The Negative Side of WLS - Page 14 - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

floogie · 09-01-2009, 10:02 AM

One thing I didn't mention was that when I was put on Forteo I was also to take 1,800mg w vit.D a day.
So I go to Walmart and get thier Natual Calcium 600mg with vitamin D......take 3 of those HORSE pills aday for the past year, ONLY to find out I should have been taking 6 aday and they were the wrong kind to boot. They are the carbnate not the citrate.
I found out HERE that I should be taking the citrate.
A whole year lost to taking the wrong stuff.
I am so angry at the Drs. and the nutrishionists for not telling me.
WHAT? Thay think I'm a mind reader? GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!
Anyway, I thought I would add that fact, I'm so glad I found this site.
Linda

poet_kelly · 09-01-2009, 02:21 PM

One thing I have learned is that you really have to do your own homework. You would think the doctors would tell you what kind of calcium to take. The PA in my surgeon's office actually told me to take a specific brand, which turned out to be calcium carbonate. I took it back and bought the right stuff. And told her about it next time I saw her. She also told me to take vitamin D, but didn't mention the fact that there are two types, and it needs to be D3. Luckily, I did my own research and learned that. You want to be able to rely on them, and you should be able to, but you really can't.

If they are doing labs every three months because you have diabetes, they probably aren't checking your vitamin levels. Ask them what they are checking for. Ask them to check your vitamin D and your B12. If you know your iron is low, start supplementing that. Let's see, it seems to me that one kind of iron is better than another, but I don't recall which is which right now. You can probably do a search for it here on TT. Or just make a separate post asking about iron.

When you have a gastric bypass, you need a certain kind of vitamins. Because they bypass part of the small intestine, you have malabsorption. It sounds like with your condition, you may have some malabsorption too. I don't know how much. With a gastric bypass, it's recommended that you take vitamins specifically designed for weight loss surgery patients because they have more of what you need than regular vitamins. You usually have to take them two or three times a day, too, not just once a day. So you might need more than one regular multivitamin, I don't know. My surgeon also recommended I take chewable vitamins. He said those would be better absorbed. I don't know if that would be the case for you or not, but it might. Something to consider.

Kelly

poet_kelly · 09-01-2009, 02:22 PM

Oh, and if you have to drive 100 miles to see a specialist, well, I think it would be well worth it. I actually had my surgery done about three hours from where I live. I live in a little town with only one bariatric surgeon and he didn't take my insurance.

Kelly

floogie · 09-01-2009, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by poet_kelly

One thing I have learned is that you really have to do your own homework. You would think the doctors would tell you what kind of calcium to take. The PA in my surgeon's office actually told me to take a specific brand, which turned out to be calcium carbonate. I took it back and bought the right stuff. And told her about it next time I saw her. She also told me to take vitamin D, but didn't mention the fact that there are two types, and it needs to be D3. Luckily, I did my own research and learned that. You want to be able to rely on them, and you should be able to, but you really can't.

If they are doing labs every three months because you have diabetes, they probably aren't checking your vitamin levels. Ask them what they are checking for. Ask them to check your vitamin D and your B12. If you know your iron is low, start supplementing that. Let's see, it seems to me that one kind of iron is better than another, but I don't recall which is which right now. You can probably do a search for it here on TT. Or just make a separate post asking about iron.

When you have a gastric bypass, you need a certain kind of vitamins. Because they bypass part of the small intestine, you have malabsorption. It sounds like with your condition, you may have some malabsorption too. I don't know how much. With a gastric bypass, it's recommended that you take vitamins specifically designed for weight loss surgery patients because they have more of what you need than regular vitamins. You usually have to take them two or three times a day, too, not just once a day. So you might need more than one regular multivitamin, I don't know. My surgeon also recommended I take chewable vitamins. He said those would be better absorbed. I don't know if that would be the case for you or not, but it might. Something to consider.

Kelly

Hi Kelly,

I go for labs again at the end of next month.

In the mean time since reading here I've started taking a chewable Multi Vit. Cemtrum Silver, the correct Calcium tablets and B-12.
Gosh it can't hurt and really can only help.

Now I have a question?

Why in the Gastric Bypass do they bypass the small intestine? I would think that making the stomach smaller would be enough.

I don't know, I started watching Discovery Health and Big Medicine and it just seemed so much like what I've been through where the surgery is concerned.

