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About to buy some so need advice on ones with less taste change and most protein for less scoops! I know y'all will know the answers to these questions! Best group EVER!!! Thank you!!

P.S. the amount of vitamins recommended are often just a starting point. It's common to have quarterly blood tests the first year, and then annual tests thereafter. I think being allowed to go off all supplements isn't all that common (although it's true for some people), and I'd be surprised if it's true of ANYONE who had bypass, since that surgery has a malabsorption component. At any rate, vitamins and amounts of vitamins required are sometimes adjusted depending on the test results. For example, I require more protein than most patients because we discovered early on that my pre albumin level tanks unless I average 100 g a day. Also, I had to quit taking calcium a few years after surgery because it was clear I had no trouble absorbing it from my food and regular multivitamins, and the overage by taking additional supplementation was not only unneeded, but was also putting me at risk for kidney stones or damage. So your particular needs may change as time goes on - that's why it's important to keep up with any required testing.

Timely seeing this thread topic. Hair loss concerns here as well. Not simply from weight loss, but from getting older and fighting the DNA that threatens to thin my hair severely. I tried the head shaving thing a few years ago and it wasn’t for me. Got outa the shower looking like I had been in a cage match. Bleeding from some new cut all the time. Some dudes rock the bald look. I will do it if forced to, but in the meantime I am gonna throw money at it and hope for the best. Currently taking daily vitamins, iron, fish oil, potassium and started the collagen caplets this morning. Protein intake is good. Drink BCAA’s daily, too. I really noticed it when getting a haircut recently. The gal cutting it was cracking jokes about trying to work with my Donald. I was laughing, too….but geesh. Dis getting ta be serious bidness.

For anyone that may be confused by this thread, here are some things to think about related to vitamin supplements: The most important thing is to follow your doctor's recommendations. All bariatric programs I've seen have specific recommendations and you would be well advised to follow these. The vast majority seem to recommend a bariatric specific vitamin supplement. Some may also recommend specific brands of over-the-counter vitamins as well. That said, at least from what I've seen, typically when recommending over-the-counter options, they will suggest taking these twice a day (AM & PM) instead of just once. There are a few reasons for the above recommendations. First of all, you'll be eating a very low calorie diet and thus vitamin supplements formulated for "normal" people may not be sufficient. Also, while malabsorption for bypass patients is a concern, sleeve patients aren't immune to reduced absorption. Some vitamins & minerals are dependent on stomach acid to be properly absorbed. Since all WLS patients will have reduced stomach acid production (at least for a while, if not forever), higher than normal amounts of some vitamins are needed. From a cost perspective, yes, bariatric vitamins tend to be more expensive, but if you have to take twice as many of an over-the-counter supplement, the costs aren't very different after all. Especially if you take advantage of subscriptions like those offered by sites like bariatricpal, the cost of a good quality bariatric multivitamin isn't that much. Keep in mind your food bill should also drop, so at the end of the day you should still be spending less per month. If for some reason you still think vitamins are just too much for your budget, please discuss this with your surgical team. They may be able to help you find a less expensive option that still meets your needs. It's never a good idea to make decisions that can impact your health simply based on things you may have seen on the web. Aside form the cost concerns I mentioned above, there is very little to no downside of taking bariatric specific vitamins, even though some have really high levels of certain vitamins. For some specific vitamins, there is no established upper limit, meaning there's no health risk in taking too much. If you take in more than your body needs, then you'll just safely eliminate the excess. Yes, there are established upper limits for a few vitamins & minerals and this is taken into account in the vitamin formulation. Iron, is an example. The established upper limit is 45 mg/day, which is also the max you'll see in most supplements. Keep in mind this upper limit was established because some people had digestive upset at higher doses. You'd have to take considerably more than 45 mg/day to actually have a significant impact on your body. Further, remember when I said that some vitamins & minerals need stomach acid to be properly absorbed? Iron is one of those, meaning that you're probably not actually getting a full 45 mg/day dose as a bariatric surgery patient. Regardless of which surgery you have, you should be getting regular blood tests for life that check for nutrient deficiencies. if you don't get these from your surgeon (for example, you went out of country for surgery), then please get them from your primary care physician. This is really important because some studies have shown up to 30% of WLS patients end up with nutritional deficiencies post-surgery. Don't be a statistic. Human bodies are not all the same, nor are our diets. This means one person may be successful stopping vitamin supplementation, whereas someone else that had the exact same surgery from the same doctor won't be able to do that. Please don't decide what you should do based on another person, even if it's your best friend, a family member, etc. Only with your doctor's blessing should you consider changing or stopping your vitamin supplementation routine. Regardless of which surgery you have, there is a real possibility you may need to take at least some form of supplements for life. The effects of nutritional deficiencies can be severe, so think of your vitamin supplements as insurance against potentially debilitating or even life threatening problems. Best of luck.

