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Just got my 6 month labs back and they were good with the pro care health SADI one a day and 3 calcium chews from bariatric advantage.

Make sure to keep up with those labs. It could take a while for you to see things deplete because we have stores of these vitamins. I honestly think it varies from person to person and what you eat makes a huge difference because if your taking adequate nutrients in from food you won’t need as many supplements. We do malabsorb a large portion of our fat soluable vitamins as a rule though so good to get labs quarterly at first and then at least yearly. I take the Pro care health SADI specific vitamin And 3 calcium chews from bariatric advantage. My 3 and 6 month labs were good but I wouldn’t call it a success until I get the one year labs back and I’m still good.

I take the same vitamins and minerals. I’ve always taken, but I take 50% higher dose. I have found that my vitamins that I take pre-surgery were higher end doses than a lot of of the bariatric medications so I don’t pay for those high prices when they have less in them than what I already take. I am a female in my 50s and I take a Centrum Silver for men because it has higher doses than the one for women I do not take shoes or Gummies because the pills break down slower and have a chance to actually get absorbed better than a gummy I take calcium chews at night three of them instead of the recommended two and in the morning I take everything else along with my iron and vitamin C . again 50% higher dose and my blood work is fine

I had the Sadie and my research on it from my doctor says that the Sadie is only 25% more mall absorptive than the bypass. Whereas the traditional Didal switch could be up to 80%. I don’t use Bariatric vitamins. I take the same vitamins and supplements. I have always taken, but I raised the amount by 50% to cover the 25% loss and my blood work is just fine.

So I had the Sadie, I have gas every day because the sugar alcohols in my protein drinks give me gas. I will also get gas if I eat Suda for a vegetables, high fats or simple carbs. The gas I really can’t control. It gets pretty abundant and I can’t always get to another room before it comes out. But go into the bathroom you can completely control. It’s not some sudden urge where you gotta go right now. If you’re not eating a boatload of sugars and fats you’re not gonna get diarrhea. You’re gonna have normal bowel movements and you can control them just the same way you did before bariatric surgery. Now they do sell tablets that you can take. It is a form of a business that deodorizes your body from the inside so that your gas is not as bad as it normally would be. It takes you back to pre-surgery gas smell. They also sell odor blocking underwear. But if you don’t take the proper steps, just know that the flatulence from the Sadie is a lot and it smells pretty bad, but if you take care of it preemptively you’ll be OK.

Hello there and welcome! I was sleeved about 8 weeks ago now and I spent countless hours, days and months before surgery stressing about every little thing that I read and heard. Right up until surgery I was still hyperventilating! I totally understand how you feel right now. Now I'm on the other side I have to say there are some major challenges for me to deal with. I have been big my entire life and this is like a baptism by fire to me. What do I mean by that? Well I knew I had a food issue especially comfort eating but I didn't realise how bad it was until after my surgery. Head hunger is my biggest enemy I crave food a lot of times during my day. Interestingly enough I don't really crave junk food anymore because I have avoided that from the get go, I just miss the comfort of eating more if that makes sense. I did feel really drained and miserable months before surgery, I was so afraid of things going terribly wrong too, but I was Ok and it was worth it. I don't regret it and I am still early days. I have lost over2 and a half stone in that time and I am feeling much better than I was pre op. Now, you say you don't enjoy healthy food but what do you class a healthy? You will eventually be able to eat chicken, lean beef and pork mince, fish, cheese, yogurts, protein drinks, protein puddings and much more. You will also be surprised how much your tastes and cravings change post op, I know! I didn't believe it either! I make a healthy version of pizza with my own low calorie wholemeal base and low fat protein cheese with ham. It tastes better than the one I used to have before and it is a much healthier version. There's literally loads of ways you can alter your favourite foods to make them lower in calories and healthier too. Get on Pinterest and tiktok there's so much content out there for bariatric surgery patients. The main thing I should tell you with absolute certainty is that the sleeve is a tool not a quick fix. You really need to be fully prepared for the changes it will bring. You will need to put in the hard head work and explore a healthier way of life, Be willing to try healthier food and you may learn to like it. You will not be able to eat unhealthy food and get all the nutrients you need from your diet. If you are certain this is what you want to do then you need to research. you said you don't like healthy food but you also said you don't know how to eat healthy. This is where your research will come in. I noticed you said that you can't find the discipline but when you have a smaller tummy you physically can't eat as much, you will be in a lot of pain and then you will throw up! I wish you all the best on your journey, it's a hell of a ride! x

