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bariatric vitamins and calcium chews: where to purchase?
Longview Lady posted a topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Hi All! I'm on day 3 of liquid diet and surgery is set for 11/30/23. I'll be taking off all of December from work as that is what doctor suggested for recovery time. My job is physically and mentally demanding. So, where did you/everyone get their bariatric Vitamins and calcium chews? My doctor recommended chewables for first 3 months, and honestly, I'm not a pill person anyway, if I can avoid it. Trying to watch my pennies, aren't we all, so thought I'd ask and hope for some good recommendations. The Kaiser Program I am going through recommends a couple different Vitamin brands to choose from: Bariatric Advantage and Celebrate. Still, would like to hear the vitamins you are using even if not the brands I mentioned. Thanks for your feedback in advance. -
A bunch of Problems and a little rant.
catwoman7 replied to Stormwood's topic in Gastric Bypass Surgery Forums
by "second surgery", do you mean you have a second stricture that needs to be stretched? That's not unusual. I had to go in twice to get mine stretched - after that, I was fine - never had problems with them again. About 5% of bypass patients get strictures. The PA at my bariatric clinic said it's the most common complication - and it's an easy fix. They almost never happen once you reach the 3-month-post-op mark, so it's doubtful you'll have one again after you get this one stretched. you'll be able to eat more the further out you get from surgery. It's really just the first few months that you have certain food restrictions and can only eat a tiny amount of food. you should feel a lot better once they stretch out the stricture - and it's unlikely you'll have another one after this. -
OMG, family is such a touchy subject. I will be 50 years old in a few months, and I still want to be the "good daughter." I worry about what my family thinks to a degree I never imagined when I was younger. But you have to advocate for yourself because no one else is going to (easier said than done, I know). There are a few things that might help. First, if your family are the type who will "listen to the experts," I suggest you direct them to the extensive video series by both Dr. Matthew Weiner and Dr. John Pilcher. They are totally free on YouTube. I have watched every single video, some of them multiple times. Both of these doctors have this sort of calming aura about them. I swear, I feel less anxious every time they speak. They explain everything in really simple terms, and I think your family members will get it a lot better if they at least watch a few about eating after surgery. Another thing you could try if they're more visual is buying one of those bariatric portion plates where it shows the different amounts of each thing. Or maybe if you get a bariatric cookbook and have your mom work through it with you and make some recipes, she will see for herself how much you should have and how it should look on the plate. I know the cookbook Dr. Weiner published tells you portion size for 1-2 months, 6 months, 1 year, and beyond. So she can see it's not going to be a couple tablespoons for the rest of your life. Ultimately, if she can't get on board, you may have to stop eating around her. But hopefully it won't come to that!
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bariatric vitamins and calcium chews: where to purchase?
RTL1234 replied to Longview Lady's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
If I'm doing patches (which some doc offices do not approve of so YMMV), I order directly from Patch Aid. Otherwise, I usually order from here, Bariatric Pal Store. The Celebrate Chewables are okay, I'm used to eating Tums all day so the chalky doesn't bug me too much. It is just chewing 4 of them a day, makes me want to vomit. I prefer patches to the chewables. -
bariatric vitamins and calcium chews: where to purchase?
NickelChip replied to Longview Lady's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
I was given samples of the Celebrate tropical chewables (the Celebrate One 45, which has 45mg iron) and one of the fruit calcium chew (cherry, maybe?). They were better than anything else I tried by far. I set up an account with Celebrate directly and have them ordered on a 3-month cycle. You can get 90-day bundles and save a little that way, and the calcium you can get with one bag in each flavor for variety, either fruit or the sweet treats (chocolate, coffee, and caramel). I don't have surgery for another month, but I started them early so I can get in the habit, and I actually look forward to taking them. The fruit calcium reminds me of Starburst, and the caramel is the best of the sweet treats, in my opinion. I also tried Bariatric Fusion and I found the texture and aftertaste unpleasant by comparison. -
bariatric vitamins and calcium chews: where to purchase?