If you want to talk about it, join www.Barination.mn.co it is only $40/month and there are nutritionists, movement specialists, Licensed social workers, counselors and there is a lot of community and support groups that can help you through this difficult time. Something to think about anyway. I now pay less in food, so I put it towards my membership and knowing that Obesity thrives in Isolation, I joined the group and has been great. Just another way to obtain information, knowledge and deal with your fears. They do not make decisions for you, but asks great questions. Try it for one month, see how you like it. Just another option for discussions.

I have been keeping up with this thread and vitamin supplements can easily be confused. I can only tell you what I know. I took advice from my surgeon's team, including the nutritionist. Initially I was told to take 45 of iron, then later to take 18 due to my age and being post-menopause. I was also told that the over the counter medications for the multivitamin may not be enough as the bariatric vitamins. Bariatric vitamins are specifically made for the bariatric patient, so it follows the ASMBS standards usually, but you need to look at the "fine print" and look how many mcg, mg, IU, etc of each of the vitamins are in each of the multi-vitamins. Iron, B12, B50, B1, Calcium etc. should be based on your surgeon's recommendations. I have had the RNY Gastric Bypass 2 weeks ago, and I had options to choose from regarding my vitamins, but I followed what my surgeon's team recommended. At my 1 month appointment I am to bring my vitamins with me for the nutritionist to review, and to ensure that I am taking what I am to be taking. As for what is considered a by pass and what is not....Sleeve is not a bypass, but it is the first part of the SADI. That's all I know because a SADI patient told me this. Otherwise, I don't think it matters. I don't like to get into arguments online. I wish you well as you determine what vitamins that you should be, or not be taking.

Sometimes there are dehydration problems but if you are meeting the goals, you should be fine. You may have excess protein, but that won't last long, it is only a short time since your surgery. If you haven't talked to your doctor yet, I would wait before I get all worked up about it, this may very well be normal. My first tests are not until I am 3 months post op, so I can't say that I experienced this, but I have had kidney issues prior to surgery and my BUN and Creatinine are always a little off. Good luck!

Slept like a log last night. 6 hours of uninterrupted bliss. Feel like new money this morning. Feeling even better after a mug-and-a-half of good java. The protein shake makes for a great sweetener / creamer. Sliced a couple portabellas and hit 'em with Tobasco while the cast'arn skillet came up to temp..... Whipped 4 eggs into submission and let 'em ride in the skillet. This day is off to a good start.....fueled up and ready to roll.

I can totally understand your fears regarding the remnant stomach. They may tell you you're fine and it's okay to proceed with SG. If not and they are recommending RYGB, then I do think you should discuss your concerns and family history of stomach cancer. Obviously your doctor would be the best source of info, but I did want to mention that the inability to do an endo is probably not as big a concern as you think. There are lots of other ways to monitor for stomach cancer in this instance. It would also be worth discussing with your doctor whether you are at increased or decreased risk of developing stomach cancer currently vs. if you did have RYGB. It's entirely possible based on the endo results that failure to act may also increase your risks, so it would be a good idea to discuss all options. I do also think it would be unwise to let this particular fear outweigh the real risks of obesity and the other comorbidities you already have. As I'm sure you know, with the issues you currently have your risks of a heart attack are quite high. Best of luck with whatever you decide.

This may or may not be an issue at all and it sort of depends on just how high it was and whether some other blood markers were also high. Keep in mind also that these reference ranges for low and high are based on averages across large populations of people. Plus, what constitutes high or low may actually vary depending on the testing company. I think this is important to understand because we as patients see these "abnormal" test results and immediately think something is wrong with us, when in reality it may mean absolutely nothing. As to BUN/Creatinine ratio specifically, note that higher levels of protein can cause this to be elevated. Since we actually want a lot of protein post-surgery, this may not indicate a problem at all. Another common reason for this is simply chronic dehydration. That's not to say dehydration is your issue, but I think it's probably a good idea to assess how much you're drinking and see if there's a way to possibly drink more? Are you actually meeting the recommended fluid amounts your surgical team gave you?