For breakfast it’s almost always an omolette or an egg and cheese wrap. Either one I use whatever leftover veggies are in fridge. Chicken Cesar salad with a low carb wrap is my favorite option right now. That and fajitas are two of my favorites. My hubby makes a couple chicken breasts on the grill every few days and starting with the cooked chicken they are both quick and go down easy. I also do steak fajitas or cauliflower crust pizza with chicken or I do taco meat and make tacos or taco salad with the taco lean beef or chicken on them mini low carb tortillas. I am pretty fine having the same things over and over as long as it’s stuff that I like. And I always have a whole variety of chopped and washed fruit in the fridge and I have that when the sugar cravings hit. Probably way too often in terms of calories but hey at least it’s not ice cream, right? I have been doing a lot of skinny pop which I know is not really in the bariatric diet but it’s not horrible for me nutrition wise at least. Other than that it’s mostly yogurt drinks and nuts or cheese sticks on the run. What are your go to’s? How is the activity? Are you still plugging along with your classes??

Thank you everyone, I hadn't considered fighting for coverage. I made an appointment Tuesday to at least talk to a surgeon to discuss my symptoms, options etc. It isn't my original as while I liked him quite a bit, Baylor Scott and White will never get another dime of money from me. My other concern is that I am already coming into this low grade anemic but having to take the acid reducers so frequently also messes with the iron absorption so that has also been a concern in the back of my mind as well. My insurance doesn't cover any bariatric anything regardless of the plan, I even double checked today to see if just waiting and paying more for 2026 coverage would be an option but unless I get a new job with better coverage it's going to be fighting or Mexico.

I had a post op appt with my NP yesterday. She is please with my nutrition even though it’s not quite status quo. I am still doing chemo with steroids so I have some pretty intense cravings but for now the chemo has made me hyperthyroid so I am maintaining despite a lot less exercise and a less than perfect bariatric diet. Sounds like a blessing to be able to eat more but I’m still having to rein it in because I am ravenous 24/7 and of course there are some real health risks with hyperthyroidism so I have to closely monitor things. I am really hoping it goes away or I’m going to go broke trying to afford healthy food in the quantity I am able to consume. I have mostly nutritious food but I’m not counting calories or quantity for now. Plus with the tiny stomach I eat like 10 times a day so it’s pretty time consuming. On a better note I had a PET Scan the other day and my treatment is working!! A couple more months until the chemo should be done as long as I stay healthy enough to keep getting it. I hope a couple of months later things will be back and I will have a normal amount of cravings that I should be able to handle. I’m gonna need some emotional support kicking the carbs though for sure.

I agree with SpartanMake above. Be prepared to fight with insurance. It is a medical need and eventually causes cancer. Your bariatric doctor should be able to help after you initially get declined. Fortunately, in my case the hiatal hernia was caught before bariatric surgery, but my doctor still had to fight for me. It turned out the insurance doctor was a retired pediatric physician so was not not well informed. Best of luck to you because the fight is a long hard slog. I personally feel that taking extra vitamins is easy compared to cancer. Do what you need to do whatever your decision.