Longview Lady posted a topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Hi All! I'm on day 3 of liquid diet and surgery is set for 11/30/23. I'll be taking off all of December from work as that is what doctor suggested for recovery time. My job is physically and mentally demanding. So, where did you/everyone get their bariatric vitamins and calcium chews? My doctor recommended chewables for first 3 months, and honestly, I'm not a pill person anyway, if I can avoid it. Trying to watch my pennies, aren't we all, so thought I'd ask and hope for some good recommendations. The Kaiser Program I am going through recommends a couple different vitamin brands to choose from: Bariatric Advantage and Celebrate. Still, would like to hear the vitamins you are using even if not the brands I mentioned. Thanks for your feedback in advance. -
I am officially in the pre-operative bariatric program through Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic! I met with the surgeon yesterday and we determined that it was better to do the bariatric surgery before the ventral hernia repair. She set a pre-surgery goal weight of 264 and we will decide on the type of procedure (sleeve or bypass) in January. Surgery will be in April or May. I've already made my first nutritionist, lab and psychologist appointments, with the dietician being the first one next Friday, the day after Thanksgiving! I'm motivated and ready to change my life and it finally feels like I will have to tools to do it.
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Weirdest None-Scale-Victory - I'll go first
BlondePatriotInCDA replied to chiquitatummy's topic in General Weight Loss Surgery Discussions
Just this week I took a trip and I actually had extra in my seatbelt on the plane (it used to he maxed)! (shhh don't tell my bariatric surgeon we're not supposed to travel for a minimum of 90 days per his office - I was a week short). -
Who Doesn't Love a Good Report? Share Here :)
Sunnyer replied to BabySpoons's topic in Gastric Bypass Surgery Forums
My blood test last month showed both B12 and folate as too high. B12 was 981 (normal is 142-775) and folate was 205 (normal is 6-34). They told me to switch my supplements. and take normal multivitamins instead of bariatric ones. I've been taking this bariatric multivitamins since my surgery, and my blood test earlier this year was ok. The folate especially seems really high. According to the label, one capsule includes 200% of daily value for active folic acid, and 41,6% of the daily value for B12. Since I'm cheap, I figured I would just finish the bariatric vitamins by taking them every other day, but I wonder if that was the right choice. I also read that high B12 in blood may be because your body isn't absorbing or utilising them right. Also, I was a bit low in monocytes, which may mean my body is more susceptible to infection. They didn't mention this, I just saw it in the report. Has anybody else gotten this result? -
Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery October 2023 group
texasmade88 replied to New To This23's topic in Gastric Bypass Surgery Forums
Hello @New To This23 thank you so much! My current loss includes preop diet as well. I was only required to do a 3 day preop diet. I agree about the stalls or slow moving scales! I plan to only weigh once a month. I already was getting in a habit of weighing everyday...I don't feel that's mentally healthy. Anyways I feel good about the holidays. I current cook several times a week for my family and have already meal prepped my "bariatric portions". I may still make old favorites for family dinner... but there no pressure to do so. I may even try a little of normal food... but won't push it. -
One Year With Mini Gastric Bypass: My Journey, Thoughts, and Tips!
Smanky replied to a topic in Mini Gastric Bypass Surgery Forum
Hi Edward, The original thread starter left the forum ages ago, but I'll try to answer being veteran MGB patient now well into maintenance. Regarding "bad things". Honestly, EVERY bariatric surgery option comes with issues from mild to (thankfully rarer) serious. It's worth remembering that people on forums like this mostly ask questions when they think things are going wrong or are looking for reassurance. Stalls are common for ALL procedures. GERD is common in the sleeve but not everyone gets it. Pain? Well yeah, it's major surgery so expect it to hurt. Your body has to recover from about five deep stab wounds, being inflated, and then having the stomach cut apart and intestines rearranged. That will take time to recover from! What I think is surprising is how FAST the body recovers considering what it goes through. And if, like me, you have a hiatal hernia repair at the same time, it's another level of pain to wade through, but it does improve. And I take ibuprofen and aspirin. I was never told "never again". I don't take it frequently, but when I have to, I take it. Nothing horrible has happened, and I AM prone to ulcers. To combat my ulcers, I take Pantoprazole. No biggie. As for the hunger, it seems different for everyone across all procedures. My hunger came back about six months in. The restriction remains though, and some things have remained permanently off the menu, like coconut milk/cream and more than one bite of bread or potatoes. It's different for everyone, but I really am glad I got the MGB/Omega Loop. Worked a treat, I lost almost 120% of my excess body fat, and my lab results are all great so the vitamin intake hasn't been an issue. -
I'm going the self pay route with Blossom Bariatrics, but was given similar timelines when I spoke with folks with Dr Shillingford and the Nicholson Clinics, but generally scheduling could be done 3 weeks out with 2 weeks of pre-op diet for a Sleeve procedure. From first call to the surgery is generally 1 month, but sounds like it could be less in some cases. RNY, DS, and revisions required considerably more time to plan for. Far fewer hoops to have to jump through going this route, though. I'm only going this route because my insurance declines anything related to bariatric surgery. My previous employer's insurance would only cover a lap band, and it required a year of meetings. If I missed one, or gained any weight between sessions, I had to start over, which is ridiculous. Also they didn't cover any counseling, which I definitely recommend signing up for! It's just as much mental as it is physical! I'd rather not have the equivalent of a car payment hanging over my head, but my health has been declining significantly the last few years and I need a change. My job isn't forgiving with PTO either, and it was all I could do to take the 3 days off for the week of Thanksgiving to get mine done next Monday. It's a small business, so FMLA isn't an option, so I have to go back to work the next Monday.
