Good Morning. Peeling the onion

The care and feeding of your WLS involves so much more than the outward appearance of getting thin. That's what we all celebrate and share with each other through pictures because we can, it's easy to see and it's fun, but there is so much more as you peel back the layers and start to really look at the lifestyle changes required.

Vitamins, for example. They don't teach nutritional sustainment and good health through OTC vitamins in medical school, maybe some in dietitian school but I'm not sure how much applies to WLS patients. Some of our surgeons and dietitians have learned a little about this over time, just like we have...we need to be learning from each other and adding to the store of knowledge not relying on theories from the old stomach stapling days or ignoring the fact that we need vitamins more than ever, now that we've had our digestive systems altered.

One of the hazards of under supplementing is vitamin and mineral deficiencies, which can lead to bone and teeth issues (osteoporosis), anemia, neurological damage, osteomalacia/rickets, beriberi and there are likely more. Learn to read your own labs and track your trends, and if your surgeon won't order the long list, find a doctor who will. Not testing your vitamin levels is ignorant and dangerous, especially for a WLS patient. Don't let your health care providers lull you into believing if it's not tested it's not a problem. Many of them want to wait until you show signs of deficiency before they will order tests...think about the wisdom of this, but it was the way many were trained to treat patients and the insurance companies love this method, BTW. The bottom line is learn about the potential nutritional pitfalls of your surgery type and take charge of your nutritional health by learning about vitamins, how to read your labs, what the optimal levels you want to achieve actually are. Try to find health care providers that are willing to work with you and will learn what works for you and what doesn't from your labs. We are on the cutting edge of understanding nutritional requirements after WLS, you won't find this stuff in a textbook. 

Who wants to peel the onion some more?  Protein vice carbs...what reactive hypoglycemia is and how to treat it...why your WLS will work for you because it works against your eating demons the best...

--gina

Some Links:
http://www.gblcreations.com/Resources/Gina/VitaladysPre-op_i deas_11-2009.doc   
http://www.gblcreations.com/Resources/Gina/VitaLadysLabsandT argets_11-2009.doc
http://www.gblcreations.com/Resources/Gina/ProgramPRNY2-2010 .pdf
http://www.gblcreations.com/Resources/Gina/ProgramDRNY_ERNY_ BPDDS3-2010.pdf
http://www.gblcreations.com/Resources/Gina/ProgramChewable2- 2010.pdf
http://www.gblcreations.com/Resources/Gina/ProgramAGB&VSG2-2 010.pdf

Good points, Gina

there is a Phd Nutritian candidate at my PT's.  We have talked some about my inflamation issues and nutritianal ways to dealing with it.  He is not real pro whey protein, favoring rice or pea.  I haven't looked up the comparisons yet to see why he feels that way but I know early out at least, whey isolate is what we can absorb best.  Of course, he isn't thinking WLS much either.  He does have me adding flax at least 1x a day, he would prefer 3x a day, more spices and herbs.  Also said to try xyflamend, a herbal type pill which I haven't found yet locally.  The one thing we can agree on is that surgeons and Nuts basically know squat about nutritian and health. 

 Since I've learned so much about the need for vitamins my husband is getting on board, too.  He only has to lose about 20 pounds to be at healthy weight but he knows to ask his doctor to test certain levels, like B12 and D now.  Lots of non-surgery people also have low levels of vits and PCPs don't seem to monitor that without  a push from patients.

I've tried a few supplements (I'm limited in what I can try due to my use of coumadin).  I was hopeful about Turmeric but it hasn't done much for me.  LIke Price, I am open to trying lots of new things now that I wouldn't have tried pre-surgery.

I do think that no matter how much therapy you have, those of us who are emotional eaters will still have to stay on top of the issue.  It rears it's ugly head way too often if we let it.

I have learned so much from this board about vitamins and hope to learn more. I went to my PCP about some of the changes my surgeon had wanted, and he is going to repeat my Vit D next month to see where I am at. He also said he was more than happy to follow my labs when they stop.

My PCP is pretty pro-active on these things. I was happy to hear he had just gone to a seminar about WLS, etc. I want to learn as much as I can too - thank you so much Gina for the information.

Lynn