Question:
Requirements following sugery

Hi! I've been reading everyone's posts and I am still confused. I read about all of these different vitamins, but can't figure out which ones I definetly need? Which ones will be just following surgery and the ones needed for the rest of my life? I am 2 weeks pre-op, and I'm also having problems with figuring out my protein. When someone writes about only eating 3 meals a day.... this means no protein shake or in addition to a protein shake? Will I be drinking those for the rest of my life? Any help would be appreciated. I have my first support group meeting on March 20th @ Louisville, KY, Thanks. (current weight 259lbs. @ 64") — LuannC (posted on March 9, 2008)

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March 9, 2008
I would go straight to your doctor with the vitamin questions. Every doctor has a different protocol. As far as protein shakes, yes, you probably will be doing supplemental protein in some form for the rest of your life. You should be getting at least 60 grams of protein a day. My doctor is not a big advocate of snacking, so I get most, if not all of my protein at meals. That being said, I have a protein shake for breakfast each day because I just don't have the time to get breakfast any other way for myself on workdays. This plan works well for me and is approved by my doctor and nutritionist. Check with them, and congratulations and welcome to a whole new world!
— Shirley D.

March 9, 2008
You will need to take a very good vitamin and calcium citrate for the rest of your life. WLS surgery involves some malabsobtion, so you won't get all the vitamins a non WLS person would get from foods. Hence, you need to supplement these. you can start before surgery, BUT YOU NEED TO do it every day post op. You can take pills, chew tablets, or take liquid vitamins. Compare the supplements in each brand of vitamin to find one you think is the best. A recommend a good liquid type on my profile page. You should never take your calcium with your vitamin or iron supplement (if your doctor says you need iron). A "meal" can man a shake at the intial liquid portion post op period. But foods are the preferred type. So eating 4-5 meals PLUS the shakes as a snack assures you get enough protein. Eating smaller portions of food limits the protein, and I'm sure you doctor wants you to get at least 60 grams or more protein daily. Protein shakes can augment protein intake for as long as you want. If you are unable to consume enough foods to get the proper protein, then Yes you will have to take the protein shakes a long time.
— Dave Chambers

March 9, 2008
Most doctors have an education process that is required before surgery. If you did not get instructions from your doctor before surgery call him and ask for his directions and recomended brands. I have been told that I will need detail blood test every 6 months for life and will be taking barietric vit. and minerals for life. I use Building Block Brand from www.buildingblocks.com
— William (Bill) wmil

March 9, 2008
I am four years out and have not been religious on taking my all of my vitamins...but My last labs show proof that although I eat healthy and a good 7-8 oz of food that I am not getting enough absorption. I am deficient in calcium, vit a, d, e, magnesium, zinc and I am anemic. I suggest you take B-12, a calcium citrate with Vit D and magnesium, 2 Multivits that include (vit K and selenium), Iron if you are a menstruating female and take these faithfully forever, UNLESS your doctor says you don't need them. Just because you can gain weight, doesn't mean you are absorbing your vitamins thru your food. Trust me...I know intimately. And get your labs at least once a year every year! ALL of them. You can take care of the diet part and lose all your weight, but you must also take care of the health part to...Vits and supps are hugely important. The worse that can happen from taking the vits I suggest is that you don't need them, and your body will flush them out...The worse that could happen if you don't...will be that you might be joining me for blood transfusions and chemotherapy-like iron infusions. The more protein you get the better you will be. You will have to up your protein as you begin to eat more food too. As anew post op you need 60-80 g as soon as you can get that high...Later you will need to increase it. I get 110-150 if I can! I do this with 6 small meals (protein drink or bar being one meal)
— .Anita R.

March 9, 2008
Hi Penny - I am 16 mos out. For me I was instructed to faithfully take a multi vitamin and take calcium. I take ... ru ready? 2 Flintstone chewables a day usually a dinner time, and I take two calcium chews (viatcitve) one in the morning when I get up and one at night before I go to bed. This is a ritual and now a habit. If you try and take them the same time every day you won't forget. And so far so good for me my blood work has been fine. Even so that I had cosmetic surgery 6 weeks ago. As far as the protein I drink Isopure. Comes in flavored liquids. Can get that at GNC. But I mostly weigh my protein 3 oz at meals and seems to be working for me. Best of Luck
— niecie54

March 9, 2008
Penny, As i have said in my past answers, All Dr's are differant. the only vitamins I am on is 2 Flintstone complete chewables a day. I am out 12 months and lost 248lbs so far. I feel FANTASTIC !!! I never did the Protien shakes or pills. Everybody is differant too! Dont worry about the foods till after your surgery. You wont be able to just eat! it will be small amounts very small. I have two lines I like to use.
— obx100

March 9, 2008
Yes, you'll have to supplement protein for the rest of your life, but it doesn't have to be shakes. There are other ways to supplement protein. Try protein capsules. No bloating, no taste issues. They're called Capsul-Pro and you can get them at www.nashuanutrition.com Good luck!
— jonedwards

March 9, 2008
I take a Flintstones chewable morning and night, and a 500mg chocolate calcium chewy same. I don't bother with the protein shakes anymore, I just make sure the first thing I eat is ma protein serving, and everything else falls into place. 5 1/2 month's out, 125lbs smaller, and loving it!
— 29Diesel

March 9, 2008
Only your vitamin can give you the exact answer you are looking for regarding the vitamins. The doctor only knows what changes he will make to your insides so therefore he willl be able to answer you precisely. Protein shakes are generally for the liquid portion of post-op. I am 4yrs post-op and love my shakes. Especially when I feel that I am getting out of control.
— bariatricdivalatina