Hey y'all, Haven't posted in a while but I need some insight from the community. I was sleeved December 2020, took RX strength omeprazole for 90 days post op since that was what my surgeon did., had zero issues with heartburn incidences. However, heartburn runs in my family---in the males, I didn't have issues beyond maybe once in a frozen blue moon I MIGHT have a mild case that 2 Tums fixed before surgery. Fast forward a couple of years-heartburn incidences starts getting worse/becoming more numerous, would get up choking on acid if I laid down to soon after eating and everything seemed to cause it. Water, protein shakes, sugar/no sugar, etc it's just stupid. I had a bad attack of pain and nausea a few months ago that honestly had me worried about a heart attack but ended up with a CT scan and was diagnosed with a hiatal hernia--the ER doc I saw said my surgery site/stomach looked fine though. I have regained about 35-40ishlbs from where I was but I have maintained a loss of close to 80lbs. In order to survive mostly comfortably, I am living off of a lot of days multiple famotidines sprinkled through the day. Sometimes NOT eating also causes heartburn. I'm over it 120%. Here's my question---my current insurance covers NO bariatric surgery for ANY reason. Should I pursue JUST the hernia repair in the US or should I look into going to Mexico for a revision to the Bypass with maybe also a hernia repair if that's offered? The reason I went with the sleeve in the first place was my already mild anemia that is genetic-runs in the family on the women's side unfortunately and I didn't want to contend with possibly getting really anemic or not being able to keep up with the nutrition/vitamin requirements but I can't live with this heartburn issue for another 50-60+ years (currently 35 years old). Thanks for anyone who wants to give me some thoughts/input!

I am 6 weeks out and I take Bariatric PAL MV and I take a calcium soft chew by Fusion. I also do protein powder in my tea in the morning, 2 scoops that’s 30 grams, then I make the rest by what I eat. It’s funny, I loved coffee before surgery, but now it makes me feel awful🥺

@BlondePatriotInCDA I wish surgeries of all types were more affordable even bariatric surgery some people can't afford those surgeries or insurance will not approve it. It's such a life changing surgery that more people need. As far as plastics, yes it needs to be way more affordable. Hey, you might wanna look into foreign travel! Colombia 🇨🇴 top plastics doctors do great work! Everyone deserves to get their nips and tucks.

I have my date 10 March 2025.i have started my yr off with a major weight loss already I am down almost 60lbs already by eating a bariatric diet already

I've been taking BariatricPal Multivitamin ONE capsules recently, and I've found them really helpful. They're flavorless, and you only need one a day, which is super convenient. There's a deal where a year's supply is just $99, which seems like great value. If you're interested, you can check it out at https://store.bariatricpal.com/99. One thing I appreciate about these vitamins is that experts in the field specifically design them with bariatric needs in mind. Just a heads-up, though – taking a separate calcium supplement is recommended, as it can affect iron absorption. If you're looking for options, BariatricPal has a range of calcium supplements that might suit your needs, available at https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/calcium. Also, if you're exploring different brands or types of bariatric multivitamins, there's a variety to choose from at https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/multivitamins. It's always good to have opt I've been taking BariatricPal Multivitamin ONE capsules recently, and I've found them really helpful. They're flavorless, and you only need one a day, which is super convenient. There's a deal where a year's supply is just $99, which seems like great value. If you're interested, you can check it out at https://store.bariatricpal.com/99. One thing I appreciate about these vitamins is that experts in the field specifically design them with bariatric needs in mind. Just a heads-up, though – taking a separate calcium supplement is recommended, as it can affect iron absorption. If you're looking for options, BariatricPal has a range of calcium supplements that might suit your needs, available at https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/calcium. Also, if you're exploring different brands or types of bariatric multivitamins, there's a variety to choose from at https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/multivitamins. It's always good to have options.

Welcome to getting old! I doubt this has anything to do with your bariatric surgery. Declining appetite as we get older is really common. in fact it's so common, they coined a term for it called the anorexia of aging. Obviously being really sick can drastically reduce appetite, but even in otherwise healthy people, there are multiple things that lead to appetite reduction. Common things are slowed gastric emptying, hormonal changes and impaired sense of smell and taste. Certain medications can also reduce appetite and since older folks are a lot more likely to be taking these meds, that can also contribute.