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Revision for GERD to bypass- what was your process?
MacEBE posted a topic in Revision Weight Loss Surgery Forums (NEW!)
I was sleeved in 2017. In hindsight, bypass would have been better given my history of GERD. Fast forward years later, COVID piled the weight on (working from home, lockdown, job stress (worked in healthcare during pandemic) and I'm up 65 lbs. That i can deal with though. I know the bariatric lifestyle, and I know what I need to do to lose the weight healthily and such. It's the GERD. I'm up to 60-80 mgs of Prilosec daily, plus antacids and other H2 blockers as needed. I sleep elevated and just always generally feel like I have a pit in my sternum. I've subsequently relocated to a new state since my surgery, so I feel like I'm starting all over. I have an appointment with my PCC this week to discuss the GERD issue. Given what people are stating on this board, it seems like that a RNY may be an option. Honestly, I just want to know why it has escalated so bad over the last several years. It doesn't matter what it is; it comes up. I drank some unsweetened almond milk two hours after dinner, and about 10 mins later I literally burped it up like a baby. No warning, nothing... All over my bed. Other times, it's that hor burning awful acidic in my throat and chest. Makes me cough. I try to eat crackers to help absorb the acid, which is not healthy. I'm really quite scared that's something serious. What have your experiences been like? Will I go through a whole program again? I just want relief. What questions should I bring up with my doctor. What tests will they run? This is still a fairly new PCC relationship and several thousand miles away from where I first was treated/sleeved. -
My surgeon's office recommended Bariatric Advantage- both the multi-vitamin + iron and the calcium chews. I get both from Amazon, though I'm Stateside. I opted for the chewable multi-vitamin after the first bottle.
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HELP with Vitamins!
LilaNicole20 replied to AmberFL's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
My team recently switched me from the handful of vitamins I started with to this one a day vitamin: Bariatric Advantage Ultra Solo Iron. I also take a Bariatric Advantage calcium chew 3x a day. -
I don't have any since I don't have a uterus. LOL But I have seen some comment here about it, you may want to use the search function and see if you can pull up past posts about infertility. I've also seen a number of bariatric pregnancy groups on Facebook so you might want to check that out too! They will probably have much more targeted information for you! I wish you a lot of luck!!
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November 2023 buddies
BoilerBob replied to brandycsiz's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
My Costco keeps running out of Fairlife. I’ve been ordering from them online but it is a little bit more to have it shipped. I’ll have to try the cafe latte. I’ve been off Ozempic for a few weeks. Good news is that I haven’t thrown up for over a week a the bad news is that some of my hunger is coming back here at the end. I’m trying to drink water and remind myself I’m already down 30 pounds from this month of preop (my wife and others have made comments about looking skinnier). I’m still trying to mentally prepare for Monday. I actually read a few of the papers my surgeon wrote about bariatric surgeries and his view on the process. It was interesting. Tomorrow is my last day of work and I just want to get to it. -
Anyone gone to Blossom Bariatric (self-pay) in Las Vegas?
