Need post op nutritional help please
Hello all,
This is one of my first posts and I am not even sure if this is the right place to post this question. but i figured that there are some friendly people here who will direct me to the right place.
I have had the Lap-band procedure done about 2 years ago. July 8, 2008 to be exact. My surgery went perfectly and I went along life adjusting to my new life. Well I have lost 100 pounds, and in 2 years that is it. What I didnt know was, well since my intake is so much less now my diet actually has to change... I mean dont get me wrong i didnt sit here eating chocolate, and doughnuts all day expecting to loose weight, but I didnt know about the extra vitamins and protien I would need and all. Yes I was ignorant to that fact, but in my defense my surgeon and his staff didnt educate me, they just left me to figure everything out.
So here is where I am at, at the moment.
1. I am stalled, I have been around the same weight, and size for a year. If I get an adjustment it is to tight and I cant swallow, but I am hungry often but not really able to eat. I was told to only eat a max of 3 times a day, but if I do that I seem to get nauseous and can't eat. I found i do better if I graze all day long but doing several small snacks, and I eat so little I just consider my meals snacks also!!! lol
2. My hair is getting REALLY thin. I used to have really thick hair, now it is just blah.
3. I bruise so easily now. I mean sometimes it looks like I get beaten... not kidding about 8 months ago a guy really thought my husband wa****ting me.
I am just lost, I know I am not eating right and I am getting discouraged I am all alone in this and don't know what to do. I thought about joining weigh****chers again just so I could have some sort of guidelines to help me.... even though i probably wouldnt be able to eat all of my points.
Any help would be appreciated!!! Thank you
Denise
This is one of my first posts and I am not even sure if this is the right place to post this question. but i figured that there are some friendly people here who will direct me to the right place.
I have had the Lap-band procedure done about 2 years ago. July 8, 2008 to be exact. My surgery went perfectly and I went along life adjusting to my new life. Well I have lost 100 pounds, and in 2 years that is it. What I didnt know was, well since my intake is so much less now my diet actually has to change... I mean dont get me wrong i didnt sit here eating chocolate, and doughnuts all day expecting to loose weight, but I didnt know about the extra vitamins and protien I would need and all. Yes I was ignorant to that fact, but in my defense my surgeon and his staff didnt educate me, they just left me to figure everything out.
So here is where I am at, at the moment.
1. I am stalled, I have been around the same weight, and size for a year. If I get an adjustment it is to tight and I cant swallow, but I am hungry often but not really able to eat. I was told to only eat a max of 3 times a day, but if I do that I seem to get nauseous and can't eat. I found i do better if I graze all day long but doing several small snacks, and I eat so little I just consider my meals snacks also!!! lol
2. My hair is getting REALLY thin. I used to have really thick hair, now it is just blah.
3. I bruise so easily now. I mean sometimes it looks like I get beaten... not kidding about 8 months ago a guy really thought my husband wa****ting me.
I am just lost, I know I am not eating right and I am getting discouraged I am all alone in this and don't know what to do. I thought about joining weigh****chers again just so I could have some sort of guidelines to help me.... even though i probably wouldnt be able to eat all of my points.
Any help would be appreciated!!! Thank you
Denise
This makes me so ANGRY! Any doctor who would perform such a surgery and not offer any education should be shot! Or at least lose his license!
You need to be taking vitamins. Someone will chime in with the appropriate ones for lapbanders. You need to take biotin for your hair. You need lots of protein.
You need to have labs drawn to see where you are on iron, vitamins, etc.
I hope someone who has an example list will also post.
Good luck!
You need to be taking vitamins. Someone will chime in with the appropriate ones for lapbanders. You need to take biotin for your hair. You need lots of protein.
You need to have labs drawn to see where you are on iron, vitamins, etc.
I hope someone who has an example list will also post.
Good luck!
Lynne
Lynne hit the nail on the head.
1) AT LEAST take a multivitamin starting now.
2) go to your PCP or other provider and have labs drawn like yesterday. You're probably bottomed out on everything at this point.
3) once you have your labs, you can craft a plan with the help of your PCP to get you back to normal. You'll need the actual lab reports. Post OP folks can be in "normal" range and still be lower than they should be.
I'm hoping Dana or Liz can chime in with labs and more detailed information.
Rachel
1) AT LEAST take a multivitamin starting now.
2) go to your PCP or other provider and have labs drawn like yesterday. You're probably bottomed out on everything at this point.
3) once you have your labs, you can craft a plan with the help of your PCP to get you back to normal. You'll need the actual lab reports. Post OP folks can be in "normal" range and still be lower than they should be.
I'm hoping Dana or Liz can chime in with labs and more detailed information.
Rachel
Denise, I'm not a bander, but think some of the same rules apply - you need to track what you're eating in order to know where you're off.
My first thought is you need to get more protein on board which could be contributing to thinning hair. However, there are many things that can cause this and second the others in saying - get some labs performed asap!
While you won't have the malabsorption issues of a Bypass or DS, you can still be malnourished if not eating properly, which sounds like may be happening.
So - join a free program like Spark People or something else of choice and start logging all your food intake for a week. See where your protein, carbs, fiber, iron, etc. is falling to help determine what is going on. BTW - if you have put your body in starvation mode, you won't lose weight as it will hold onto every calorie you do give it. It's reversable, but could be contributing to the issues.
Nutrition is critical for both long term health and success. You will need to be your own advocate and start educating yourself if the doctor has not helped.
