where vitamins get absorbed

poet_kelly
on 5/6/12 1:52 pm - OH
Just wanted to post this link, for those that haven't seen it before.  It's a diagram of where different vitamins and minerals get absorbed.  Notice that most get absorbed in the small intestine, not in the pouch.  pamtremble.blogspot.com/2008/05/where-are-nutrients-absorbed .html

And it shows the part that is usually bypassed in RNY folks, although some of us have more bypassed than others.  But you can see why we have to take extra vitamins.  For instance, there are three places where vitamin D gets absorbed, but the typical RNY patients has had two of those places bypassed.  So now we only have one place to absorb it.  So it makes sense we would need to take a lot more than a "normal" person.

View more of my photos at ObesityHelp.com          Kelly

Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR.  If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor.  Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me.  If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her.    Check out my blog.

 

THE_life10
on 5/6/12 3:36 pm
RNY on 03/26/12
This is very informative..especially for someone like me..1 month post op and scared to drink while trying to swallow the horrible pills i take because i'm afraid of it washing out of my pouch (since that's where i thought they were absorbed) lol



Height: 5'9 Hw: 285 Sw: 272  Cw: 167 Surg. goal: 165

1m: -20 2m: :-18 3m:-10

4m:-12 5m:8 6m:-4 7m:-3 8m-10:-28

    

poet_kelly
on 5/6/12 3:44 pm - OH
I think many people think we absorb stuff in our stomachs (or pouches, I guess, for us RNY folks).  Go ahead and wash them out of your pouch.  The sooner they get into your small intestine, the faster they can get absorbed!

One way to look at it (and yes, this is oversimplified, but it's basically true) is that the stomach gets food ready to get absorbed, the small intestine absorbs the nutrients, then the large intestine absorbs the water, and what's left comes out the other end.  We chew stuff up in our mouths, of course, but the stomach helps break it down further so it's easy to absorb the vitamins and minerals and everything once it gets to the small intestine.

View more of my photos at ObesityHelp.com          Kelly

Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR.  If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor.  Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me.  If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her.    Check out my blog.

 

longhornrose
on 5/6/12 3:53 pm - South Texas
RNY on 09/13/12
Thanks for sharing this, Kelly.  It's really good information, and I like the fact there's a diagram, as I'm more of a visual learner, and can absorb (no pun intended) more information if I have a picture to look at.  I know, I know, a little simple-minded here, LOL!  I just learn better this way.

Beth

Consult WT: 312   SW274   CW: 244

   

    

    
prazhym
on 5/6/12 10:35 pm
I will admit I am a dummy when it comes to vitamins and such.  Trying to learn but my
memory only goes so far. 

I was told my the weight management clinic where I started out to take fish oil pills
and I have been doing that, but I don't see that on the diagram.  So can I quit
taking the nasty things. 

I freeze them so I don't have to taste them and they don't come back up anymore
but I would just as soon not spend the $ on them if I don't have to.
thanks
ann/prazhym
    
poet_kelly
on 5/7/12 1:50 am - OH
The fact that they aren't on the diagram doesn't mean you should quit taking them.  But sure, you can quit taking them if you want.  You are an adult and you get to make your own choices.  Why does your clinic recommend them?  Do you disagree with the benefits they say you will get from the fish oil, or do you not mind missing out on those benefits?

View more of my photos at ObesityHelp.com          Kelly

Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR.  If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor.  Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me.  If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her.    Check out my blog.

 

lanagirl
on 5/7/12 2:57 am

It is curious to me that Potassium is listed way down and I'm sure I still have that part of my intestines, so why do I have low potassium? Interesting.

     
          
poet_kelly
on 5/7/12 2:59 am - OH
It may partly have to do with the foods you eat.  Also, even people that haven't had RNY sometimes absorb certain vitamins poorly for whatever reason.

I don't know a lot about potassium, but I do know that the bypassed part of the small intestine is not the only reason we don't absorb some vitamins and minerals well.  Some vitamins and minerals require a lot of stomach acid to break them down so they can be absorbed, for instance.  That's why we need calcium citrate, not carbonate.  But after RNY we don't have as much stomach acid anymore so that's why we don't absorb the carbonate well.  Perhaps potassium is similar, but I don't know that for sure.  It's just a guess.

View more of my photos at ObesityHelp.com          Kelly

Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR.  If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor.  Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me.  If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her.    Check out my blog.

 

lanagirl
on 5/7/12 3:44 am
Hmm. Interesting. My doc's including my surgeon and PCP can't figure out why it keeps happening but my potassium always dips after exercise, and especially anything that has my head go down and up alot. That image just made me laugh! But I mean like yoga or anything that has me get up and down off the floor. It just tanks 30 mins later so now I drink prescription potassium everytime I exercise, but I would like to solve the problem and stop drinking this because it can cause ulcers. It's very harsh on the pouch.
     
          
poet_kelly
on 5/7/12 5:23 am - OH
Do potassium pills have the same effect on the pouch or would they be a better option than the liquid?

View more of my photos at ObesityHelp.com          Kelly

Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR.  If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor.  Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me.  If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her.    Check out my blog.

 

Most Active
Recent Topics
×