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I'd like to respectfully disagree. I wrote an article on this exact topic a little while ago... Flintstones Multivitamins: Tasty and Inadequate for Bariatric Surgery Patients “Complete” But Lacking Essential Nutrients What does a “complete” multivitamin contain? It could provide anything from all the essential nutrients to just a few. There is no legal definition for “complete.” In the case of Flintstones “Complete” multivitamin chewables, “complete” apparently means that it has all 13 vitamins, but only 6 of the more than 15 essential minerals that you need. Quantity Is Critical For bariatric surgery patients, it is not only important to get each of the necessary vitamins and minerals, but also to have the right amounts. You need high amounts of some of the vitamins and minerals, and Flintstones chewables simply do not deliver. For example, the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) suggests at least 12 mg thiamin (vitamin B1) per day, while a chewable has 1.5 mg. You will also be short on: Vitamin A Vitamin D Vitamin E Vitamin B12 Iron Calcium And more. “Doubling Up” Does Not Work If one tablet is not enough, can’t you just take two? Well, not really. First, getting twice as much as certain nutrients may still leave you short. For example, 2 Flintstones chewables provide 1,200 IU of vitamin D, while recommendations for post-op gastric bypass patients are to get 3,000 IU per day. And no matter how many chewables you take, you will never get enough of essential minerals such as selenium and chromium, since the chewables have none. Multivitamin: What Is in a Name? We usually refer to them as “multivitamins,” but most often, we really mean, “multivitamin and mineral supplements.” Sometimes, a “multivitamin” that you buy off the shelf really is literally a bunch of vitamins with few or no minerals. Do not get confused by the name when purchasing your supplement. Read the supplement facts label to see which nutrients are in the supplement, and how much there is. Safe Choices, Your Way To be sure that you are getting the right supplement for bariatric surgery post-op needs, you are best off choosing a bariatric supplement. It may be a tad more expensive, but it could prevent deficiency diseases such as anemia or peripheral neuropathy. Choosing a bariatric surgery-targeted multivitamin instead of a kids’ supplement does not mean you have to choke down capsules if you cannot stand them. You can always opt for another form, such as Powder or a Soft Chew. For help figuring out which vitamin and mineral supplement may be right for you, you can look at the attached ASMBS guidelines or check out our Bariatric Vitamin Guide, which breaks down recommendations for each surgery type. Also, be sure to talk to your doctor about your individual needs before trying a supplement. ASMBS-Nutritional-Guidelines-2016-Update.pdf

I initially posted this under the fitness and exercise forum, but many of the comments came from people who had gastric bypass, but I however am going to having the sleeve done. Not sure if weight loss is the same for those who had a bypass compared to those who were sleeved. To those of you had the sleeve and commented on my original post I thank you again. Below is my original post... ”Hello everyone, I’m in need of some guidance and support. I’m looking to be sleeved in September. My surgeon has told me that unless I can do cardio 40 minutes 6 times a week within the first 3 months, my surgery may not be worth it. I have chronic foot pain and chronic plantar fasciitis, and even the recumbent bike flairs it up. I don’t know how to swim. I’m going to have to rely on chair exercises for a while. I’m hoping that the weight loss with help resolve my chronic foot pain, and that eventually I’ll be able to up my cardio. At any rate, I just wanted to know if any of you were able to lose weight without the regimen of 40 minutes of cardio my surgeon has prescribed. I’m worried that I won’t lose weight if I can’t exercise the way my surgeon wants me to.”

I lost my weight with minimal exercise. One of the reasons I had the surgery was so I could lose weight before a total hip replacement. My orthopedic surgeon wanted me to get below 200 lbs before he would consider doing the surgery. He said recovery would be so much easier. My exercise consisted of using the recumbent bike 2-3 days a week, or the elliptical. Those were the only things I was able to do without severe hip pain and some days I couldn't do those. I am happy to say I had my hip replacement last Monday...100 lbs lighter than when I saw my surgeon the first time. He was impressed with my wt loss and he was correct...recovery has to be easier now than it would have been then! This recovery has been harder than my gastric bypass surgery but I can't believe the progress I've made in this last week. I took a walk outside for 20 min this morning and half of it I carried my cane! I am so looking forward to getting back to the active lifestyle I had a few yrs ago before "life" and arthritis got in the way!

I had the vertical sleeve August 2012 and will be revising to the RNY in the next couple of months — surgery date to be determined early August. I'm also on the lower end — BMI wise — at 214 lbs currently (4 lbs more than my pre-VSG weight/193 lbs on the day of surgery). Mostly revising to get rid of GERD (hopefully) amongst several other issues I've developed. You're only 3 days away! Good luck — Wishing you a safe recovery and NO MORE REFLUX!

