How many pills do you take on a daily basis?

How much do you spend on them per month?

Where do you buy your vitamins?

Have you had any issues with deficiency?

@@Postop,

The full DS is what I am looking at. I don't think my surgeon does the SADI/SIPS version.

It sure is hard to find a full DSer in here so forgive me if I ask a million questions.

Did you suffer from osteoporosis before your DS surgery or was it the direct result of the DS?

Do you get your bloodwork done be your PCP?

Does insurance pay any part of the cost?

If you could go back and take even more calcium in the early stages would you?

Is there a reason why you get only part of your vitamins from Vitalady?

Thanks Peggy D. I guess I will have to learn all the terms so I know what I'm talking about Lol.

So you get labs every three months huh? That must get expensive.

It's only for the first year that it's every three months, then I'll go to every 6-12 months.

@@Postop,

The full DS is what I am looking at. I don't think my surgeon does the SADI/SIPS version.

It sure is hard to find a full DSer in here so forgive me if I ask a million questions.

Did you suffer from osteoporosis before your DS surgery or was it the direct result of the DS?

Do you get your bloodwork done be your PCP?

Does insurance pay any part of the cost?

If you could go back and take even more calcium in the early stages would you?

Is there a reason why you get only part of your Vitamins from Vitalady?

Hi,

I've also sent you a PM.

You're right, we DSers are a rare breed. A lot is the surgery itself and finding a competent surgeon to do it. Then there's the aftercare. You must be exceedingly diligent and your surgeon has to believe you will be.

Did you suffer from osteoporosis before your DS surgery or was it the direct result of the DS? I didn't have it before the DS. It's now 11 years later and I've: 1. aged into it; 2. am thin; 3. am white; and 4. the malabsorption of the DS has been a factor. The malabsorption plays a role. It's known to. All of those play into osteoporosis.

Do you get your bloodwork done be your PCP? I don't. My surgical team has good aftercare (very important, IMHO) and they do it and we go over the results (usually by email) and tweak what needs tweaking (supplements). Others do get it done by their PCP. If you plan to, make sure your PCP is on board with the DS as you'll be asking for many things to be checked a PCP might not feel are needed unless h/she is DS friendly.

Does insurance pay any part of the cost? It paid for the entire DS and all my bloods. When I see doctors there is a co-pay and the same for certain tests (e.g. MRI). Check your policy.

If you could go back and take even more calcium in the early stages would you? Knowing what I know now; yes.

Is there a reason why you get only part of your vitamins from Vitalady? Cost. Vitalady has large doses (e.g. she sells 50K doses of vit. d3). But I can do better with cost for somethings elsewhere.

Edited July 11, 201610 yr by Postop

Thank you for being so thorough in your answers. I really appreciate the info and advice.

I am a somewhat obsessive compulsive personality and once I commit I am tenascious so I think I am a good cadidate for DS. There are a few things about this surgery that concern me but that goes for all available WLS. And I kbow that this one gives me the very best chance of losing ALL the weight and mosy importantly keeping that weight off. I saw you PM. I am going to check this forum out. Thank you for the direction.

Compulsive is good.

OCD? The correct order is CDO

I am 11 years+ out from the full DS.

I take 40+ vits/minerals a day. I buy Calcium at costco, order some vits. from Vitalady & others from Vitamin Shoppe.

The costs changes as you tweak your Vitamins. For instance, I recently stopped taking something and something else just became more costly.

It isn't inexpensive, but it doesn't break the bank. Plus, I know it's for life.

I've never missed a day of vits. and still my bloods can show deficiencies. That's why my surgeons prefer bloods done every 6 mos. so we can catch it quickly (others prefer yearly). We then adjust my intake and look at the next bloods in 6 mos. Some people have Iron issues and take iron infusions instead of oral iron. I don't.

YMMV. We all have different issues but most of us are able to correct them with correct supplementation. However, for instance, I go to a bone specialist as I have osteo. issues. They can become more prevalent due to the DS (and as you get older) so I take tons of calcium and additional osteo. treatments. Others have their own thing.

Did you mean 40 vitamins a day?????? I am scheduled for the full DS in October but have no interest in taking 40 vitamins a day. Are the 40 mandatory?

Sent from my SM-N920P using the BariatricPal App

Yes. 40+ per day. Some take more, some fewer. But almost all of us take quite a lot.

This is probably a silly question but is everybody taking bariatric Vitamins or regular over-the-counter? It might just be who I am reading it but it sounds like over-the-counter.

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

This is probably a silly question but is everybody taking bariatric Vitamins or regular over-the-counter? It might just be who I am reading it but it sounds like over-the-counter.

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

OTC. "Bariatric" vitamins often don't have what DSers need.

I'm in pre-op prep for a DS so thank you to everyone who is responding to this. It is helpful information.

6 months out and no Vitamin deficiency. I have been taking the Bari life powdered Vitamins and that seems to be doing the job along with some extra D3. Cost is about $30 per month. The only thing they keep telling me is I need more Protein in my diet. Feeling pretty good. The only problem is when I eat Veggies like broccoli or cauliflower. (GAS). Got to do lots of walking after eating my veggies and some beano.

Two weeks post op on Monday. I am on two Bariatric Advantage chewable multi (taken with meals) and then three of their Calcium 500mg Vitamins D chews, taken anytime two hours after or before a meal. not too hard to do. if I forget a chew, I have one as a evening snack. the Carmel is great and the fruit one tastes like a Starburst.

DuodenalSwitchMan

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Edited November 20, 20169 yr by DuodenalSwitchMan