Nutrition Post Op

[annelbarry 1]

I have not as yet made a decision to have Gastric Sleeve surgery. I am 73 years old and weigh 273 lbs. I hesitate as I would like to have more information on how, even with Multivitamins, Iron and Vit B supplements, the lack of nutrition has affected their general health.

[AZhiker 2,251]

22 minutes ago, annelbarry said:

I have not as yet made a decision to have Gastric Sleeve surgery. I am 73 years old and weigh 273 lbs. I hesitate as I would like to have more information on how, even with Multivitamins, Iron and Vit B supplements, the lack of nutrition has affected their general health.

I was 63 when I had surgery and I am healthier, stronger, more alive now than I was 20 years ago. Really! I have more energy, sleep better, am more alert mentally, and can do so much more physically. My physical immobility was literally killing me, as were all the other co-morbidities of obesity. Nutritionally, I can tell that I am not absorbing fat well, as my stools are "floaties", but all my labs come back just fine for the Protein, Vitamins, and minerals. I take a multi with Iron, B-12, calcium citrate, and vit D3. That is all for the requirements. I do add extra spice/herb supplements to my cooking, like tumeric, ginger, cinnamon, and black cumin to help with inflammation, but that is just my own thing,

Over time, even with the ileum bypassed, the jejunum learns to take over more absorption function. Malabsorbtion was a very bad problem with the early bypass surgeries. It had horrific consequences for patients. Not any more.

After surgery, you must commit to eating the most nutritionally dense diet possible. Every bite counts, because you don't have room for many bites to start with. Any junk food is just cheating you out of nutrition. I am almost a year out now. I make sure to get all my protein in every day. Then it is at least a pound of raw, colorful veggies daily, then lots of cooked veggies in whatever dishes I make. fruit is more of a dessert. I can now use cooked whole grains, seeds, and nuts. I am eating healthier than ever and feel absolutely great!

I did have Hair loss at 4-5 months, as nearly everyone does. It was in the summer, and I got a short cut which actually felt really great. No one ever could tell that my hair was thinner and it is coming back now.

Edited January 14, 2020 by AZhiker

[2Bsmaller18 435]

On 01/14/2020 at 10:59, AZhiker said:

I was 63 when I had surgery and I am healthier, stronger, more alive now than I was 20 years ago. Really! I have more energy, sleep better, am more alert mentally, and can do so much more physically. My physical immobility was literally killing me, as were all the other co-morbidities of obesity. Nutritionally, I can tell that I am not absorbing fat well, as my stools are "floaties", but all my labs come back just fine for the Protein, Vitamins, and minerals. I take a multi with Iron, B-12, calcium citrate, and vit D3. That is all for the requirements. I do add extra spice/herb supplements to my cooking, like tumeric, ginger, cinnamon, and black cumin to help with inflammation, but that is just my own thing,

Over time, even with the ileum bypassed, the jejunum learns to take over more absorption function. Malabsorbtion was a very bad problem with the early bypass surgeries. It had horrific consequences for patients. Not any more.

After surgery, you must commit to eating the most nutritionally dense diet possible. Every bite counts, because you don't have room for many bites to start with. Any junk food is just cheating you out of nutrition. I am almost a year out now. I make sure to get all my Protein in every day. Then it is at least a pound of raw, colorful veggies daily, then lots of cooked veggies in whatever dishes I make. fruit is more of a dessert. I can now use cooked whole grains, seeds, and nuts. I am eating healthier than ever and feel absolutely great!

I did have Hair loss at 4-5 months, as nearly everyone does. It was in the summer, and I got a short cut which actually felt really great. No one ever could tell that my hair was thinner and it is coming back now.

Just curious. Did they do the bypass differently years ago that the malabsorption is not as severe now? My surgeon has been doing the surgery for decades and I assumed he did it the same way they always have just like a newly trained surgeon would.

[AZhiker 2,251]

52 minutes ago, 2Bsmaller18 said:

Just curious. Did they do the bypass differently years ago that the malabsorption is not as severe now? My surgeon has been doing the surgery for decades and I assumed he did it the same way they always have just like a newly trained surgeon would.

Yes. The original "intestinal bypass" surgery removed about 20 ft. of intestines. More than thirty thousand surgeries were performed before the bad outcomes were recognized, namely protein-induced liver disease which progressed to fatal hepatic necrosis. The surgical procedures for bypass have been improved and refined, with lower rates of mortality than from a total knee replacement. I don't think you have to worry about malnutrition as long as you take your required supplements and eat a healthy diet. It's very curious that many overweight/obese people worry about malnutrition, when in actuality they are over nourished. My mom really struggles with that. She is overweight, but refuses to follow any kind of reasonable restriction of carbs and fruit, because she is afraid of not getting enough Vitamins, and she takes way more supplements than necessary.

Anyway, with bypass, you will be taking vitamins for the rest of your life and will be getting blood tests to monitor your Vitamin and Protein levels. One of the reasons for regain, however, after 2 or 3 years, is that the body actually does get better at absorbing the nutrition.