Congrats on your weight loss! Major WIN love it! I'm only 11 months postop and I went from my heaviest 313 to now my smallest I believe 179. (I don't own a scale 😮) I'm really metabolically well, no longer on any diabetes medications, which is a major win. I do not want to get bogged down with reaching the lowest weight. I'm in various bariatric groups and I noticed a reoccurring event, People are consumed with the lowest weight and they're also overconsumed with stalls in which stalls happen. In fact I believe I'm in a stall now. Get as low as you like just try not to become over consumed with that number lean into being metabolically well. From my analysis on various groups that number plays with a lot of people's mental health and some people seem to never be satisfied with their current loss. We can't live like that!

Hi there! I’m Kelly I’m 42 and in January I made the decision to pull the trigger on bariatric surgery. I have been battling my weight my entire adult life. Things started getting really out of control when I was a junior in high school and my mom was diagnosed with cancer. At her behest, I joined Weight Watches when I was 20 years old and I have been a member off and on with mixed results ever since. I managed to lose weight easily after having my first two children but between my second and third child I had a miscarriage, gained 15 pounds and it’s been downhill since. My third child is 11 years old and I still haven’t lost the baby weight despite trying weight watchers, 21 day fix, keto during the keto craze. In 2023 I saw a doctor to inquire about trying at GLP-1 at pretty much exactly the same time as the shortages began. Between shortages and having a doctor tell me that I could never take a GLP-1 because of my mom’s cancer I spent about 6 months researching and trying to get on. GLP-1. I managed to join a telehealth company that fall and I was able to get my hands on prescription and box of Saxenda to hold me over until seeing my new PCP. I did pretty good on Saxenda and my new PCP was able to transition me to Wegovy. I managed to lose almost 35 pounds with Saxenda and Wegovy. Unfortunately, my insurance did away with coverage for all weight loss meds starting January 1 of this year. So I made myself an appointment for myself with a bariatric surgeon. I’ve already accomplished my sleep study, an abdominal ultrasound, an upper GI, and 4 of my 12 ‘lifestyle classes’. My surgeon originally suggested a sleeve for me, but after my scope I think it’s going to be a RnY because despite me thinking I did not have reflux, I had grade B esophagitis. I’m kind of kicking myself, that I didn’t start persuing this when I was messing around trying to get a GLP-1, but hindsight, you? Anyways, I’m happy to be here and happy to get ready to start my new life.

Gastric bypass patients should be taking at a minimum a bariatric multivitamin, as well as 1200-1500 mg of calcium per day. Vitamin D3 is also recommended, but most people get enough with just the above because typically both bariatric multivitamins and calcium supplements already contain additional D3. Some people also need B12 supplementation, however since I eat a lot of dairy, I've never had a problem with my B12 being low. Keep in mind that due to the surgery, we don't absorb nutrients like the did before. This is why we need to take these supplements for life. It's critical to have routine blood work and adjust what you take due to the results. For example, I had to change from a "normal" bariatric multivitamin so one with reduced B12 because my B12 was actually too high. In addition to the above, I also take probiotics and fiber pills daily.

Now, a year and a half out, I take a bariatric multi-vitamin, turmeric, calcium (with vit D3 and K) and omega 3 (as I don't eat fish) daily. I also take a serving of collagen powder most days, added to my coffee. I don't think I will bother continuing with the turmeric when the current supply runs out as I can't say I have seen any benefit to it.

Hey, I understand everybody knows their limits! Also miss the cookies right along with you! I spent a lot of time tweaking recipes to be bariatric friendly. These cashew buttercup like I can eat 2 to 4 of these a day and be fine and I cook big big batches and I don't go back for more so that's some real self restraint to be honest. Let me see I think the calorie content is. I think they are about 100 cal per cashew butter cup. People can adjust them to be lower switching out ingredients.