Hi I am 4 weeks post op and had bloodwork yesterday. My regular results were normal but my metabolic panel was high in some areas (Bun Creatinine) was really high. I know that has to do with liver and kidneys. I am wondering if it is because I drink mostly no sugar gatorade and bone broth besides Protein shakes and maybe A cup of water a day. My Chart results. Haven’t spoken to Doctor. Has anyone else experienced this ?

My purpose of doing this surgery so late in life (I'm 46) is to be healthier. I have multiple co-morbidities including hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy, sleep apnea, CKD 2, and hyperlipidemia. There is a family history of stroke and cancer, including colon a stomach cancer. I meet with my surgeon for the second time Tuesday. The staff said the surgeon wanted to meet with me because had questions, but that did't make sense because they've responded to my questions. The only new information was from my EGD pathology report. My EGD found asymptomatic HP negative gastritis. The GI Doc didn't know what may cause it but tossed PPIs at me and I will learned Tuesday if I need another EGD or what. If I have contra-indicators for Sleeve Gastrectomy I'm considering backing out of surgery because that means my only option, anywhere would be RYGB. I'm afraid of having a remnant stomach that could continue down the path of inflammation. Apparently I was on the path to stomach ulcers. Maybe I'm being unreasonable, I'm just afraid of my remnant stomach being a time bomb. I'm also concerned about dumping, not being able to take NSAIDs, and perhaps having to change my other medications. I've committed to having a procedure including buying vitamins, typing protein shakes, losing weight in advance, learning more and more about the procedures, my relationship with food, and continuing to exercise with my personal trainer, and attending support groups. But I have this fear of RYGB and maybe it's silly. I know people, good friends, with RYGB. I get the sense they like the results, but not the down sides. One even told me they are surprised hospitals still perform RYGB because of the issues they had. I don't really know what I'm walking into on Tuesday and I am nervous. I've been taking 80 mg or pantoprazole daily. I learned my insurance company will only pay for 90 pills, so my refill was tricky. I don't know how longer I will have to take it or what that all means, and i don't know what impact all this will have on the surgery (if any). I'm terrified of having come this far, made peace with the decision to have surgery, over come the shame, had to deal with the doubts and fears of other people including my own spouse to find myself with the possibility that it's all a no-go. I won't have surgery until the fall, and normally the second appointment with the surgeon is closer to the the surgery point. Even the program staff weren't sure why it was being scheduled. My RD follow up, last week as also much sooner than it should have been, and after the meeting the RD said it wasn't the actual required follow up. I'm left scratching my head, being coming anxious, and I feel some slight indigestion which is wild since I've been on the PPI since early last month. I doubt my experience is unique so I open to learning from others. I'm currently on Zepbound and losing weight, but it's expensive with insurance and the insurance could decide to not cover even with the insurance and a coupon it's about the amount of a car note every month. So that's not sustainable for the rest of my life. Ia also need to lose more than the 20% max it would get me to. So if surgery is a bust, I I don't know. The gastritis is a contra-indicator for Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty and it's not covered by insurance anyway. Thinking about all of this makes me kinda nauseated.

There’s no rush. Maybe a Sadi might be a better option? Take your time.

I started the surgery process a couple months ago, and just had my second nutrition appointment....and now I'm getting very overwhelmed and having second thoughts. I have my psych appointment next week and my endoscopy in two weeks and I'm thinking about cancelling them cause I feel like this is really rushed and that this is such a big decision I should take some time to think it through and everything. I'm very worried about possible complications and things going wrong. I have had GERD in the past (this was several years ago and I did weigh more then) and have been on pantoprazole for years. I am tapering off, so it might not be an issue, but my doc kinda pushes the sleeve and I'm worried about getting bad heartburn afterwards, even tho he said there's a 50/50 chance. I've read accounts of people getting crazy bad heartburn afterwards, or just being ravenously hungry all the time, which would be absolute torture for me. Also, I'm on depression, anxiety, and ADHD meds and I just learned about possible malabsorption issues, or even the difficulty of taking pills after surgery. I'm worried enough about remembering everything you're supposed to do post-surgery and not getting totally overwhelmed, it will pretty much be impossible if my depression gets worse.... I wish there were less permanent options available, the idea that you can't go back if anything goes wrong is terrifying....I know the chances of something going wrong are low, but I don't want to rush into anything and regret it afterwards.

