Acadia

I take: One-a-Day Gummies (2 per serving) sours. Citracel petites for calcium and some D An extra D capsule (because I'm allergic to the sun) - I also have sublinguals if I'm feeling too tight to take a capsule Biotin sublingual B12 sublingual CoQ10 sublingual Omega 3 and 6 Iron every 3-4 days I'll start taking my Magnesium and zinc when I feel comfortable with the pill size. Acidophilus (the good stuff in yogurt) because pill form is used better by the body than from yogurt (and I don't eat yogurt) One of my specialist Drs (unrelated to WLS) suggested I stop extra C (causes kidney stones) and E (increases the probability to have a stroke) and as a vegetarian it would be unlikely I'd ever run low on either of those.

Ideally three meals a day with two very small high Protein Snacks if desired (light protein shake, cheese, egg, etc.). I'm a week and a half out and am averaging two meals and one snack a day. My calories are sitting between 600-900 and I'm not hungry after eating about 3/4 of a cup. I have 2 cc in a 10 cc band from a passive surgical fill (the Dr. puts a syringe with saline in the port but they don't push anything, they let the vacuum of the port pull in what it needs to balance itself).

You're welcome. B12 can only be absorbed from animal muscle. If you don't or can't eat enough animal muscle then you can't get enough B12, and even if you can eat 6-8 oz on a regular basis your body chemistry may change just enough (from the band pressure, etc.) to slow your natural abilities to pull B12 from food. Most doctors will test your vitamin/mineral levels at least once a year and should catch any deficiencies, but to be safe take a sublingual B12 or get B12 shots or take a B complex with B12. The repercussions from a B12 deficiency are not pretty.

A cold compress (wet or dry) will short circuit the nerves temporarily and stop the itching.

It should be noted that kidney stones are also related to excess Calcium. So if you're taking a calcium supplement, stop for a while. And if all else fails and you get and pass a stone, take it to your Dr and ask them for an analysis so you know exactly what is causing it. Calcium stones are made of calcium and so on.

Those are the codes inserted to make a line break. Sometimes when I reply from my iPhone or iPad the post is triggered prematurely and is posted incomplete so I have to follow up with my actual post.

I've been a vegetarian sine 1995 and am one week post op. You can get more than enough Protein as a vegetarian and these days it's very easy to be one. If you're interested join us on the Vegetarian / Vegan post I started in food and Nutrition.

You shouldn't be worried about losing weight right now. For the first four weeks after surgery you're healing. As for five pounds, that's a deficit of 17,500 calories. That is more than you should be losing with the band, which is 1-2 lbs a week. So you're losing just fine. Do not expect double digits. Be proud if what you've done but remember that you're still healing.

The vagas nerve doesn't start in the brain. It, like all other nerves in the body, starts in the spine. For this particular nerve, it originates from just below the base of the brain and, as its name implies, branches throughout the body. It's one of the few nerves that controls an extraordinary amount of seemingly unrelated things. It extends along the jugular lines (down the side of your neck) then passes by the carotid artery, goes down into the neck, chest, then abdomen. Its purpose is to send information back to the nervous system about the state of the body's internal organs. It controls your heart rate, the action of your intestines as they 'pulse' to move product, sweating, muscle movements in your mouth, speech, keeping the larynx open so you can breath, parts of the outer ear, and parts of your throat related to coughing. It's because of the compression of the Vagas nerve that your stomach produces less acid and you're unable to get enough B12 from meat (which is why anyone who has had restrictive band surgery should take B12 for life). Compressing the nerve also causes your heart rate to lower, your blood pressure to drop, and all sorts of other fun things, which is why it is avoided as much as possible. There were several studies done with severing part of the Vagas nerve in obese patients and it having the effect of slowing digestion and causing the patients to lose around 15% of their excess weight. When combined with a restrictive band, that percentage increased to 43%. However, severing the nerve is no longer considered an acceptable medical procedure because of the other complications. So ... depending on how your band is placed and if your vagas nerve happens to be compressed, you may get some extra help (and potentially extra problems). However, not everyone will as the nerve may fall in such a spot where it isn't compressed or compromised.

Everyone is different, however, if you're able to eat meat or bread, chances are your stoma is larger than you think (that may not be your case, but my advice was based on the original poster's threads and his situation). I'm not saying swallow a marble, a Prilosec pill (if it's the genuine Prilosec OTC) are very tiny, about the size of a Tic Tac but flat. The generic version are larger gelatin capsules. However, they're still safe to take. Gelatin capsules generally dissolve in less than 15 minutes. And if you drink a little bit of warm/hot beverage with it, it will dissolve much faster and the medication will get into your lower stomach much faster. For some pills that's not appropriate but for this, where you want the meds to get to the stomach to stop the pumps from producing acid, it's a good thing to get it there. When in doubt, talk to your Dr. Which is what I suggested originally - Prilosec may be a temporary solution but for any acid related vomiting, even foamy, a Dr. needs to be consulted.

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No idea why that posted partially twice and fully once. Sorry about that.

