Hello,
I'm new here and currently going through all the pre authorization steps for sleeve surgery. I'm hoping to have surgery in August. I do have a question, are the vitamins recommended by my doctor able to be absorbed after surgery? I keep seeing stories that say due to the change in the body after surgery, drugs recommended may not be absorbed and I need to use something else. Any advice is appreciated. Tia
You don't have to take any vitamins labeled as "bariatric." That's just marketing by supplement manufacturers. I know this for a fact because I'm a label reader. I shopped dozens of multivitamins and minerals, reading and comparing the FDA-required labels.
As to chewables and absorption rates, that doesn't matter, either. You definitely want to use liquids or chewables during the first month or two following surgery (and it's a good idea to ask your nutritionist, doctor or dietician if they are bariatric-savvy) because the pouch can't hold as much.
But the digestive process from the stomach to the rectum is the same. Your intestines haven't been affected. So once the nutrients make it into 25 feet of intestines and are tickled to break down by the villi, they are well absorbed and effective in delivering their nutritional content. That's where most digestion happens.
And the stomach DOESN'T shrink. It's an organ that can expand and contract according to the amount of food consumed, but check it out scientifically. It doesn't shrink because of dieting or eating too little. It simply goes back to its normal size. A stapled stomach goes back to its stapled size. A stomach that's never been incised or stapled follows your own natural biology.
Anyway, I've been taking two Trader Joe's Women's High Potency Chewable vitamins every day for 20 years. My medical doctor takes a blood panel twice a year. Every time, my blood content is healthy and 100% normal. I actually take 22 pills a day, a combination of vitamins, minerals and prescriptions. As I said, my blood tests over 20 years have always been great.
We all have so many questions when faced with this surgery. It's always a great idea to ask a medical professional. And for people who've been around a long time, The Cleveland Clinic is a great resource. They might be the foremost authority on weight-loss surgery.
Welcome to our group. I'm so glad you trusted us to help you with your questions. Of course, a medical professional is your best option for questions that need expert answers. But a great support group can help guide you to an expert resource.