@Arabesque is correct. Your body is specifically designed to "detox" without any intervention from you. Anyone trying to sell you something that claims to do this is the modern equivalent of a snake-oil salesman. Don't waste your money or time. Regarding your pain, I'm sorry you're going through this. Aside from being uncomfortable, it must also be scary. If the tests you've done have so far been inconclusive, then you need to be asking your doctor "what's next". It's not acceptable for them to say "we didn't find anything, so there must not be a problem". This does require you to be an advocate for yourself, which can be hard for some people. Don't settle for "we don't know". The proper response is "we don't know yet, so let's explore other options".

@SpartanMaker is on point as usual. 😊 Many surgeons initially patients on a fairly general supplement regime to begin usually including a multi vitamin, calcium and iron. There are variations. Some may include vitamin D and/or vitamin Bs as well. However, your regular blood tests, medical history, type of surgery all will influence what supplements you’ll need before surgeon, post surgery or in the long term. Plus some surgeons have restriction on swallowing tablets in the initial weeks post surgery which will dictate how you take the supplement (gummie, patch, …). While sleeve surgery usually does not usually require long term supplementation due to malabsorption you may be someone whose body reacts in a way that means you will need specific supplements. Or it may be discovered you are lacking in a particular vitamin, or your diet is lacking in certain nutrients. Another consideration is if you also have gall removal with your surgery or after as that can result in malabsorption issues in some. For example, I had a sleeve I was required to only take a multivitamin and a Vit D/K. My pre surgical blood work and subsequent 3 monthly tests (actually I was having more as my GP was monitoring them too) showed I wasn’t lacking in anything. At around 8 months my surgeon okayed going off the vitamins. The regular blood tests did eventually historically show I had a drop in vitamin D in winter (when I hibenate and bundle up). Consequently I take a Vit D/K (as a mouth spray) in winter. My gall was removed two years post sleeve and I now have issues absorbing protein and certain medications. Yes supplements are expensive especially if you are taking a lot & taking them long term. Finding a balance between economies and quality can be a challenge. I do recommend looking for a reputable brand (ask for referrals from your doctor, dietician, pharmacist or people here like Alex Brecher) as it is an industry in which quality and standards are not defined nor monitored like with prescribed medications.

Wishing you a smooth, easy and minimal pain surgery on the 26th Henriette. Mine was on the 12th and had no pain after, still don't believe they did anything, other than my lack of appetite, and desire for liquids. Keep your fluids going, and remember protein is most important. You got this, we go this, we all got this with each other to support each other. Go Team!!

There’s a lot of confusion around which bariatric vitamins are “approved” or recommended by groups like ASMBS or SAGES. The truth is, these organizations publish nutrient guidelines based on research, but they don’t certify or endorse specific brands. BariatricPal Multivitamin ONE was developed to meet or exceed those core guidelines in one simple capsule a day. It includes high levels of key nutrients like ADEK, iron, and B12 that are essential after surgery. It doesn’t try to cut corners with gummies or “bariatric friendly” labels that don’t actually meet requirements. And unlike chewables that some people struggle to tolerate long term, this is just one flavorless capsule a day. A 12-month supply is $99, which breaks down to just $8.25 a month: https://store.bariatricpal.com/99 Because it contains iron, it’s best to take calcium separately to avoid absorption issues. You can find a full range of calcium options here: https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/calcium And if you’re comparing formulas, there’s a full selection of bariatric multivitamins here: https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/multivitamins

I'll be honest. I'm skeptical of this, but before we get into that, I think you may need to clarify something? You stated that you have: This would be highly unusual, since lipoedema is normally seen over the entirety of the legs, but is typically most pronounced in the buttocks & thigh area. Have you actually been diagnosed by a physician? If it's just your calves, it would be a lot more likely for this to actually be muscle, not fat. It's extremely common for formerly obese people to have larger than normal calf muscles. This is so because basically you've spent your life doing heavy calf exercises daily just by walking around with all that extra weight. If this is the issue, your options may be somewhat limited. Eventually, with targeted diet and exercise, your calves may shrink, but it won't happen quickly. Another fairly common cause would be another type of edema such as lymphedema. Edema is common in obese people, but lymphedema specifically often goes undiagnosed. Unfortunately for some people, losing weight may not fix the problem. Bottom line, if you have not already done so, I would strongly encourage you to talk with a doctor about your concerns so you can get an accurate diagnosis. Now for my thoughts on hypoxi and the reasons I'm concerned: The basic principle here goes against our current understanding of how fat loss works. The only study linked on their website doesn't actually show ANY increase in fat loss. All it shows is a reduction in size of the "treated" area. This is a HUGE red flag. If the subjects didn't lose additional weight, even in the main study they link on the site, then what caused the size reductions? The most plausible answer is that this was simply fluid loss and thus extremely temporary. The study linked does not appear to have ever been published in a peer reviewed journal of any kind. This is another huge red flag. The fact that no one else has made similar devices seems odd? If the science were sound and the results reasonable, then copycats should be everywhere. Quality medical devices simply don't exist in a vacuum. It's also a bit sketchy to me that these devices can only be found in their "studios" and nowhere else. They seem to want to tightly control things, which seems odd if this really works as well as they claim? Why not sell them to health clubs, rehab facilities, etc? Best of luck whatever you decide.