March 9, 2008
WOW! You sound like me when I was pre-op and still post-op. I have a great general surgeon who instructed me on what to take. I also saw a nutritionist. I also get my blood drawn every 3-4 months to make sure I am not definit in anything as your body does not absorb the things it use to prior to the surgery. I couldnt do the protein shakes and ended up drinking the protein drinks. They leave a nasty after taste in your mouth. Yes, you will probably have to drink the protein shakes the rest of your life, especially if you don't get enough by eating. Protein is very essential in your weight loss, as well as, you maintaining your weight, Seek medical advice. I eat small meals throughout the day instead of eating 3 course meals. It's just not enought. I use to weigh 310 and now weight 150, and have maintained this for 5 years. I never had any excess skin and try very hard to maintain and keep in shape. It's not a quick fix - it takes alot of effort. Some of the vitamins I take are, Biotin, Vitamin B, Calcuim Citrate, Iron, Potassium, Magnesium, Flax Seed Oil , Multi-Vitamins and Garlic Pills. They are taken at different times of the day, and definitely more than one a day. If you would like to keep in contact, please write me at [email protected]. Good Luck
— Sammi G.

March 9, 2008
your surgeon will have these answers for you -- each person is an individual with different needs -- please call your surgeon for advice on what vitamins you will be taking and when you should take them following your surgery -- as for the shakes -- NO you should not be drinking them for the rest of your life :) but you should learn how to read nutritional labels -- you will want to take in about 60-72 grams of protein a day -- this really isn't as hard as it sounds :) and you should get all your protein from food as soon as you are able to eat whole foods again -- eggs, milk, yogurt, cheese, meats, seafood are all good sources of protein -- try to always eat your protein first at every meal and you will never have a problem -- protein will also help with your hair not falling out --hair is made up of protein -- most people lose their hair because of lack of protein -- not because of the surgery itself -- there are no magic pills (biotin) to help with keeping your hair -- you can ask your surgeon or PCP this question also :) i hate to see people waste money that they don't have -- go to local GNC stores and vitamin stores and ask for free samples of protein mixes -- i could never drink the powdered ones so i'm really glad i never paid out big money for them -- walmart has a ready to drink protein shake called AES AdvantEdge -- it comes in vanilla, strawberry and chocolate -- it's about $5 for a pack of 4 cartons -- always drink them cold :) the best of luck to you on surgery day and for the rest of your journey -- keep in mind that this is not a race, it's a marathon and never compare yourself to someone else -- you will only drive yourself crazy :) hugs to you Roberta
— RCassety

March 9, 2008
Hi! Thanks for eveyone's quick response. I've written everything down and a lot more research to do, and more questions to ask the surgeon. I know I get a list after surgery, but I want to have everything already in the house, before surgery. So I can make it easier on my husband and our children (one as young as 3). I read that a lot of you don't like powder protein? Did you dislike it before surgery, also? I don't mind powder whey shakes, but will that change after surgery? Oh well... just wanted to say "thanks" and say I'm soooo happy to have found a place to write and ask these kind of questions and get lots of support! Thanks!!!
— LuannC

March 10, 2008
Hi Penny, thanks for writing. I am so glad you are going to go to support group. You need one and be faithful! You will be glad you did. The thing about wls, is what works for one, does not always work for another. I will give you a few suggestions, but don't worry, evaluate one thing at a time and realize that some things won't work for you. Don't invest in too much protein, etc. You may not be able to drink it. Regarding vitamins, our surgeon says a flinstone chewable is just fine for post surgery. I took those for several months, twice a day, and then I take a "One Source" that I get from Wal Mart now. I am 4 years out. It works for me. I take 3 calcium chews I get from GNC. Be faithful to your vitamins and calcium, it is very important. If you back off and don't take them, when you get vitamin deficiencies and damage from that, it is not repairable, so take your vitamins seriously. It is not like drinking fixes dehydration, it is a serious problem when you get damage from lack of vitamins. The things you damage can't be repaired, so be careful. Regarding protein. I hated protein drinks, could not find one that I liked, and refused to buy $50 jar of something I would try once. I did use Isopure for a while, but I just found foods that had good protein sources in them, and kept trying. I used cottage cheese, pinto beans from Taco Bell, tried eggs, lunch meat. Tuna salad and chicken salad were good for me. I used my food processer and ground them up really fine, took small bites. The first 2 or 3 weeks I stayed all soft or liquid type foods, and then just kept trying small amounts of this and that. Some had to stay liquid for months, others didn't. You won't know until you are there. You can get all the answers in the world and none of them apply to you. Keep researching, just realize you may not figure out the puzzle until it is time for each piece to be laid. Take care. Patricia P.
— Patricia P

March 10, 2008
I believe it's important to use protein shakes for the rest of my life because I do not want to teach my mechanics...the ones I paid the doctor to disable..how to work normally again. If I am to get all my protein from food...that's exactly what I'm doing...convincing my body to regrow the parts that I had shortened. So, for me it's protein shakes and vitamins forever. Or at least as long as I live. Surgeons will fix us to lose weight, then turn around and treat us like regular patients that have had gastric surgery for other problems. It just doesn't seem to connect with them that we want our systems to work at malabsorption. We don't want to train them to absorb again. Not to frighten anyone...but my oldest daughter had surgery 8 1/2 years ago. Her doc told her that the protein shakes would just make her fat....(wrong!) she used that for an excuse not to supplement anything. As of last October, she is, sad to say, no longer with us. She is an example of everything not to do. I just had to have my say on this one...because if it could save a life...I need to do it. Have the surgery...by all means.....I did, and am happy I did...but supplement!!! Regards~
— Statuesque

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