My first thought is you need to get more protein on board which could be contributing to thinning hair. However, there are many things that can cause this and second the others in saying - get some labs performed asap!
While you won't have the malabsorption issues of a Bypass or DS, you can still be malnourished if not eating properly, which sounds like may be happening.
So - join a free program like Spark People or something else of choice and start logging all your food intake for a week. See where your protein, carbs, fiber, iron, etc. is falling to help determine what is going on. BTW - if you have put your body in starvation mode, you won't lose weight as it will hold onto every calorie you do give it. It's reversable, but could be contributing to the issues.
Nutrition is critical for both long term health and success. You will need to be your own advocate and start educating yourself if the doctor has not helped.
Lisa from Texas - Go Aggies Go!!!
Before/atWLS/Current
313/290/150
Hi Denise,
I am a Obesity Help Support Group Leader here on the Texas Message Board. I did a support group not too long ago about VItamin recommendations for the different WLS. Here is what MY surgeon suggests to Gastric Band ( Lap Band ) and to the Sleeve patients.
Multi - Vitamin: Recommend any complete vitamin that provides 100% -200% daily value.
also make sure the vitamin provide at least 18 mg.iron, 400 mg Folic Acid and Selenium and zinc. ( Take with meals and avoid time released or enteric coated vitamins.
Generic based brands should be acceptable i.e. Target, Walmart
Avoid children formulas as they are incomplete for adults,
B-12: Adjustable Gastric band has not been associated with B12 deficiency, however is you desire to take additional B12, but you can take 500ug daily sublingually or as a tablet or liquid. Discuss with your Primary Care Physician or bariatric team if concerned.
B- Complex is optional. We suggest one contains 25-50 mg. dose per day if you choose to take it.
Calcium: Recommend 1500 mg. per day. We recommend Calcium Citrate with Vitamin D.and Magnesium. You will need to take 500 mg. dose throughout the day and space evenly and avoid taking within 2 hours of your multi-vitamin or Iron. This will help prevent bone loss.
Iron: Recommended for menstruating women and those at risk for anemia. Total goal for Elemental Iron: 50-100 mg.
Vitamin D: Recommended 1000-2000 UI daily
YOu will need to get 1000-2000 IU from your MVI and Calcium w/ Vit. D, No additional Vit. D will be required unless prescribed by your health care provider for a deficiency. *
HOPE THAT THIS WILL HELP YOU OUT. PLEASE GET ON THESE IMMEDIATELY !!! Vitamins are SUCH a VITAL importance to anyone who has had WLS. If I can help you further please let me know.
Hugs and blessings ~~~ Vivian
* this is a list that Dr. David D. Kim gives to his patients to follow. NOT anything directly from me.
9
I am a Obesity Help Support Group Leader here on the Texas Message Board. I did a support group not too long ago about VItamin recommendations for the different WLS. Here is what MY surgeon suggests to Gastric Band ( Lap Band ) and to the Sleeve patients.
Multi - Vitamin: Recommend any complete vitamin that provides 100% -200% daily value.
also make sure the vitamin provide at least 18 mg.iron, 400 mg Folic Acid and Selenium and zinc. ( Take with meals and avoid time released or enteric coated vitamins.
Generic based brands should be acceptable i.e. Target, Walmart
Avoid children formulas as they are incomplete for adults,
B-12: Adjustable Gastric band has not been associated with B12 deficiency, however is you desire to take additional B12, but you can take 500ug daily sublingually or as a tablet or liquid. Discuss with your Primary Care Physician or bariatric team if concerned.
B- Complex is optional. We suggest one contains 25-50 mg. dose per day if you choose to take it.
Calcium: Recommend 1500 mg. per day. We recommend Calcium Citrate with Vitamin D.and Magnesium. You will need to take 500 mg. dose throughout the day and space evenly and avoid taking within 2 hours of your multi-vitamin or Iron. This will help prevent bone loss.
Iron: Recommended for menstruating women and those at risk for anemia. Total goal for Elemental Iron: 50-100 mg.
Vitamin D: Recommended 1000-2000 UI daily
YOu will need to get 1000-2000 IU from your MVI and Calcium w/ Vit. D, No additional Vit. D will be required unless prescribed by your health care provider for a deficiency. *
HOPE THAT THIS WILL HELP YOU OUT. PLEASE GET ON THESE IMMEDIATELY !!! Vitamins are SUCH a VITAL importance to anyone who has had WLS. If I can help you further please let me know.
Hugs and blessings ~~~ Vivian
* this is a list that Dr. David D. Kim gives to his patients to follow. NOT anything directly from me.
9
GOD GRANT ME THE SERENITY TO ACCEPT THE THINGS I CAN NOT CHANGE; COURAGE TO CHANGE THE THINGS THAT I CAN; AND THE WISDOM TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE !!!! THIS IS MY DAILY PRAYER.
Vivian Prouty Obesity Help Support Group Coach "LOSE IT 4 LIFE"
Once you are able to eat more protien and get the vitamins in regularly, it will take about 3 months for you to really see any difference in your hair, so don't get discouraged. You may need to suppliment your food with protien drinks. Everyone has very different tastes in that, so what I love, you may hate. But I really like Syntrax Nectar brand whey protien powder. It isn't as thick as alot of them, and it mixes pretty well. I also like the Oh Yeah wafer protien bars because they are very light and don't sit very heavy like some others. Those would probably be band friendly.
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