Cross-addiction after bariatric surgery is something I didn’t expect, but it hit hard. I swapped food for alcohol and didn’t even notice at first. Therapy helped, but I also needed structure and support from people who understood. I’ve heard that abbeycare group's clinics offer solid programs for addiction recovery, including for those of us dealing with post-surgery struggles. Finding the right help makes a huge difference in breaking the cycle.

I was looking for an introductions forum, which was mentioned somewhere, but couldn't find it, and this seemed the most appropriate place! I just joined the site after reading - well listening to - Alec Brecher's book on the gastric bypass. I'm George, I'm 43 year olds and I currently live in Spain after a lot of moving around. I've been overweight all of my adult life, but I have rapidly gained a lot more weight in the last few years. Considering bariatric surgery was first recommended to me by my doctor a few years ago, but it was right before the pandemic and that interrupted the process I was on at the time. I am now scheduled to have (hopefully) gastric by pass on April 15th, privately, at a clinic in Latvia. I decided to pay for it myself since the wait time to do it on my government plan in my part of Spain right now is said to be about three years. Currently I am on Rybelsus to help me loose some weight before the surgery, and there's been /some/ success. I expect to be on the liver reduction diet for a month before the surgery and I have to admit I'm not looking forward to it! I look forward from learning from everyone on this forum.

Just checking in to see how everyone else is doing. I had a rough few weeks after I got a virus. Just because of the chemo my body couldn’t fight it so I ended up septic and in the hospital for 10 days with pneumonia and a sinus infection. My white blood cells kept bottoming out but they gave me this shot two times to build them back and so far this time they are holding at low normal. Tomorrow will be a week that I’ve been home and I think I am out of the woods finally, but I am still pretty weak and I am supposed to do treatment Monday so I doubt I will get to feeling much stronger. Probably won’t feel like myself until I’m done with the chemo. 10 more weeks 🤞 I am trying to do a tiny bit of waking like a quarter of a mile at a time a few times a day just so I don’t get out of the habit of exercise but that’s about all I can do. I also contacted the cancer center that one of my doctors is a part of and talked to the yoga instructor and asked if they have a virtual option for the chair yoga and when I explained my situation she said she would get with IT and make it happen for next week. I thought that was so sweet and hopefully will be something I can do to start building my strength back. She said next month they are going to add mat yoga as well so I can build back up to that when I am ready. Anyways I’m pretty proud of myself that I’m still trying every step of the way to keep up with my bariatric journey. I may not be 100% right now but unlike pre surgery I am not letting this be an excuse to just throw it all away. I had a birthday and it was a little unconventional because it had to be virtual but it turned out to be a nice day considering. My mom dropped off carrot cake so of course I have that taunting me In the kitchen. I have been doing real tiny pieces though and it’s actually starting to taste a little stale. Who knew that cake can get stale 😂

When I was starting out and had alot of lumps and bumps to hide I really liked the Baleaf brand on Amazon. Since I have lost a little more I have gone with the gym People brand also on Amazon that are a little cheaper and have more color options but the material is not quite as nice as the Baleaf. They both are much better fabric than the ones you get like 4 or more in a pack in my opinion and they both have the pockets for your cell phone which I can’t live without now but of course in terms of fit that will vary from person to person. The good thing about Amazon is that you can easily return if you don’t like them but the Baleaf ones unless they are just too long or short or something I don’t think you will want to return. They are real soft and I had two pair in each size as I lost Navy And Black So they were washed every two days and the color never faded and they didn’t get the pills between the thighs. . Of course it was only a couple of months but that’s still like 30 washes and they still looked new. I suggested a clothing swap at my irl bariatric support group and I saved them because I know someone will be thrilled to get them as they are losing.