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Post by baileymouse on Dec 18, 2011 19:34:39 GMT -5
I lived with my RNY from June, 2003 until Dec. 2009. I am still very close to a bunch of people from my surgeon's original group. All of us had surgery in 2003 or prior to that. I'm not here to bash the RNY, just to bring iron and vitamin deficiencies into the forefront.
A group message just went out on Facebook, where one member was asking others about their iron levels. She says hers have tanked. Well, mine did, too. I was so anemic after 5 years that it led to my revision (long story). Another member answered that she, too, is anemic and has to go for transfusions. This seems to be a very common theme for long-term post-ops.
PLEASE advocate for yourselves. Get your labs done yearly and look for deficiencies. My iron was in the toilet, my b vitamins were extremely low, and I was deficient in some other areas.
I credit Vitalady with helping to save my life, because the nutritionists don't seem to understand.
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Post by happyface on Dec 18, 2011 20:28:04 GMT -5
I try to get all of mine in.
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Post by 2prettynot2bskinny on Dec 18, 2011 22:12:06 GMT -5
I stopped taking my vitamins completely and I have made it my resolution this year to geb back on track with all of them. If you could tell me what vitamins you are taking because I forgot all the vitamins I used to take and really afraid of becoming deficient. Thanks so much!
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Post by Paula on Dec 19, 2011 1:48:32 GMT -5
Ive currently got an RNY myself right now and my big problems as far as deficiencies go are with iron and B12. I go monthly to my PCP to get B12 shots. Im always having a problem with Vit D as well, but I think that is more about the area I live in more than anything else.
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Post by baileymouse on Dec 19, 2011 11:36:46 GMT -5
Right now I am taking a regimen more suited to my revision, but any RNYers who are having iron deficiencies should probably look into Proferrin. It helped me tremendously. Sublingual b-12 in high doses is good, too. I used to buy Sundown.
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Post by hala2215 on Dec 22, 2011 13:50:11 GMT -5
Ive currently got an RNY myself right now and my big problems as far as deficiencies go are with iron and B12. I go monthly to my PCP to get B12 shots. Im always having a problem with Vit D as well, but I think that is more about the area I live in more than anything else. Most people are D- deficient unless they take supplemnets. We - RNY - need dry D3. I used to take 50,000 IU dry D3 4-5 times a week (small capsule). My numers are good now, and now I only need to take them 2--3 times a week. B12 - I give myeslf the shots every week. Once a month was not doing it for me. |
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Post by hala2215 on Dec 22, 2011 13:52:03 GMT -5
BTW: I was taking lost of vits and minerals, but my iron tanked anyway. After a year of not being able to bring it up with supplements - I got iron infusions.
I also discovered that I need weekly B12 injections. Once a month - or any other form were not doing it for me.
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Post by tattoogirl on Dec 22, 2011 17:49:56 GMT -5
Same here. I get mine in and learn from people like VitaLady and Andrea and others WHAT the numbers mean, because the doctors will be "You B12 is fine" when it is 600 and that is NOT fine. It's dangerous.
In fact, thanks for the reminder. My Iron has been very slowly dropping each lab check, so I need to do an iron check next month or so and look into the Proferrin. Right now I'm doing VitaLady's Tender (Carbonyl) Iron 60 mg and I eat a lot of meat daily (around 80-90 gm protein). But still the iron is sinking every so slowly.
Thanks for the reminder.
Warmly,
Jackie
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aronsmom
Junior Member
Have band-want DS
Posts: 68
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Post by aronsmom on Dec 23, 2011 0:40:06 GMT -5
I appreciate this post, and definatley will check out VitaLady. My surgeon's office endorses Bariatric Advantage products and offered samples, but of course patients can choose which brand to use. Pre-op patients have to sign a contract agreeing to have all vitamins, supplements, and protein at home a week or so prior to surgery and to take them as advised. I am already vitamin D deficient, which is common in the Pacific NW, moreso for me since I am a night shift worker. I am now taking 10,000 IU daily, which I believe is what my doctor recommends post op as well.
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Post by tattoogirl on Dec 23, 2011 18:37:02 GMT -5
VitaLady has helped literally thousands of WLS surgery folks of all kinds. She carries great products and can help answer questions regarding what you need for your surgery. Her Vitamin Dry D3 is the best around and really works for me.
Good luck. Also, Andrea over at VitaGarden is has a book/blog that explains how to read your own labs and what they mean and what is good and what the numbers mean.
Warmly,
Jackie
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lizlearning
New Member
RNY 12/16/2011 Sheldon Randall Leonard Morse
Posts: 4
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Post by lizlearning on Dec 24, 2011 1:25:54 GMT -5
How much B12 should I be taking a day? Im 1 week out from open RNY and Im 34 years old
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Post by tanyaf on Dec 24, 2011 14:55:31 GMT -5
I have a long list of why vitamins are important..I could even post a few pic's. I have been trying to keep my levels good for the last couple of years. It is a lot harder to get levels back up and to stay there then to just maintain.
I have battled with deficiencies for a while now. It has been B1..B12..Vit D..Folic acid..and Iron. After the most recent blood work I got a call in less then a week about my Iron. I have a month to get the levels up then retested. If they are not good then it is infusions. They haven't even gotten my B1 and B12 back yet. But I take weekly of those.
