Question:
2 weeks until surgery need help with vitamin list!

hi i have open rny on feb 7 i have a book that tells what kind of stuff i need afterwards can anybody give me a list of theres that might help me out a bit. (brand names) i no you need multi-vit,calcium citrate,calcium w-vit d,whey or soy powder this is all so confusing for me and im nervous so if you all could help me out i would appreciate it    — melisa240 (posted on January 19, 2006)

January 19, 2006
I know, this is all so confusing isn't it. Here's what I take. I take the viactiv calcium chewables. They come in chocolate and caramel. I also take Centrum Chewables (orange flavored). Your Dr. will probably recomend Flintstone's but Centrum has the exact same vitamins and minerals and you only have to take one. You'll need lots of protien. That is actually the hard part for me. They don't have a protien pill so I have found the slim fast meals options shake has the most protien. But I don't have a problem with sugar. If you can't tolerate sugars this might be a problem. Anyway, once you get it all figured out it is really pretty easy. It will become like second nature. Good Luck!!!
   — kel_do

January 19, 2006
Melisa, first let me say that you really need to be followed by a good nutiritonist that is familiar with WLS. Just a little disclaimer. But I take (2) one-a-day children's chewable per day. They taste a littel better than Flinstones complete. I also take 2 chewable caltrate (at different times) a day. That type of calcium can be absorbed just fine as long as you eat something with it. I am not able to tolerate the chocolate chewable kind. You will be bombarded by lots of other brands to try but keep it simple. There is so much to learn. As far as protein. Everyone is different. I had a very difficult recovery and protein was a challenge. Most drinks were too thick. Do not try anything with sugar in it. I have had the best sucess with the Nectar brand protein or Matrix brand. They dissolve very well in water, milk or sugar free fruit drink. I purchase my Nectar and Matrix from www.bariatriceating.com. There are lots and lots of brands. I tried many but ultimately stuck with those that are light on the stomach, taste acceptable and perfore the best. I do also use Revival Soy products (low carb) but those you should reserve until you are at least 3 months post op. Feel free to email me with any questions. I had RNY on 3/08/05 started at 286 and I am now 175. Becuase I ran into malnutrition issues I am very careful and take time to verify information shared. Follow your nutiritonists recommendation to stay out of trouble. You are about to embark on a wonderful transformation. Congrats!!!!!!
   — ppaige

January 19, 2006
Well i agree with pamela above...check with a nutrinest. Here is what I take...I do the flintstones complete plus iron, found a b-12 sublingual at Walgreens, Take a liquid fiber and calcium citrate with vitamin d from Global Health, Folic Acid and the Matrix 5.0 protrien drink which tastes like a yoohoo. Hopefully these will help.. I do notice that times change and all surgeons have different ways they do things. Good luck on your upcoming surgery. Carrie
   — HubbysBrat

January 19, 2006
Talk to your surgeon Honey, everyone you talk to on here will give you a different version of what works for them, he/she(surgeon) should have a nutritionist that will help you with all this. I don't mind at all to share my version with you, I just know that you have to use what works for you and that may not necessarily be what worked for me. If you want to email me personally I will be more than happy to help you in any way I can. I am 3 and a half years out, at goal and maintaining close to goal. I wish you the very best of luck as this is probably the best gift you will ever give yourself. Enjoy the weight loss process, it is an amazing and wonderful time!!
   — Sharon1964

January 19, 2006
Call your surgeon's office and ask them what they recommend. I bought all my necessary protein supplements, vitamins (make sure it says Complete....it will have the vitamins and minerals) and calcium citrate, B12, etc. All of this was throught my Nutritionist with Kaiser. Then, my surgeon tells me that Optisource vitamins are made just for bariatric Wls patients, so I take them and don't take any of the others. They are expensive, and you take four per day, but so far, I haven't needed anything else. I will find out tomorrow if they are providing my needs. They can be purchased online at www.wahlgreens.com Also, Unjury is a great protein supplement...go to www.unjury.com and check them out. I also use EAS AdvantEdge chocolate......it is whey protein, also. 22 grams per serving.
   — LauraA

January 20, 2006
My Dr. recommends the following multi vitamin, http://www.naturesstore.com/product_main.asp?productcode=4161&BrandID=248&Browse=, one of his patients found it and my Dr. was very impressed with the content in this vitamin supplement. I haven't tried it yet (I'm waiting to use up the multi vitamin I bought just before my surgery on Dec. 20, 2005). The Calcium I bought is at the following link, http://store.bariatriceating.com/trnulicaci.html , it taste like a liquid orange sweet tart. I am confused on the Iron needs. I did talk to a woman at a Health food store in my town (Houston, Texas) and she recommended the following Iron tablet and I have started taking them, I will have to wait for my bloodwork in a few months to see if they work. http://www.vitacost.com/MegaFoodDailyFoodsBloodBuilder . I bought some B-12 Drops online, however I have read and been told my numerous people that B-12 in any format other that injection is useless, so I plan on returning them. I have also found a protein drink that my Dr. was very impressed with, it comes in a test tube like container and contain 25mg of Protien, 0 Fat, 0 Carbs and is only 2.9 fluid ounces. You can find it at the following link, http://www.protica.com/index.htm . I also have a 337 page document with lots of valuable information and lots of GP recipes. It is in PDF format. If you will e-mail me at [email protected] I would be more than happy to e-mail you the document. Hope this helps, Julie
   — jkinstley

January 20, 2006
I put some information about this on my website and you're more than welcome to take a look! http://home.earthlink.net/~95vulcan/id11.html
   — Nicki F.

January 22, 2006
You ought to get an RX for the B12 and inject it once a month- like insulin. I liked the gummy vitamins better than FLINTSTONES. I progressed to a really small multivit that I get at vitamin world at the mall. I was able swallow it whole at about 3 months post op. .WalMart sells a generic caramel chewy calcium. They made me sick at first- too sweet. Also- I had to try 5-6 protein powders before i found one I could tolerate. They were all sickening sweet. Again, Vitamin World has one I lived on- Designer Whey. It was not real sweet and digested easy. Now sweet is NO PROBLEM. I can't tolerate fat. Thankfully............. One question for you- is laproscopic RNY an option for you? It is so much easier than an open if you can have it that way. My lap RNY surgery was a breeze- but,the eating ---for my first year post op has been the hard part. I am delightfully 100 lbs lighter....I would do it all again!!!!!!!!!!Carolyn-LapRNY12/04
   — Dec16-04