AngelaZ

I like my Bariatric Advantage calcium chews (in caramel). They actually do taste like caramel. I hated the same brand’s chewable Multivitamin (so gross), but I stuck it out for 2.5 months because my doc wanted me to start on chewable and prefers I stick with multis that are specifically made for Bariatric patients. I have graduated from chewables and now take the Celebrate multivitamin in capsule form (no chewing necessary just swallow whole with water). My BariMelts Biotin tastes good. I think it’s some sort of berry flavor. I also take Vitamin D drops. They are oily and taste slightly like grass, but you I only taste it for a second or two, so no big deal.

Thank you everybody for your help! The Colace helped a little while I was waiting for my doc office to get back to me. The bm’s were still gigantic (ugh sorry lol) but they were softer, so less painful. I was eventually advised by my doc’s office to try dieter’s tea and Benefiber. I had already added more fiber with food but that did not seem to help. I started benefiber yesterday in my protein shake. My subsequent bm was a bunch of marble shapes. Not ideal, but better than the porcupines I was passing before. I have also decided to change my Multivitamin to one without calcium since I already take calcium chews for that . Doc’s office said that might help as well. Thanks!

Apologies in advance for this topic. I am 2.5 months post-op. For the past month I have been having irregular bowel movements. And recently the last three bowel movements were very painful, a little bloody and large (ugh sorry!). I have called the doc’s office, but would like to hear from those of you who have dealt with this. I have Colace and powder Miralax at home. Which would you take? Which is safer? Thank you! I am dreading the next bm. This morning’s felt like giving birth to a porcupine ! Lol

May I ask which form of Celebrate you’re taking? I am looking to switch my current Multivitamin and have put 2 of the Celebrates in my shopping cart. One is the capsule and the other is the orange chew. I am leaning towards the capsule because I already take calcium chews and am kind of tired of chewing lol. Would be nice to be able to take my MV with water no chewing required. However I keep hearing capsules don’t absorb as well. So many decisions, so little time to research!

I started vitamins today. I have Bariatric Advantage Calcium Citrate caramel chews (yummy!) which I have no problem chewing. They taste good. However, the Bariatric Advantage Multivitamin mixed fruit chews are testing my gag reflex. I chewed and swallowed the first one. It was distasteful to me to put it mildly. I had to immediately wash my mouth out with water. I have to take another. Can I just cut it with my pill cutter and swallow the whole pieces with water? Does that way interfere with absorption? Oh man, they do NOT agree with me. LOL

I am in middle of a stall right now. I had surgery 3 weeks ago yesterday. I lost 17 pounds the first week, half a pound the second, then nothing the third. I feel like I’ve been in a two week stall (even though I lost half a pound the second week). I am not too worried about it though since I am doing everything I should be. It is a little frustrating not to see the needle move for two weeks...but it is what it is and 17 pounds lost overall is pretty good.

Throwing up has not happened to me (though I did have a dry heave the first time because of the horrible taste of mine), but I have read quite a few people who vomiting after vitamin has happened to here. For a couple of them, their doctor switched them to Flintstones chewable vitamin. What vitamin did you take? Brand? Was it big? Is it chewable, liquid, patch? Could you have started taking it too soon? My doctor said I HAD to wait two whole weeks before I started my vitamins. Also, when I started, I took half the dose the first and second day just to let my system get used to it. A friend of mine did feel nauseous one time after taking her vitamins. She promptly took a dose of her nausea meds and it quickly went away.

Definitely not insane.! Sounds normal to me. My incision did not burn, but it was red and itchy. It is much better now. I am 3 weeks post-op. What helped the most was when the glue and strips finally fell off. I was allergic to them. I also took Benadryl. Your surgeon’s office can tell you what to do for the burning. As long as you ARE peeing, that’s all that matters. You will definitely get the urge to pee back, especially with all the hydrating we are required to do. It gets much better!

Caramel. They are good.

Thank you both! I called my surgeon’s office and I also the phone number on the vitamin bottle. Doc office said they prefer I chew them or crush them into powder and eat them with applesauce. The Person who answered the 800 number said I could cut them and swallow the pieces with water. So two different answers lol. I like the idea of Flintstones chewable ....do you take one a day?