Thank you for your responses. I am in a kind of holding pattern. My doctor seems I should wait another two months to recheck the pelvic mass. I’d rather not. I at least wanted a clearer idea what it could be. Clarification. No one said it was just a cyst. It seems big enough to question it at the least. But that’s separate from my RNY. I have not heard from my surgeon about the upper gi fluoroscopy. My endoscopy isn’t until July 11th. I like at least knowing what I’m going into with the endoscopy. Some part of me just doesn’t want to do it. i think the 26th I’m supposed to progress to the next phase. But I know it won’t happen. I’m trying to take it in stride and make sure to get 50 grams of protein. It’s hard to get water without pain. Let alone enough. I’m taking vitamins (I bought mostly Whole food gummies) all the physical things aside. It kind of hurts that I had to go this far just to lose weight. I fought so hard to lose weight before and didn’t think I ate unhealthy at all. Low carb, low calories, etc. it’s hard when simple carbs are easier to stomach when you feel sick. But I looked for low carb alternatives. I didn’t give in for so many years to my sugar addiction or cravings for things like fried chicken. I followed strict low carb. It wasn’t until my weight jumped literally 30lbs out of nowhere that I loosened up on the carbs. My worst cheat most times was sweet kale salad with gardein crab less crab cakes or tuna salad. I’d make low carb grilled cheese sandwich or low carb pizza. But not very often. I ate cauliflower mash, cauliflower rice, shiritaki rice, and mostly vegetarian foods occasionally meat , and more veggies. I mean how can veggies make me fat. I can’t even think about food now. Though I do miss sushi. I admit I cheated once before surgery to have sushi that I hadn’t had in many years. Prior to surgery I’d already lost my ability to properly taste food or smell. For some time. I tried to find texture and taste in food. Like salty or sweet or crunchy. I know food isn’t everything but does it need to disgust us in order to lose weight? I know I’m totally off topic. I can’t get back on track. With my health. Was I ever on track? I knew the risks but it was RNY or give up. I just have no one that understands Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, and metabolic disorders, and having Gastric bypass surgery. I don’t expect much if anything, and I never ask for help. But right now I appreciate the response to this. I’m not very good at this. Thank you. christine

memory and concentration issues could also be related to low vitamin B. Take your vitamins. You can get away with that sometimes with the sleeve, but not bypass.

I revised from Band to VSG 8 weeks ago My insurance did not pay for the band 10 years ago -- but different insurance and a doctor who wrote up the request based on the esophogeal issues got an approval within a week. No pre-op diet, no psych eval --- I met with the Nutritionist to go over the post-op plan and did a 1 hour orientation at the hospital --- so, had my surgery within a month of going in for an office visit to discuss reflux and weight gain. Really happy I did it. I am down 20 pounds in 8 weeks (at age 61) and removal of fluid from my band relieved the reflux almost immediately -- and it has not come back with the VSG.

Yes --- and I revised from Realize Band (6/2009) to a VSG 8 weeks ago. I was surprised because 10 years ago I was self-pay for the band --- and I have been saving money in my HSA because I feared that it would have to come out one day and I would be self pay again. My surgeon submitted the insurance request based on my reflux and the damage that had been done to my esophagus -- not necessarily for remediation of obesity --- and I got approved for the removal/revision within a week.

I revised from a Realize Band (June 2009) to a VSG after severe reflux and the discovery of a pretty bad band slip. As far as IF goes -- with the band, I could not eat very much at 1 sitting if I really ate protein first --- so, going for 20 hours after only 3 ounces of chicken or beef or fish would make me very hungry -- and cranky and slow my metabolism. Have you tried really going back to the beginning with your eating -- pea-sized bites, 3 oz of protein with a little veg until satisfied --- 3 times a day (finish eating by 6 pm and fast until 8 am -- get a little IF in there) -- no drinking with meals, etc.? A reset like that might push the scale and keep you satisfied throughout the day.

Go to your surgeon and Ob-gyn and see them as soon as possible. While not recommended, this is not uncommon, and they can work out a plan for you. "Pregnancy after gastric bypass can be safe and healthy if managed well by you and your health care provider. Research suggests that pregnancy after weight-loss surgery might be safer for both mother and baby than pregnancy complicated by obesity." - Mayo Clinic Good luck! Since "pulling out" doesn't work that well, maybe after the baby, you might try a birth control method without hormones like a Paragard IUD or a diaphragm.

I know it has been a while since this thread was updated, but I have been looking for revision posts and just have to say I appreciate this thread! I had the sleeve in 2010, lost 145lbs and after 2 kids and 9 years, I’ve put 80 back on. I’m revising to the traditional DS next month and am worried about the progress that I will see considering they will not be touching my sleeve so I will be able to eat the same amount, which, in my mind, is why I lost the 145lbs to begin with so it is hard to imagine having to just depend on the “switch” part, but I have more confidence now in the “power” of that added effect after reading this. HAPPY LOSING!!

Does anyone have a September date? I am hopeful to have surgery in September. Revision from an experimental transoral surgery to DS.