Drinkwine28 replied to kmn1109's topic in Weight Loss Surgeons & Hospitals
Mine was 100% private pay. My insurance would not cover it all. totally an exclusion. Blossom is available after surgery but only if you need them and reach out. I never really reached out or had any complications. I follow them on social media and read lots of people having questions, etc. I have to say, I think he follow-up could be better. My GP was very hesitant to just "take over" when I got back. Doctors don't want to be responsible for someone else's surgery. Makes sense. I also knew it would be discouraged from going out of state so I never disclosed or told GP office what I was doing. My point is when she would ask me questions about aftercare I would be like "uh I don't know" she would ask what about follow-up? I was like hmm, I guess there really isn't any. No binder, no regular calls or direct contact. Luckily, I didn't need it though. My GP said my case made her more interested in it and learn about the follow up and tests needed, etc. Also makes sense, if insurance covered it, I would likely have a bariatric team and all my tests and follow up would be with them. The actual recovery was really good and seamless for me. I followed all the directions in Vegas. I was prepared for the worse. I walked and woke up every few hours with my daughter's help. I never had to horrible gas pain people talk about. Plane ride was super awkward with the fancy leg pumps. 😜🤣 Once home, FLUIDS! Alex explained, you can live 10 days without food but not water/fluids. I was tired the first week. I just listened to my body. I moved around as much as possible, but didn't push myself either. I will be blunt about MY ONLY complication. CONSTIPATION is real! And it's awful! Never had this in my life. Quite the opposite. So my advice, always keep track so it does not get away from you. Use the stool softeners and fiber. After two years, I still have moments but I have a good routine to treat it. On the other hand, I have read people have the opposite, so listen to your body! I'm so excited for you and can't wait to hear how you do. What is your date again? -
FDA approval of new anti obesity med
Alex Brecher replied to GreenTealael's topic in GLP-1 & Other Weight Loss Medications (NEW!)
Absolutely, the FDA's approval of Eli Lilly's Zepbound™ (tirzepatide) is a game-changer in weight management! It's the first medication that works on both GIP and GLP-1 receptors, making it a novel addition to obesity treatments. Clinical trials have been impressive, with participants losing an average of 22.5% of their body weight. For many, this could be a transformative non-surgical alternative that might reduce or even eliminate the need for bariatric surgery. That said, it's important to consider the potential side effects, which can be quite serious, as well as its high cost—although Eli Lilly is working to increase accessibility. As this medication rolls out, it could redefine treatment plans, offering a new, potent tool for weight loss both before and after bariatric surgery. It's an exciting time for both patients and healthcare providers in the field of weight management! -
yep - agree with the others. We don't absorb vitamins as well as "normies" do, and we need more of certain vitamins than what typically comes in a multivitamin. In addition, I don't think I've ever seen a multi that has calcium citrate in it. They usually have calcium carbonate, which we don't absorb very well. We're supposed to take calcium citrate. you can ask your surgeon about their requirements, or check this list from the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (I'm guessing a lot of surgeons use this list). You have to scroll down a bit to get to the requirements. They have them for each type of surgery: ASMBS-Nutritional-Guidelines-2016-Update.pdf
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HELP with Vitamins!
SarahByNumbers replied to AmberFL's topic in PRE-Operation Weight Loss Surgery Q&A
Hi Amber! My program requires similar vitamins (the only difference is, instead of B-1, they have us do a B-Complex). The explanation they gave me was that we'll need even more of quite a few vitamins after surgery, as we may not absorb certain ones (especially B-12) as well anymore. Vitamin D helps with healing, so it's good to have some extra (and deficiency is really common, especially in bariatric patients). The other reason for seemingly "doubling up" on some is that we're not getting any vitamins from "real food" immediately post-op, so they want to account for missing out on those when we're in the liquid & puree stages. Hope that helps! -
What was your “Moment” ?
diadori replied to GrannyMaggie's topic in General Weight Loss Surgery Discussions
My moment just happened. I have a recurrent abdominal hernia. The general surgeon I met with initially really pounded it in my head that my weight was causing this problem. He ended up referring me to a bariatric specialist surgeon who I see on the 16th after a CT scan of my hernia tonight. That visit will determine how they are going to treat me - surgery to repair the hernia and mesh first or push for WLS. I've been researching like crazy and I'm starting to dream of a life where I'm not diabetic, I don't have sleep apnea and I can go to the thrift store and buy clothes again. -
I am at the very beginning of my WLS journey and meet with the bariatric surgeon for the first time next week. What are some things you wish you had known or had asked questions about at the start?
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Originally I was having gastric sleeve done in Las Vegas(blossom bariatric) in July 2020..during procedure they found a sac of tumors in my abdomen and decided not to complete sleeve...had tumors removed June of 2021 in El Paso TX..targeted therapy for cancer since then..was scheduled for sleeve in Sept 2023..another hiccup (atrial fibrillation)..well after cardiac catheterization and aversion..got cleared for surgery probably late Dec or early Jan...finally
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Who Doesn't Love a Good Report? Share Here :)
apalm replied to BabySpoons's topic in Gastric Bypass Surgery Forums
I had an appointment with my PCP yesterday and got online to review my lab results today and my B12 was 1543. I’m freaking out! Is that normal after Bariatric surgery? I’m 2.5 mo out from DS SIPS/SADI.
