chellechelle77

I’m doing good so far. I don’t have a drainage bulb. Mine was laparoscopic and the site the pulled the stomach though still is very sore and bruised. I’m on Protein Shakes and handling those well. Stopped my pain meds yesterday. I did have contact dermatitis to the adhesive on the heart monitor leads so that itches and sucks. Overall, doing well just kinda emotional.

It seems to be working for me. I wouldn’t recommend it for someone else if that’s the case but my levels are great.

I got watermelon flavor from Celebrate (Bariatric online health store). No sugar
Lots of people like caramel or chocolate flavors too

I just bought the Bariatric Advantage chews in caramel and lemon flavors. They are very good, kind of like candy, and sugar free. Much better than swallowing the 6 Citrical pills a day I have been taking for the last 7 months. I may return to Citrical, however, given that the chews are fairly expensive.

i use Caltrate with Vitamin D
taste great. I order from Amazon so quick and easy supply

After surgery I took the Caltrate chewables and I think they are decent, taste wise. The price is pretty good as well. I took 2 chewables daily. The bottle was $14.22 and 155 tablets, approx. 2.5 months.
Recently though, I ordered the Caltrate minis, sense now I can swallow pills. They have 155 tablets as well, a 3 pack (465 tablets) on Amazon was $34.32. I will still take two per day. The Vitamin D and Calcium are increased in the minis as well.

Isn’t Caltrate Calcium carbonate rather than calcium citrate? That’s why I didn’t buy it and bought Bariatric Advantage instead. Citrate is more easily absorbed; we were instructed not to use the carbonate form.

I'm not sure to be honest! So I did a quick google search. It looks like the absorption depends on whether you take it with a meal. Which my program did specifiy. I always take my Calcium with Breakfast and lunch and never within two hours of an Iron supplement. I just had my levels checked last week and I'm good to go on the Vitamin D and calcium.
https://labdoor.com/article/calcium-carbonate-vs-calcium-citrate-which-is-better-for-human-health

I agree! My surgeon was fairly picky about bariatric Vitamins. I know some people take Flinstones. It's crazy how different these programs are. I say, find what works for you, and if it's Flinstones or Caltrate.... safe the extra buck!

I take the Bariatric Advantage chocolate Peanut Butter chews. They're roughly $30 for 90 chews, which lasts me about a month. More expensive than I'd like, but it's the only expensive medicine/vitamin I'm taking now (as opposed to before surgery), so it's a trade-off.

Caltrate is carbonate.

For NORMAL people that is ok but here’s the thing... carbonate needs acid. So if you are on an acid inhibitor or have had your stomach altered (hello WLS) you don’t have enough acid to properly extract the Calcium.< br>
Please all don’t rely on carbonate!

This is true when you have a NORMAL Anatomy which we do not! It’s because the meal stimulates acid production. But we don’t have enough surface area left in the case of a sleeve and it’s not in contact with the surface area in a bypass so there isn’t enough acid exposed to the carbonate for proper digestion.

I took three weeks off. Check with your HR Team. It should be covered by FMLA. I work a desk job and client based. I know that I will be emotional and this is why I took three weeks. Don’t want to take my emotions out on customers or peers. Was sleeved on 04/03 and so thankful that I still have two weeks to get myself prepared.

Oh be grateful to Mr Popsicle, he was there when you needed him and if he has to go bye bye be gentle to him. Don't break his little wooden stick [emoji173]!

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It's funny how different surgeons are. We didn't have waterproof dressings, but I could take a shower and change my dressing. I can't start my Vitamins until after my 1st pre op visit which is Tuesday. I won't be able to eat any food for a month, then it will be pureed food. And my Dr said vomiting wasn't normal. Thankfully I only got a little nauseous and got better after nausea meds.

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Mine was laproscopic too. The tape and leads made me itchy too. That's why I'm so ready for this drainage bulb out. I've had moments of being emotional. But it's mostly because I want something other than fluids.

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Same here.. planning (dreaming) for the future. Want to have ideas in place. I will look at that one and let you know if I come across any.

My surgery is April 3. Started 2 week pre op diet today.

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