Bariatric Advantage Calcium Citrate chews (with Vitamin D) are very good. Easy to chew and swallow. And tasty. Bariatric Advantage Multivitamin mixed fruit chews are NOT GOOD. The serving size is two tablets. They are big and taste bad. I am stuck with them for the next 30 days though. Hoping I can just cut them with my pill cutter and swallow the pieces whole without chewing??? They almost made me gag.

Hello! I am 4.5 days post-op, and tonight I noticed some tiny red bumps all over my belly and some on the sides of my belly. I swear they weren’t there this morning. Could this be related to the surgery, anesthesia, meds, or iodine they prep you with? I did notice the bumps seem to be in almost the exact location the orange-y iodine stuff was. I sort of want to nip this in the bud right now with some Benadryl... is that ok to take 4 days post-op? Thanks for any info!

Thanks for the info BossBev. I was actually thinking of calling my PCP. What did your primary do for you? Did they clear it up?

Thanks everyone. Well, the bumps have gotten bigger, redder and now they itch. There is also a lot of redness around the incisions now. Surgeon’s office said to continue with Benadryl and also to get extra strength medical grade hydrocortisone cream. They want me to to that for a couple days. If that doesn’t help, the next step is steroids. Cold compresses seem to help a little as well. I think the fact that I have resisted scratching also helps. May also try some of the other suggestions above. Thanks!

It took me a few days to get the guts to post this because frankly it is TMI, but I am now Day 4 of my bowel movements being all diarrhea. Is that normal or a cause for concern? Thanks and sorry for the topic lol. P.s. What is “dumping”. I have seen that term a few times. Does it have to do with this topic? Thanks!

Thanks everyone! My surgeons office said it could be due to the Tylenol/Codeine I was taking. They did not think it was related to the surgical tape or glue since the bumps are all over my belly. They told me to take Benadryl, which did not help with the bumps but sure did help me sleep. Right now they aren’t itchy, hoping it stays that way.

That is very helpful. Thank you!

Although I am not in as much pain as you, I don’t feel normal yet. I am one week out today, and still have so little energy. My legs feel wobbly. Tomorrow I start soft foods so I hope that helps with my energy. I had pain the first two-three days and was basically taking my pain meds every six hours for that whole time.

I had some mild tingling/numbing sensation in my left foot yesterday, but it went away. I have been walking a lot, like every hour, so maybe that helped. I read it has to do with circulation, but I still plan to bring it up to my doctor at my two week follow up.

Funny you should say that. I felt a little blue today when I was watching a Popeye’s commercial. I have no idea why I felt blue, since I have never had Popeye’s and don’t even like fried chicken. I have also had a few moments of regret (did I make the right decision) and also feeling overwhelmed with all the new things I have to learn. But they are just moments here and there, and I tell myself it will be worth it. And I believe it will. Sounds like you needed to cry a little and I totally understand. It was probably a relief/release to do so!

When I woke up in recovery, the nurse informed me that I had the surgery, but I didn’t believe her. It was my first experience with anesthesia. I was blown away that I actually had the surgery. The last thing I remembered was the anesthesiologist coming by to say hello. Next thing I know it is 2.5 hours later, but to me it felt like only five minutes had passed lol. When I first woke up after surgery, I felt groggy and I had a little shortness of breath. That all resolved itself within 30 minutes. After that, I just had discomfort. No real bad pain since they had me on good pain meds. It was a strange feeling, but a very good one to not remember anything about the surgery. I was a bit more uncomfortable the next day, after the good hospital pain meds wore off. They sent me home with Tylenol/Codeine for pain, which was not as effective as whatever they gave me in the hospital. But even that discomfort did not last long. I am three days post-op and feel pretty good except for the CO2 gas and a little cramping/seizing.

I find the more I walk, the less gas I have. I am 3 days after surgery. I have literally walked every hour since surgery. Every time I walk I feel some gas leaving me. Can’t wait until it’s all out!