Question:
CAN WE START TAKING OUR VITAMINS AND MINERALS BEFORE SURGERY AND IN LIQUID FORM POST

I HEAR EVERYONE ASKING ABOUT PILLS PILLS PILLS CAN WE TAKE ALL OUR MEDICATION IN LIQUID FORM.. WHY NOT? I HEAR TAKE YOUR PROTEIN -PROTEIN-PROTEIN CAN I START THAT WAY BEFORE SURGERY I DO NOT WANT TO LOSE MY THICK BEAUTIFUL WHATS THE POINT OF LOSING WEIGHT AND BECOMING BOLD PLEASE SOME ONE HELP ME UNDECIDED BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE.    — bina (posted on November 21, 2005)

November 21, 2005
Of course you can start all of this before surgery! People are hung up on protein because it's a huge issue after surgery. It's the most important thing to do (besides taking in fluids and taking supplements) after surgery. There can be many side-effects of the surgery and it's not for everyone. If keeping beautiful hair is more important to you than reaping some important benefits of having the surgery, then you need to decide if surgery is what you really want. Maybe it isn't. Good luck.
   — johare

November 21, 2005
Yes! By all means, start your protein and some vitamins now. You don't need all the same vites NOW that you will need pre-op, but you are good with a multi and calcium citrate any time (but only as a miniumum post-op). Please be sure your iron is good (VERY good) now, since so many of us go into surgery low and never get it boosted back up. Some liquid vites are ok, and some are not. The calcium has to be citrate, for example. The iron should not be ferrous sulfate, as another example. The other vites need to be specific, as well. ANYONE can take protein supplement, as long as it is a good protein and not really going to help you GAIN wt.
   — vitalady

November 21, 2005
Your NOT going to go bald. Yes you may loose 'some' hair and for alot of people its not noticeable to anyone but you. As far as vitamins and protein; you can certainly start taking them, but there is no guarantee. You can do everything anyone tells you and still loose some hair. It does grow back. If loosing hair is an issue for WLS you are right NOT to consider it not to sound unkind but hair loss should be the least of your worries.
   — star .

November 21, 2005
I will warn you now liquid vitiams are nasty! I take 2 flintstone chewables with iron (it is what my doc recommended.) They taste good, they are even kind of fun! Oh and by the way, I didnt have ANY hair loss and it was my BIGGEST fear! Dont forget, vitiams can interact with other medications, so when your doc or the hospital ask you if you are taking any medications ALWAYS tells them about your vitiams that your taking (what ever kind you choose to take). Oh and by the way, the reason my doc told me the kids chewables was because that way they break down in your system some fancy expensive vitiams dont break down in the body because of the extra stuff in them. Not to mention the kids chewable costs are much more reasonable. If you take something that tastes good your more likely to stick with it.
   — sophrona5

November 22, 2005
Wow, I can not believe that losing some hair is your biggest issue. Since I have had the surgery, I am off all medication- diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol... For that alone I would be willing to walk around bald!! Of course I am 6 months out and although my hair has thinned a tiny bit, no balding in site. Maintaining adequate protein intake is KEY to this. I do take a liquid vitamin from GNC that actually tastes pretty yummy, so make your own decisions on that. Sounds like you still have some soul searching to do if the possiblity of temporarily thinning hair is keeping you from making a choice to be healthier. Best of luck to you.
   — Diane C.

November 23, 2005
Good thing I'm a little thin on top already. I wouldn't want to have to worry about my hair falling out. That is the least of my worries. I wish that I had my long beautiful hair from when I was younger, but the ladies on my mothers side have thinning hair. I cannot use any topicals on the market because of bad skin reactions.
   — rosee