The BariatricPal Store carries a huge selection of Bariatric-friendly Protein drinks at https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/protein-powders. Here are some popular options: * Inspire Protein Powders by Bariatric Eating: These are my personal fave and can be found at https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/inspire-protein * BariatricPal Protein ONE: MultiVitamin, Calcium, Iron, Fiber & Meal Replacement from https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/protein-powders/brand_bariatricpal * Syntrax Nectar Protein Powder Sampler Variety Bag - All 17 Flavors! from https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/protein-powders/products/syntrax-nectar-protein-powder-sampler-variety-bag-all-17-flavors * GENEPRO Medical Grade Unflavored Protein Powder - 3rd Generation! from https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/genepro/products/genepro-medical-grade-unflavored-protein-powder-3rd-generation * Bariatric Advantage HPMR High Protein Meal Replacement - Available in 8 Flavors! from https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/protein-powders/products/bariatric-advantage-high-protein-meal-replacement * Protein tubs from https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/protein-powder-tubs * Protein Smoothies from https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/smoothies * Hot Protein Drinks & Soups are great alternatives to protein shakes: * Hot Protein Drinks: https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/hot-protein-drinks * Hot Protein Soups: https://store.bariatricpal.com/collections/soups-bouillons-broths

I live in the UK, so what you cam get over there may be different, but I like Myprotein. My favourite is to add the salted caramel flavour with some cinnamon to some oatmeal. But I also really like their chocolate mint and I add that or some of the cookie dough flavour to some milk when I want something a little sweet. I would also say get a good blender. I've done the protein shaker bottles and they just never blend in. I end up with milk and a lump of powder in the mixer part.

Clean Simple Eats is really good. You can get the variety pack- adding them into Greek yogurt helps because that tang balances out the sweetness in my opinion. Isopure is great and very low carb, Premier protein is good. Latte one with decaf coffee makes an excellent cold brew. Making shakes and adding them are "ok" just have to be careful they can end up being high in calories and not super filling. You can do unsweetened almond milk, scoop of powder, 1/4 of banana, 1/4C of Greek yogurt, handful of spinach if you wanted to keep is low cal, and high protein. But are you trying to protein shakes/ powders due to the stage you are in your journey? I am 16months post op and am able to get all my protein from food. (I am able to eat probably more food than the average post op patient)

Just adding to my accountability post! Had a reality check recently. As I was going over food log I noticed that I was letting too much processed stuff creep into my routine – protein bars, powders, low-carb bread, cookies (not just 1) fast food (small amounts but still) – and my gut wasn’t having it. I had to get honest with myself about what I was actually eating. So, I hit the reset button and went back to whole, real foods. I even started making my own sourdough again, and let me tell you, the bloat is basically gone, my energy is up, and that annoying food noise is finally quieting down. The scale is moving down, but more importantly, I just feel so much better!

Hey everyone! I had my surgery on the 9th! Everything went really well, I’m still a little sore, but it gets easier every day. The biggest challenge has been the protein shakes, while they were good at first, I have begun to have a dislike for them. Tomorrow is mashed potatoes, soups, and creamy peanut butter! Looking forward to that immensely. So far I haven’t experienced any nausea or vomiting. I already feel a change in my weight I’ve lost 25 lbs between my preop and post op diet. Once I start working out the weight should fall off. Thanks to everyone who greeted me and sent their well wishes!

I feel you on the going backwards thing, honestly, I'm at a point where I'm like, I should just start selling feet pics haha, kidding I will work on rewriting my budget and not buy as many protein drinks, the money for the drinks will be used for more solid pick, my friend has a Costco membership, and said she'd take me, I can buy some frozen foods in bulk to keep frozen for easy meals, I will see what recipes I can do and hopefully after a few weeks, I will be in a much better spot, thanks for the food ideas