[Kasa]

my dr seems to think i should be okay with swallowing my gigantic multivitamin, my sil (who is 2m out) says i should be chewing one flinstone w/iron and tums w/calcium a day, and then there's info in a forum here that says it should be TWO flinstone's...i'm finding out that everyone seems to have an opinion on what to take/not take, drink/not drink, eat/not eat post-op...isn't is frustrating?

will it ever end?

~kas

[Becca]

Kasa
I understand, what your saying i feel the same way too.

Well our pouches cant digest big pills its to small and everything moves so fast so its going to go though us still in pill form.

Slow release meds the same way, i have gotten some liquids meds now.

And yes i have to Flintstones a day, and calcium.
I went to the WLS group here is town for 3 yrs before i had the surgery and i listen to all the different thing's to take/eat etc. And the with the meds everyone came back to the same thing chewable/liquids.

I feel its trial and error some people are different and some feel different with some food/meds etc

[fr1endly2]

KASA ((HUG)))
its very hard because every surgeon has their own protocal
for their patients. I feel if you trusted your surgeon to perform
this major surgery on you, then follow his rules if your comfortable
with it.

MY surgeon had me take chewable centrums......i took for the first 3 months tums w/ calcium. I now take the calicum in the viactive and citracal chewable forms cause i have no antacid issues.

I think GO with your surgeons instructions and if you run into problems
then maybe consider switching, I know during the early healing days
I couldnt imagine swallowing a big pill. MY surgeon says never try to s
swallow a pill bigger then an M and M. SO i listen and trust him first always. FOR me he childrens chewables have added sugar and i stay
clear of that to avoid craving triggers...that i get even from crystal light.
GO figure
HUGZ!!!
MY blood work has been fine since surgery so im happy with what im takeing but i hope i havent confused you more. BUT just do what your
surgeon says this way if you run into a problem....he will advise you what
to do next
hugzzzzzzzzzz

[DocSanae]

Basically, follow your surgeon's instruction, but everyone is different, so what other patients of your surgeon does fine with, you may not, so the golden rule is always ask your surgeon. That said, it's trial and error, both for patients and surgeons. Not meaning that surgeons aren't well informed, but even with the most experience surgeons, they cannot always know what that particlular person does well with. The instructions surgeons give out are based on 1) recommended procedures and protocols set up in guidlines by drs organizations specializing in the particular aera, and 2) modify them/add to them from their experiences. That's why you get so many conflicting opinions on certain points while some things are pretty much clear cut. Also, what you can deal with, early out, and what you can deal with later will change.

If you are not sure you can do the big pills, what you could do is ask your surgeon beforehand if you can switch to the chewables or the liquids if you find that you can't take the big pills. Then you will have a guidline for what to do just in case.

You'll probably run into many confusing situations in the future, so my advice is to take note of the various opinions, and ask about them on your surgeons's visits, so you have a clear idea of what your dr wants you to do. That way, you'll be better prepared to deal with whatever comes up.

[Robbin]

Hello Kasa,

Welcome, I hope we get to know each other better.
I am almost at my 2 month anniversary (5/11) and today hit the 40 lb mark. Yeah....
I am taking the flinstones vitmins, 1 a day for now and the tums with calcium. I could be taking the centrum chewables but prefer to wait till I am farther along. I also take a daily medication not related to the surgery, but the pill is very small so it is not a problem.
Your surgeon has his reasons for how he wants you to do things, but if you talk with him and explain your concerns, he might be able to help you understand.
And like Becca I too went to many group meetings here where I live for quit awhile and all of the folks there have done very well with the vitamin and tum regimen. I would encourage you too to find a group meeting maybe at your local hospital if you already haven't, it is a great source of info and hearing each others experiences. I find each month how different we all are looking., it is fun watching the changes.
The folks here are great as well!!!!
But anyway...good luck .....and glad you are here.

ROBBIN

[Pillows]

Hey Kasa....I hated the chewable vitamins that I bought...they were way too sweet so I was excited once I felt I could swallow the prenatals that my surgeon reccommended. I agree with the others that although it is nice to get advice from here....the best advice often comes from your surgeon directly...then if you can't do what he wants you to you can come to him with suggestions that you have heard on the boards and bounce them off of him for possible alternatives. I hope that you are doing good my military sister.
Janae

[skinnydip]

Becca,

Is that true? I don't remember ever having passed a partially dissolved pill. Still, those horse pills ugh! I cut mine in half.

Isn't 100% of the daily requirement all we take; otherwise it passes through uselessly?

Beats me. Even at 6 yrs., you learn something evryday. So NOPE! It never ends...thank God.

Vicki

[FemmeMode]

Kasa....
Looks like you've gotten a lot of advise...so I won't add to it. Everyone is different...you'll figure out what works and what doesn't work for you soon enough!!
I want to talk about that GORGEOUS picture of you!!! Before??? WOW...you are a beauty...
Take care of yourself....you be the judge of what is right for YOU....you will see that you can't do what "everyone else" does....
I had a little accident this week...and am having a hard time taking the meds for that...

I personally use the "Bariatric Advantage" vitamins...and love them. (most are chewable...and are made for the bariatric patient.) If you want to know more about them they are in this websites e-store.
It's really easy to source...and has a lot of info you may be interested in....I don't work for the website....just a member like you....so I'm not trying to "sell you"...just thought I'd share.

Good Luck in finding something that works perfect with your lifestyle.
So...Tell us about YOU!! Where are you from...how old are you? married? kids? the works....

Looking forward to getting to know you!!

WELCOME!!!

[Pillows]

Yes I agree with Deb....I wanna know more about you. That and you are a gorgeous girl. I am so excited to have another military wife on here. We can commiserate about the woes of Tricare together...lol. Look forward to getting to know you better.
Janae

[Becca]

Yes i agree, everyone does have there own way of doing thing's. And so does every dr.

So no wonder everyone is confused, and dont know what to do.

But that was my 2 cents. And i was asked and i gave it.

My right now my 2 cents is looseing 1 cent LOL.