It may be too early for me to chime in but I had a revision from band to bypass in May. I had the band 13 years and went from 232 to (usually) the 140s. But when I had a complication (esophageal dysmotility) I was unfilled and (no surprise) gained about 45lbs in the 5-6 months until the revision. So new high weight was 185. Surgery weight was 177. It’s been 7 weeks and I have lost exactly 20 lbs to 157. So I cannot comment on long term effects... BUT One thing is that this is sooo much better than the band. I recently had the first meal out with my husband where I ate a “normal” amount and didn’t end up in the bathroom. Normal being a miso soup and a fish appetizer at a Japanese restaurant. With the band I would often have two bites and not be able to eat which was embarrassing and people would always ask why I wasn’t eating (or sneaking off to the bathroom). Small portions make me feel good and satisfied. Unlike the band where it was usually painful or uncomfortable. Hope this helps! S

Sleeve to by pass revision? How? They pull your stomach out.

I have the same due to my sleeve 3 years ago. I go on Monday for my revision for the gastric bypass.

Just be careful about eating till you're full. After a bypass "full" feels completely different. You will not feel the same sense of fullness that tells you to stop. You have to measure everything and then stop because you ate you 1/2 a cup, not because you feel full. If you go beyond that it's easy to get sick. At 6 months I still dont feel full, I just stop eating because I know I need to. As far as how much to eat, that varies by doctor and you'll get a lot of different opinions but early on should be around 1/4 of a cup and I think 1/2 a cup after 3-4 months. Try eating 1/4 of a cup and see if that keeps you satisfied for a few hours. You're going to eat tiny amounts but often

You are getting surgery for all the right reasons - you see your quality of life shrinking and you don't want to go any further down that road. Let me tell you what "further down the road" looks like. I got my surgery (bypass) at age 63. I already have had one total knee replacement and the other one was getting so bad I had pain and limped with every step. My ortho said he really didn't want to operate again unless I lost weight. I had a hysterectomy at age 37 due to precancerous hyperplasia related to my weight. My GERD and asthma were horrible - the asthma in the last 2 years was the worse it had ever been (asthma can be related to GERD.) I developed sleep apnea (extreme with over 60 apneic episodes per hour.) I couldn't hike any more. I was too heavy to ride my mule. Climbing a flight of stairs was getting hard (my house has stairs.) I couldn't get off the floor by myself. I couldn't keep up with my grand kids. Gardening was losing it's pleasure for me. I had always been very active, and my increasing immobility resulted in depression and further immobility. I got fungal infections under my breasts and pannis every summer. I developed fatty liver disease which can lead to cirrhosis and cancer. My lipid profile was not great, my sugars were creeping up, as was my blood pressure. I dodged the diabetes bullet - barely. All the things I enjoyed in life were slipping away - quickly. Younger people don't always realize what 40 or 50 decades of obesity does to the body (and soul)! I was a wreck and now I feel like I have a whole new life ahead of me. I can ride, hike, climb stairs, and get off the floor, My knees DO NOT HURT!!!!! My sleep apnea is nearly resolved and no more GERD or asthma. I feel 20 years younger!!!!!! I was scared to death before surgery - thought about walking out when I was lying there on the pre-op bed, crying my eyes out from anxiety. But.... I walked through that door and discovered a whole new world waiting for me on the other side. I did have some complications, but it was soooooo worth it. Do not let your fear prevent you from getting your life back. Don't wait until you are 63 and have more issues than you have now, Your future is not pretty if you continue down the obesity road. Like my PCP told me, "If you could have done it on your own, you would have by now. Let this tool help you."

I went with bypass. I chose that because I use insulin. I haven’t since surgery. I also had indigestion and it can get worse with sleeve.

Sorry for all you're going through. Just wanted to say I am 3 months post gastric bypass and at 3 weeks out we discovered I have an anastomatic stricture and marginal ulcers. I understand how it feels to not be able to tolerate even liquids. I have had 4 endoscopies with dilation, with a 5th one next week. I'm still on liquids but feel better. Take care, and I hope you get better soon. Sent from my SM-N960U using BariatricPal mobile app

So why are you getting a revision? Are you up in weight again? Sent from my SM-G955U using BariatricPal mobile app

I am having revision bypass after 2 years of having the sleeve. I lost and have kept off 100 lbs. can anyone give me an idea as to how much more I will lose. Went from 239 to 139 and wearing 6s!!

Dr. Paul is an exceptional surgeon. I had hernia surgery and gastric sleeve 2 years ago and he really cares about his patients. Now I’m headed for gastric bypass not for weight ( I already lost and kept off 100 lbs) I have other medical issues that makes me need gastric bypass to save my esophagus and fix another hernia. He is always my choice!

Wow that is awesome??Bypass or sleeve? Sent from my SM-G960U using BariatricPal mobile app

Hi - I'm flying in on the 2nd for testing and then will be back on the 3rd for sleeve revision to bypass with Dr. Q. I'll look for you