Are Vitamins and Supplements Required and why?

[kemo46 82]

I have a question about the Vitamins and supplements people are taking. I have not yet had my sleeve but i have read that some people take vitamins and some do not. Does the (VSG) surgery rob you of any vitamins or nutrients our body needs. Is it because we will be eating less food the main reason we would take them to make sure we do not have any deficiencies that our body needs? Do all surgeons encourage the patients that have had the sleeve to take these vitamins and supplements? My next question is how would you know what to take and how much without having another blood work up after the surgery? Sorry for all the questions, this is all new to me and I am just trying to get educated on what to expect after the surgery.

Thank you.

[1-4-Many 2]

I've been sleeved almost 2 months. I have a 3 ounce capacity per meal and that's assuming easy food like yogurt. More dense food like beef cuts me back to about 1.5 ounces. So Protein is #1. And that means my entire capacity of 15 ounces of food per day must concentrate on Protein. You could put the fruit and veggies I've had in the past 2 months in a sandwich baggie and it wouldn't be full.

That's why you must take the supplements. You are not eating, at least not for a long time, a balanced diet. If you read here for a while you will learn that most people are taught that carbs are terrible for you. I don't agree with that but if you ascribe to that theory, then you will really need the Vitamins maybe for the rest of your life. If you are lucky and given a sleeve that will support maybe 6 ounces of food per meal after a year, then you probably actually could back off the supplements assuming you use that extra space for healthy foods and not a chance to occasionally have a cookie -- which, by the way, I also do not think is a horrible thing.

Calcium is very important. Some day we will all be in our 70's and we need the bones to stay strong for us then.

And, you actually should have follow up blood work. Most of the Vitamins will just be peed away if you are taking too much. But the blood work will give you a guide as to how well you are doing.

For me, it's about balance. And those vitamins will get you the balance the sleeve takes away.

Good luck when your day comes!

[Foxbins 625]

I had my surgery in Mexico and my physician here in the US drew blood for Vitamin labs to get a baseline. I will have another set drawn next month to make sure everything is okay. You MUST take a B12 supplement--something called Intrinsic Factor is manufactured in the large part of the stomach that is removed and is converted to B12. B12 deficiency is nasty, lots of neurologic symptoms, and can happen quite quickly without supplementation. We also need to take calcium citrate supplementation because we have a less-acidic stomach after surgery and Calcium carbonate (the most common form of supplement) needs acid to be absorbed. My doctor also wanted me to take Iron, because I can't absorb as much from food as I need, and a Multi-Vitamin to fill in the holes in my diet from not eating grains (I choose not to eat them).

[1-4-Many 2]

I had my surgery in Mexico and my physician here in the US drew blood for Vitamin labs to get a baseline. I will have another set drawn next month to make sure everything is okay. You MUST take a B12 supplement--something called Intrinsic Factor is manufactured in the large part of the stomach that is removed and is converted to B12. B12 deficiency is nasty, lots of neurologic symptoms, and can happen quite quickly without supplementation. We also need to take calcium citrate supplementation because we have a less-acidic stomach after surgery and Calcium carbonate (the most common form of supplement) needs acid to be absorbed. My doctor also wanted me to take Iron, because I can't absorb as much from food as I need, and a Multi-Vitamin to fill in the holes in my diet from not eating grains (I choose not to eat them).

I want to add 2 things: 1 - no one told me about the B12 issue. A complete coincidence, I purchased sublingual B-12 last week and tried it for the first time. 2500 mg. I swear I felt like I had taken speed. I took it two days. I have an irregular heartbeat issue and I had to pull my car over twice on the way home my heart was going so flippy. I could not sleep at night. I am talking to my doctor before I take it again and I'm certain the 2500 mg. was too much for me so I'm going to half it at least. I loved the extra energy so even if I end up taking only 1/4 of a pill I would like to try them again.

Second thing - if you are told to take the multi Vitamins you will learn that a lot of people cannot keep them down at first and certain brands are harder to keep down. I was able to take them about week 4 out and after I started taking them I felt soooo much better. So even if your doctor does not tell you to take them, I'd give do it. But it might be a few weeks before you should try and don't worry about that. A lot of these things you have to ease into.

[klus263 9]

I do take calcium-the chewable viactin 2 times a day, a multi Vitamin 2 times a day (centrum silver women) . I only take my vitamin b once a week. My doctors does labs at 6 months and 1 yr after surgery. A lot of people I hear have a Vitamin D defeciency but I was found to have a Vitamin A at my 6 months so I just take a supplement of that daily. You need to space as some counter acts against others. I take my multi vitamin with breakfast.- 2 hrs later is my first Calcium, at lunch I have my vitamin A then at after noon break is my 2nd calcium then at supper is my 2nd multi vitamin. For me it is a must as I had surgery to become healthy which I have been to discontine my diabetic medication and my cholestral medication. To take a few Vitamins pills on a daily basis to keep me healthy, I am going to do it. Besides I know that I am unable to eat enough food to ensure I get my vitamins from food. Good Luck.

[time-4-change 1]

I love seeing your time line! You have done great! Funny, too! My son's wedding was one of my Goal Dates and it was cancelled, too!

Keep up the good work!

Barb

I do take calcium-the chewable viactin 2 times a day, a multi Vitamin 2 times a day (Centrum silver women) . I only take my Vitamin b once a week. My doctors does labs at 6 months and 1 yr after surgery. A lot of people I hear have a vitamin D defeciency but I was found to have a vitamin A at my 6 months so I just take a supplement of that daily. You need to space as some counter acts against others. I take my multi vitamin with breakfast.- 2 hrs later is my first Calcium, at lunch I have my vitamin A then at after noon break is my 2nd calcium then at supper is my 2nd multi vitamin. For me it is a must as I had surgery to become healthy which I have been to discontine my diabetic medication and my cholestral medication. To take a few Vitamins pills on a daily basis to keep me healthy, I am going to do it. Besides I know that I am unable to eat enough food to ensure I get my Vitamins from food. Good Luck.