Question:
Where do I begin? Any advice. There are so many vitamins & proteins to choose?

   — Kristee (posted on October 9, 2002)

October 9, 2002
Kristee, I recommend that you subscribe to the yahoo "protein perverts" site (at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OSSG-Protein/?yguid=106670120) and/or the yahoo "OSSG graduates" site (at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Graduate-OSSG/?yguid=106670120), subscribe to the daily digests, and read about protein and vitamins there for a couple of months. There are a lot of longer-term post-ops (>2 years) posting on those sites, on just those topics alone. I found their perspectives to be a real eye-opener for me.<P>This site is fabulous, and you will often get good advice here. But I've noticed that most people who post regularly here are not long-term post-ops (out less than two years). So, when the issue of vitamins and protein come up, many discussions boil down to people staking out a position based on what their surgeon recommended, and then debates get started because it turns out the surgeons have told us different things! This can make us all look slightly nutty, getting all passionate about Carnation Instead Breakfast and Tums and protein-from-shakes versus protein-from-food. ;PPP (And don't most of us feel we have "the best surgeon in the state"? :D).<P>So, how do you decide what's right? Listen to your surgeon, but also look to the long-term (>2 years) post-ops for their advice and experience. You'll find surprisingly less disagreement on the vitamin/protein shake issues on those boards, compared to here, once the factor of "my surgeon said!" becomes more remote in time. It won't take long to figure out what makes sense to *you* for your needs.
   — Suzy C.

October 9, 2002
Check out www.protein-solution.com
   — Linda A.

October 10, 2002
I see that you are scheduled for RNY distal. Because you will malabsorb, I would recommend that you see a dietician or nutritionist who is familiar with WLS. The dietician can help you set some realistic goals for your particular situation. Protein from a supplement vs. food is pretty hotly contested. But my own personal feeling is that in the beginning (liquids and soft foods) you pretty much need those supplements to get in even a fraction of what you should. I used them until I was firmly onto real food and I never felt weak or faint. As far as vitamins/minerals, according to the ASBS we need preventive supplementation for calcium (use the citrate kind as we don't absorb carbonate), B12 (sublingual, liquid under the tongue, or shots), and iron (usually in your multivit) malabsorption. You will probably need more than a proximal (like me) because more of your intestines are bypassed. I think the dietician could help you find a reasonable level of supplementation for those things you need to prevent problems down the road. Just make sure he or she is familiar with distal RNY WLS. I have listed some products I use on my profile if you want to see some examples. Good luck and happy losing!
   — ctyst

October 10, 2002
Everyone has their own opinions. I will give you mine. i am 6 1/2 weeks post-op and I am still struggling with remembering to take my vitamins and stuff. Here are some things that I found. I take (when I rememebr) one Flinstone's chewable vitamin with Iron. I only take one. My surgeon said it was enough of the vitamins I need. It may be a little shy on reccommended dosages on minerals for adults, but it is OK. The extra iron is good, too. Then I take 2-4 Tums to get my calcium. You can also take Viactive, but you need to try to get in 100 MG of Calcium per day. Then I take a drop of subligual B-12. I am not too keen to shots, so I am going for it that way. It tastes awful, but I am sure I need it! I also take a Vitamin E pill. I am not worried about it getting fully absorbed, so I just awallow it whole. I also take ProCel and UpCalD sometims. It is a flavorless powder you can mix with just about anything. It isn't gritty or anything and isn't really milky. They say you should have between 50 and 60 grams of protien per day. The combination gives you 30 grams of protien, 500 MG of Calcium, and 400 IU of Vitamin D. You can get it through http://www.vitalady.com. Hope this helps!
   — sammygirlwpc