Question:
Malabsoption? Does anyone know 15 plus years out if we will have

malabsorption, anemia malnutrition. I wonder if this was the right thing to do. I am 6 weeks out so still scared. Thank you.    — angel4 (posted on May 20, 2007)

May 20, 2007
Well, it's a little late to have second thoughts now after you have had the surgery... Having said that the answer is YES if you don't take care of yourself. During your preop, I am sure that it was discussed with you that this was a permanent anatomy-altering surgery that would result in not be restrictive in nature (limiting the amount that you can consume), but malabsorptive as well. You were told that you would have to take vitamins, supplements, etc for the rest of your life. This is all true. If you do this and eat properly, then the chances of the anemia are a low risk, but higher than the general population that has not had the surgery. Also, something to consider, is the fact that we will all need to take a calcium supplement forever as well to help prevent osteoporosis. Good luck to you.. just follow what you are supposed to be doing and use the tool that you have been given as it was intended to be used....
   — Kari_K

May 20, 2007
I agree with Kari....a lot of time is spent "educating" all of us about what our bodies will experience BEFORE we have the surgery so that we are certain that we are doing what is right for us! Look back over the information hopefully your surgeon gave you and do what is recommended and you'll be just fine! I'm ten months post-op and have lost 110lbs. and feel great! You WILL too! No regrets...Trish
   — zoeysgrami

May 20, 2007
Constance, it okay to be scared. Since you are so early out, I'm sure you are having to deal with a lot - inability to eat and your hormones are probably going crazy. Things do get better as time goes along. Just work toward eating what your doctor recommends - plenty of protein, water and vitamins. If you do that, in most cases you won't get anemic. You will have malnutrition, but that's what's going to cause you to lose weight. Believe it or not in another 6-8 months, you are going to be able to eat almost normally so enjoy this time while you can!
   — KC

May 20, 2007
Hi Constance. Thanks for writing. Honey, do you stay up nights and think of things that scare you? I do, that is why I ask. Sometimes I play the what if game so much, that my blood pressure just soars over things that I cannot control. Please, Constance, breathe. Stop for just a minute and take a big breath, and then do it again, and maybe even again. Breathe with me........................................ Doesn't that feel good! Now, the answer to your question. The way I understand this surgery is that I will always have a mal absorptive quality to my surgery. My body finds ways to re-adjust, but I am not sure I will ever absorb the way I used to. At least I don't think I will. So the basic answer is yes, I thing we continue to have mal absorption. Anemia? Malnutrition? Honey the obese person eats so much, there is no way to be mal nurished. If you stay on your multi vitamins and calicum you should be fine. I began to take an iron supplement because I get tired, and my iron is not low, but headed that way, so I began the iron. Some end up taking B12. This is why you have annual check ups with your surgeon, and if you are showing some physical problems, you contact them. They are to follow you for the rest of your life. The only way you are gonna have a huge malnutrition problem is if you ignore the rules of protein, vitamins and calcium (possibley iron and B12), and don't see your surgeon for your regular check ups. They will do blood work and know if you are ok. Constance, this is just one of those head games that will try and convince you that you cannot be nourished unless you are eating for 5 people. You can have good nourishment with small amounts of foods. At 3 years out Constance, I am eating half of full sized meals, atleast twice a day, and very healthy. You will be too. Just follow the rules, and stay in touch with your surgeon. Take care girl, and best to you. Patricia P.
   — Patricia P

May 20, 2007
Just felt I had to interject a postscript here to another member's reply: obese people can and do suffer from malnutrition. It may be counterintuitive, but just because a body is fat doesn't mean that the body is getting the right nutrients. Obese people have even died of malnutrition (does anyone else remember the "liquid protein" deaths?).
   — Virginia N.

May 21, 2007
Well, at 13 years we do! Things you can expect: iron anemia; pernicious anemia; osteoporosis and so on. UNLESS you are supplementing correctly now. Even so, you'll have to adjust as time goes on. I'm taking about 20 times as much vit D now as I did way back when, for example. But then, I was low and increased over time to levels of perfection today. While low in vit A in the begining, I need supplement that only lightly today. We were anemic (iron) in the early years, but found an iron that works. I rarely see levels as good as ours on any post-op. We still supplement protein, but have stellar labs to show for it. We both have bone mass issues because we spent too many years on the wrong kind and not enough calcium. We have arrested the damage with LOTS of D and the correct calcium, but we cannot reverse the damage. Nobody seemed to be watching the B12, but we caught it before it bottomed out. So, in answer to your question, those are things you CAN expect if you do not have correct nutriioinal/supplemental instruction. The things we cannot RELIABLY get from food include: protein, iron, calcium, A, D, E, B1, B12 and zinc.
   — vitalady