol) thanks to this good group. It feels like a light at the end of a tunnel.

Hey Lisa!  To go with the information I sent you from my program, here are the vitamins/supplements I take:

ProCare Health Bariatric Capsules - Once Daily (all the vitamins required for a day)
https://www.amazon.com/Bariatric-Advantage-Calcium-Citrate-C aramel/dp/B00BWB3J2W/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1484576485& sr=8-1&keywords=bariatric+advantage+calcium+citrate 

3 x daily:  500mg Calcium Citrate with 500 UI Vitamin D3 (I use Bariatric Advantage Sugar Free Calcium Citrate Chewy Bites...yummy)
https://www.amazon.com/Bariatric-Advantage-Calcium-Citrate-C aramel/dp/B00BWB3J2W/ref=sr_1_1_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1484576485& sr=8-1&keywords=bariatric+advantage+calcium+citrate 

Prilosec OTC - once daily for first 6 months to reduce stomach acid

And that's it!  The vitamin and Prilosec once a day in the morning, and the yummy calcium chews 3x a day!

Hope this helps!

Thank you Cathy it does! You're an !

Stretching is sketchy and definitely nothing you have to worry about now.  As a matter of fact, you are still swollen from the surgery, that's why you should really only be taking in liquid, it gives the tummy time to heal, and keeps little chunks from getting caught in the suture line (little seeds, like on strawberrys, raspberries, poppyseeds) and causing problems.

After our surgeries, my mother and I used aloe vera, which is very healing.  But we are back to nature hill people and believe in a lot of the old natural healing methods.  We healed very well. 

Vites:  i take Calcium Citrate (more bio available than carbonate), vit D3 10K iu (helps with depression too), B Complex, Flaxseed Oil (or fish oil, which also helps with depression and cholesterol), Magnesium (helps calcium absorption, helps you poo, and taken at night will help with sleep), iron (not at same time as calcium, but is complimentary), Biotin (I take it for hair, but others would say nay, the jury is out).  After surgery I also took zinc and selenium for hair.

You're right, one step at a time. You wouldn't happen to be an herbalist would you? It's very popular where I come from. 

Magnesium I took for a long while before the surgery. Haven't re-started it yet but likely will. I have Biotin sitting here on my desk recommended by a vlogger. Hair Anew Plus? Not sure when to start that but will ask my nutritionist later this week. Can't hurt, right?

Not an herbalist, no.  But my mum did things most natural while I was growing up.  The hair anew shouldn't be an issue (what's in it?), neither would the biotin or magnesium.