Thanks so much for your reply,
Linda

poet_kelly · 09-01-2009, 03:14 PM

By bypassing part of the small intestine, you absorb less fat and calories from your food. This helps you lose weight, along with the smaller stomach, of course. The problem is that you also absorb less vitamins and minerals, so you have to supplement. The malabsorption thing is kind of scary. Actually, I get more scared the more I learn. Hopefully I will not have a problem, but there are some on here who do have problems, even though they faithfully take their vitamins every day.

Kelly

onastartrek · 09-26-2009, 03:25 PM

I agree about driving 100 miles if it means seeing someone who will help you. the problem comes into play when like I was, unable to drive and my husband worked two jobs because I couldn't work one thanks to wls and lack of candid truth from my surgeon.
I flew out to NEW YORK from Colorado just to have the reversal. It took everything I had just to walk thru the airport and once I made it to that hospital bed to start the preop testing for my reversal I felt such relief and joy for the pending outcome.
9 months after my reversal I have my life back to a certain degree and I cannot be more thankful
Grace

onastartrek · 09-26-2009, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Josephine

Wow! That may very well be the best numbers I've seen from any girl here, definitely any girl with your begin stats. Baby girl, EAT SOMETHING. You're scarin' me now!

if it were just as simple as eating something, TRUST me we would all not be suffering the way we have.

you have all my best wishes on your upcoming surgery
Grace

ardita · 09-26-2009, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sdgrrl

I continue to increase my suspicion that this is NOT A GOOD SURGERY. My B12 has always been just a tad HIGH, even though I only take 1 pill per week. My memory is terrible, although it used to be a steel trap. It seems as though any symptom that I have, if I say anything about it, we find that many MANY of us share the issue. This is way scary stuff!

I find myself wondering about those of your who have had the VSG. Do y'all have any of these issues? What issues, if any, do you have?

I am seriously creeped out. I invite people to tell me I'm FOS, but I have deduced some interesting parallels. Women who have less over all weight to lose seem to have these issues more often. It's as if people who have 150lbs or less to lose get hit harder, sort of like it's overkill for folks with fewer lbs and/or fewer comorbilities. This is completely anecdotal, and again, I confess that this may all be up in my head.....

...but if so, I'll have most likely forgotten it by next week, so at least that will be easy....I can hide my own Easter eggs, too!

hey sdgrrl-
in response to your Q for VSG folks about issues. I am 4 or 5 mos out so perhaps too early yet for complications. I have dizziness when I stand, am dehydrated moderately, low on Vit. D and iron. Other than that, all is well. I dont drink enough and I dont take my vits daily as I should-when I do, I will do better. It is always a goal.

i hope you are hanging in there. worried that we havent heard from you lately...

Corrine · 09-26-2009, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by floogie

Hi Kelly,

I go for labs again at the end of next month.

In the mean time since reading here I've started taking a chewable Multi Vit. Cemtrum Silver, the correct Calcium tablets and B-12.
Gosh it can't hurt and really can only help.

..........

Linda

Linda,

"A" Centrum Silver isn't going to come even close to your needs. The current recommendations are 200% RDA. You can read about that on pages 7 and 8 here: http://www.asbs.org/Newsite07/resources/bgs_final.pdf

Celebrate and Bariatric Advantage both have good multi's I'd recommend and you can contact them for samples:

Celebrate: Contact Us
Bariatric Advantage: http://www.bariatricadvantage.com/page/contactUs

Also, along with vitamin D, B12 etc., make sure they check your iron levels when they do your bloodwork. And while I'm at it - make sure you get a bone density test done.

Phatlady · 11-08-2009, 03:29 AM

it is too early to tell whether I will regret having had GB surgery. I can tell you that I have second guessed myself a lot, from the time I first considered the surgery, during horrendous gas pains, as I lean over the sink and throw up-again, each day, perhaps nearly every hour, I question this process and wonder if my life will return to "normal" in the sense of feeling good and eating well.
But, I will tell you that there is not enough of the right information out there pre-surgery. I attended four pre-op seminars and the post surgerical patients attended at the end and were there to share and for Q and A. What I realize now is that there may have been some negative information out there but the patients were probably unlikely to share it in front of the surgeons holding the seminar and the audience-like me at the time, had no clue what real questions to ask.
To me the surgery is a blip on the screen, it is the afermath that is all important and not well documented or disclosed. We make a life and death decision with the actual surgical procedure but the quality of life choice we make is largely a surprise.
I was 100% on board for food restriction as far as portion and quality but dumping, chills, gas cramps, sleeplessness, food intolerance, liquid intolerances, cramping....the list goes on and on, as do the discomforts.
I can not tell you if I would do this again and hindsight will be the best judge but better preparation for the possibility of this experience would have been better.