It is SO important to stay on your vit's. Even years out and your feeling great and living life you still have to if you want to continue living life. I was out there..working a job that I would of never applied for obese..I was out on the water with wave runners and going on long walks in the mountains..I was confident and it was so great. Now I only go out occasionally and always with family cause I cant drive. I have a conservator to handle my finances. My family knows ALL my business because someone has to go with me to appointments. Its a blast to have your brother schedule your annual gyno appointment.
So the moral of this story..TAKE THOSE VITAMINS..even if they are a hassle or gross or expensive. We wont even go into the cost of correcting defeciencies. Well thats my contribution to the importance of Vitamins!!
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Post by So Blessed on Jan 3, 2012 13:01:56 GMT -5
I'm getting back on track with filling up my pill dispenser with supplements on the weekend. I don't have to worry about taking iron anymore so I don't have to spread things out the way I did when I was a new post op. That makes it a lot easier.
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Post by PitterPatt on Jan 3, 2012 15:33:59 GMT -5
Question..
I'm pre-op... my docs vite requirements have me scratching my head....
His requirements are:
2 Flintstone Completes daily
sub-lingual B12
Calcium (not the citrate)
Are the Flintstones really going to cover what my body needs to stay ahead and not get deficient?
Thanks!
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Post by So Blessed on Jan 3, 2012 15:42:52 GMT -5
Question.. I'm pre-op... my docs vite requirements have me scratching my head.... His requirements are: 2 Flintstone Completes daily sub-lingual B12 Calcium (not the citrate) Are the Flintstones really going to cover what my body needs to stay ahead and not get deficient? Thanks! No. You need an adult formulation like Centrum. They make a chewable adult vitamin. You need to take 2 a day. You also need Calcium Citrate. If you are premenopausal, you need iron too. |
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Post by PitterPatt on Jan 3, 2012 15:55:59 GMT -5
No. You need an adult formulation like Centrum. They make a chewable adult vitamin. You need to take 2 a day. You also need Calcium Citrate. If you are premenopausal, you need iron too. Thank you SB! I thought so.... Gotcha about the calcium.... I wasn't sure about his requirements about the calcium off the top of my head since I'm at work.... I'm actually in surgical menopause.... have been since 2007. But I take VitD and Iron for that... but I'm pretty sure the dosage will increase... correct me if I'm wrong. |
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Post by So Blessed on Jan 3, 2012 16:07:07 GMT -5
No. You need an adult formulation like Centrum. They make a chewable adult vitamin. You need to take 2 a day. You also need Calcium Citrate. If you are premenopausal, you need iron too. Thank you SB! I thought so.... Gotcha about the calcium.... I wasn't sure about his requirements about the calcium off the top of my head since I'm at work.... I'm actually in surgical menopause.... have been since 2007. But I take VitD and Iron for that... but I'm pretty sure the dosage will increase... correct me if I'm wrong. Your dosage will be adjusted accoring to your lab work. Looking back, when I was a new post op, I also had to take zinc and vitamin k. I went through a bout of iron deficiency anemia and the hematologist put me on Vitamin C. Later on my Vitamin D levels tanked out, so I had to up my dosage of that too. I found out from some of the vets on the message board that I was taking the wrong kind of Vitamin D. We have to take the DRY kind, not the oil based capsules or else our bodies won't absorb it. Currently I take 2 multivitamins, calcium citrate, vitamin D daily and I do a sublingual B-complex once a week. Everybody's nutritional needs will be somewhat different, depending on what your lab levels are. That's why it's SO important to stay on top of them. |
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Post by PitterPatt on Jan 3, 2012 16:21:57 GMT -5
Your dosage will be adjusted accoring to your lab work. Looking back, when I was a new post op, I also had to take zinc and vitamin k. I went through a bout of iron deficiency anemia and the hematologist put me on Vitamin C. Later on my Vitamin D levels tanked out, so I had to up my dosage of that too. I found out from some of the vets on the message board that I was taking the wrong kind of Vitamin D. We have to take the DRY kind, not the oil based capsules or else our bodies won't absorb it. Currently I take 2 multivitamins, calcium citrate, vitamin D daily and I do a sublingual B-complex once a week. Everybody's nutritional needs will be somewhat different, depending on what your lab levels are. That's why it's SO important to stay on top of them. Yup, that is one the main things my dad stresses to me about when talking to him. He had his RnY December 2009. Has had awesome success... Went from 350+ to now being 170-180.  I'm taking prescribed VitD and OTC Iron. Both are oil based. After my hysto in '07 my VitD bottomed out.... I just turned 30 last week.... I've always been slightly anemic. Iron always slid out from under me when I was pregnant during my 3 pregnancies. Always chewed on ice.... Keeping on top of the vites won't be an issue... or atleast I'm gonna try my damnest to make it not.... |
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Post by So Blessed on Jan 3, 2012 16:24:45 GMT -5
VitaLady's website is temporarily down, but that's a great resource for nutritional information.
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Post by PitterPatt on Jan 3, 2012 16:26:10 GMT -5
Thank you! Will check them out once they're back online....
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