paying for bariatric protein shakes and vitamins

I know this is probably a frequent question, but I am wondering if there are any suggestions regarding ways to cut costs for bariatric protein shakes and vitamins.

I'm a grad student right now, so instead of having money I OWE money, big time.  I can only work a few hours a week because of my classes and internship, and the only way I get groceries now is because I receive Food Stamps. The only reason I'm able to get the surgery is because I have a Medicaid managed care HMO, so there is no costs for me, and with all my co-morbidities it's more costly to "leave me fat" than to help me lose weight! However, Food Stamps won't cover bariatric protein shakes, even though they are the major "meal" after surgery and a primary source of nourishment.  Furthermore, Medicaid won't cover such products either.  

The only thing I have found thus far that might help is if I can get a prescription for Fleming Pharmaceutical's "ProBarimin QT" and maybe Medicaid would pay for it because it's medically necessary.  I know it's not the greatest bariatric vitamin and I'd have to take 2x the recommended dose but I don't see how I could afford any of the other bariatric vitamins!  

I did hear from somewhere that Bariatric Advantage has a program to help people get their vitamins - apparently your surgeon fills out a form for them.  Has anyone heard anything about this?

Does anybody know of anything else that might help cut costs or help pay for bariatric shakes and vitamins?

"Bariatric" vitamins really aren't that special. They're a scam, in all honesty. There are plenty of lower cost vitamins that work just as well, you just have to take more of them. I used Albertson's store brand for a few months right after my surgery and had perfect labs, and I'm currently using Walmart ones are $4/bottle.

If you buy the mature women's vitamins, they actually contain more of the ingredients which happen to be the ones that are less well absorbed by bariatric patients like vitamin D and calcium. Then you could get a sublingual liquid B vitamin and check your labs from there. Chances are, they'll be perfectly fine. Many of those bariatric vitamin companies are playing off the fear that something terrible will happen if you don't buy their vitamins. You're perfectly safe though if you check your labs often and know the symptoms of different kinds of vitamin deficiencies.

For protein supplements - you really only need them early on. You could go old fashioned and use egg protein. It actually has a better amino acid profile than the whey everyone recommends, it is just slow to digest. That makes it less useful for bodybuilders, who need that protein immediately after a workout to build muscle. Just buy the eggbeaters type of egg that is pasteurized (so it's is safe to use raw) and use it raw to make different types of shakes. You'd have to flavor it by using a small amount of fruit or Crystal Light. Or you could go all Rocky on everyone :)

Another option could be something like Slim Fast high protein. It's a little expensive and it's a *little* high in sugar, so you could dump. It's perfect if you don't though, and I'm pretty sure you can get them on food stamps. If you went with the eggbeaters, you'd have to have about 1 cup of eggbeaters to match one regular protein shake, so it would still be expensive but probably much cheaper than the Slim Fast option.

hi i go to walmart i buy muscle milk its great in vitiamins i eat alot og beans and tuna egss u can get those things with food stamps

 My doctor told me that I should be taking Flintstones chewable vitamins and as for protein shakes, it doesn't really matter the brand as long as its high protein, low cal, low carb.