MarinaGirl

U.S. Food & Drug Administration Safety Communication: FDA Warns that Biotin May Interfere with Lab Tests

Biotin does not help and taking it could impact lab work so best to not use it. The hair loss associated with bariatric surgery (and other surgeries, acute illness, and trauma) is called telogen effluvium and has to do with the normal hair growth process, stress to the body, and hormonal changes. It often starts abruptly and doesn’t usually last longer than 6 months. Not much you can do to prevent it from happening or shorten the process.

I didn’t have the injections either nor did I have the body odor or enhanced smell issues like the OP. The things s/he experienced post-op are not things that everyone goes through after gastric bypass.

I second the recommendation for Dr. Francisco Sauceda. His PS practice is in Monterrey, Mexico and gets GREAT reviews on RealSelf, YouTube, and other WLS sites.

Weight is lost in the kitchen not the gym. Too often people add calories because they’re working out and yet they’re not Olympic athletes so they’re not burning up as many calories as they think they are. Where working out is useful is for cardiac health, stress relief, and joint/muscle flexibility & strength. It is also important once you reach goal weight and are in maintenance mode; it does help with maintaining weight loss.. But again, exercise is not criucial for weight loss. The main focus should be proper hydration, filling up with dense protein (not slider or processed food), and total calories consumed. As well, you need to address any head issues and resolve your emotional eating habits. And zero food funerals during the pre-op phase, if possible. If you don’t get a handle on the mental aspects of eating/food, then you will have challenges with weight loss and regain long term.

I didn’t take any time off during the pre-op phase, just post-op. But if you have enough sick time available, and taking time off BEFORE your surgery and subsequent sick leave won’t negatively impact your job or paycheck, then take some time off.

Taking iron along with some antibiotics might decrease the effectiveness of some antibiotics. Examples: Cipro, Penetrex, Chibroxin, Noroxin, Zagam, Trovan, Raxar, tetracycline As well, many bisphosphonates, which are used to treat osteoporosis, can be impaired by iron supplements taken too close together. As can Levodopa drugs used to treat Parkinson’s, high blood pressure medicines (e.g. Aldomet), and immunosuppressive drugs like CellCept.

Iron and calcium can also interfere with the absorption of thyroid medication. Be careful about taking calcium, calcium-fortified orange juice, and calcium-rich antacids at the same as thyroid RXs. Allow at least 3-4 hours after taking your thyroid medication, so that absorption is not affected.

Is this a legit post? Are you pre or post-op? Are you trying to lose weight or in maintenance? Mashed potatoes are considered a slider food, with low nutrition, so for most bariatric patients and normal eaters, not a regular food staple.

I have Hashimoto’s that is well controlled. My endocrinologist says that too many people blame hypothyroidism for causing weight gain or hindering weight loss. He says the #1 factor with his healthiest/normal BMI patients are that they all walk everyday, more than the average adult. Not crazy miles but consistently everyday. You do not need to go back to a liquid diet to jump start your weight loss. That is crash diet mentality. The post-op diet was necessary to heal your stomach and prevent staple leaks. Now you need to eat fewer calories and focus on dense protein to fill yourself up.

Never heard of that. I don’t think that is a common belief among bariatric surgeons. I think some surgeons recommend sleeve over bypass because it is an easier surgery for them and takes less time, so their guidance may not actually be what’s best for the patient and instead go with what’s best for them.

Just ask the surgeon how many feet s/he plans to bypass for you, and why.

If you’re not losing weight than you’re eating too much. 1300 calories is more appropriate for maintenance mode, not weight loss mode. I recommend you eat dense protein first, followed by non-starchy vegetables. And weigh all of your food and log everything that goes in your mouth with an app like MyFitnessPal. And try reducing your calories to 800-1000 per day to see if that gets you closer to your goal. Good luck!

I don’t have a noisy belly and the diarrhea I had right after surgery resolved within 1-2 weeks.

My goal weight was my healthy slim weight in college and now I’m below it and very happy. I’m no spring chicken either; it is possible to go lower than your original plan depending on your eating habits and lifestyle.

I have Hashimoto’s and the last thing I would do is take an ineffective supplement like Biotin, which can negatively affect thyroid tests.

Biotin does not help with hair loss and it can impact blood tests. FDA Safety Communication: FDA Warns that Biotin May Interfere with Blood Tests

Perhaps you’ve developed lactose intolerance post-gastric bypass, which is not uncommon. When do you feel nauseous? What makes it better?

Many folks that select VSG either don’t reach goal, do not get resolution of diabetes long term, or develop GERD and end up revising to gastric bypass. I recommend RNY so you don’t have to have a second WLS down the road. Good luck!

Dr Esquerra at Mexicali Bariatric Center

You also need to take iron and calcium separately because taken together will impair absorption of both. It is easier to find multivitamins without iron than without calcium so get one of those and then take iron and calcium citrate at different times. I also buy heme iron as it has better absorption and less side effects than other types of iron. My multivitamin of choice is One A Day Women’s 50+ Healthy Advantage, which I buy at Costco. I take 2 per day, at lunch and dinner.

I’m so sorry you’re going through this. There are many stories on the Internet of people being successful after Lapband->VSG->RNY. Do not be scared. You need to set yourself up for success with surgery by following ALL pre-op & post-op instructors. Do not have a pity party or food funerals. You can do this. But please keep in mind that bariatric surgery does not necessarily curb psychological cravings for food. Nor does it necessarily change emotional eating patterns. Emotional eating after WLS leads to LESS weight loss and can lead to weight regain. So make sure you’re doing the work to address the mental side of obesity - don’t be afraid to seek out assistance from a bariatric-focused psychologist. Good luck!

If you’re not gaining or losing you’re in maintenance mode. In order to lose weight you need to consume fewer calories. Go back to basics and eat dense protein first, followed by non-starchy vegetables, and do not drink during meals and 30-60 minutes afterwards.

What kind of WLS did you have and what was your starting weight?

I went on a European river cruise 8.5 weeks after gastric bypass and I did fine following my eating plan. At the buffet, I portioned our small bites of dense protein, veggies, and fruit, and when meals were served, I did not eat everything on my plate and didn’t feel bad about leaving food on the plate to be cleared away. It is up to you not to overeat even in the presence of an abundance of food. This is true post-op and long term. And this is also true for non-obese people.