B12 can only be found in animal meat Proteins. Vegetarians, vegans, and anyone else not eating animal muscles will become deficient in B12. That's why you should take it. Sublinguals are the tastiest option. Calcium because you won't absorb it the same way and you may become deficient unless you're drinking enough milk. I personally never drink mill so a supplement is required. But make sure it's calcium citrate (different stomach receptors). Iron may also be required for women. B1 is often recommended for the first six months as you won't eat enough to get it naturally. Biotin will strengthen your hair and nails. Vitamin D is also highly recommended as few people get enough. You'll be taking a multi, B12 (unless you eat a lot of meat), calcium, and iron the rest of your life so find ones you like. AmericaRx.com and VitaminShoppe.com have great sublingual and chewable selections.

B12 can only be found in animal meat Proteins. Vegetarians, vegans, and anyone else not eating animal muscles will become deficient in B12. That's why you should take it. Sublinguals are the tastiest option. Calcium because you won't absorb it the same way and you may become deficient unless you're drinking enough milk. I personally never drink mill so a supplement is required. But make sure it's calcium citrate (different stomach receptors). Iron may also be required for women. B1 is often recommended for the first six months as you won't eat enough to get it naturally. Biotin will strengthen your hair and nails. Vitamin D is also highly recommended as few people get enough. You'll be taking a multi, B12 (unless you eat a lot of meat), calcium, and iron the rest of your life so find one's you like. AmericaRx.com and VitaminShoppe.com have great sublingual and chewable selections.

B12 can only be found in animal meat Proteins. Vegetarians, vegans, and anyone else not eating animal muscles will become deficient in B12. That's why you should take it. Sublinguals are the tastiest option. Calcium because you won't absorb it the same way and you may become deficient unless you're drinking enough milk. I personally never drink mill so a supplement is required. But make sure it's calcium citrate (different stomach receptors). Iron may also be required for women. B1 is often recommended for the first six months as you won't eat enough to get it naturally. Biotin will strengthen your hair and nails. You'll be taking a multi

I have the Omron, $69. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0020MMCDE/ref=mp_s_a_1?qid=1295774338&sr=8-1 It keeps a 90 day history for up to four people and does your: weight, BMI, body fat percentage, skeletal muscle percentage, metabolic requirement (number of calories required to maintain your weight), age based on your stats, and your visceral fat (the fat around your organs). It's perfectly accurate when weight with and without weights (how I test scales) and weighs to the tenth of a pound. I strongly recommend it so you can make sure you're losing fat and gaining muscle and losing visceral fat. Plus it's a damn huge shock to the system to see your body's age based on your combined stats.

Try taking it before bed. Anything smaller than a dime will go through the pouch fine.

Are you keeping track of your calories? I'm starving every day (8 days post op) but realised it was because I can't get my calories over 500. I just have too difficult of a time eating that much, it goes down I'm just not able to eat much at a sitting (the whole point of the band). But I have woken up as recently as 2 AM yesterday absolutely ravenous and I downed a 14 oz muscle milk in about four minutes. It helped. So try to track your calories (thedailyplate.com has a free option and an enormous food database and an iPhone app) and see if you're falling short. The only day I wasn't hungry was one where I ate some small Pasta shells, Soup, and whole wheat crackers. And my calories still didn't top 600 for the day. Now that I'm approved for oatmeal, pasta, Soups, crackers, cheese, etc. It's getting a little better and I'll be glad to get my calories back up to 1,200.

The stoma (hole) from the pouch to the stomach will be the size of a dime. As long as your pills are smaller than that you're fine. Talk with your pharmacist (not your doctor) about your meds and they'll tell you what your options are. Doctors do not know all of the meds out there, your pharmacist will make sure to get the right information for you. I'm a week out and am taking all my normal Vitamins at night including regular size Gelatin capsules (Vit D and Vit B1) and pills up to the size of a dime. No issues at all. I have a 10cc band with 2cc

If you're working out, increase your calories, and try to eat protein 30 minutes before working out, then a little bit within 15 minutes of working out. And do your weights first, then cardio. And if you can do more than eight reps with your weights, they're too light. It truly can be beneficial to hire a personal trainer (look for someone with the body you want) for a session or a week (3 sessions). They can teach you a lot about technique. Especially those who compete professionally.

I agree about the Bullet. But for protein shakes any container with something in it, even a mesh top, will mix your shakes quickly and effectively and can be cleaned with a quick rinse. GNC is likely your best source for one of those or Bariatric Advantage online has one (my dr office gives them out to each patient).

It's a great position

I'm eight days out and had the worst shoulder pain ever tonight. Every breath hurt. a paramedic friend of mine let me know that abdominal surgery will often trigger a nerve that happens to be in the lower abdomen but sends a trigger through the spine to the left shoulder in particular. Ectopic pregnancies, c-sections, appendectomy, all can cause the same sensations. A hot pack (tube sock with 3-4 cups dry rice, tied off, microwaved for two minutes, wrapped in tshirt) will help with the pain. It can last up to six weeks, most people don't experience that but it can happen. The sounds are normal, you're just conscious of them like when you buy a new car and you suddenly see that car everywhere.

<br /><br /><br /> Your Dr. should cut them into individual sutures, if he doesn't then he risks pulling outside irritants and bacteria through the wound and I would be questioning any Dr. that would do that. It's likely he'll clip just under the skin on each side to make sure he can pull them all out on one side. That's the common procedure.

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