Question:
Some help here please
I am to do the 'pre-op shopping' for the surgery like vitamins, & so on. My surgeon has given a list of the items from a particular seller called 'Celebrate.' Is there any similar ones that are just as good I can use that is cheaper, & in near by stores like Wal*mart? Need to get the multiple chewable, can I use Flintstones chewable instead? Also what to replace for the 18mg iron + C chewable? Also protein drinks w/ 5 gm or less of carbo per 4-oz serving. Told NOT to use Boost, Ensure Slim Fast or Instant Breakfast. Any & all advice is greatly appreciated! thanks — SPIRIT2002 (posted on August 19, 2009)
August 19, 2009
some help: flinstone chewables are ok but take 3; no to ensure and
slimfast but OK to use atkins drink "shakes" because they are
good for protein and low in carbs. my best advice is to not lock yourself
into too many protein powders before you've tasted them. some are just
awful smelling/tasting so don't stock up on anything you don't already know
tastes good to YOU. good luck!
— anew42009
August 19, 2009
I was told that if I chose childrens chewables to take 4 a day. As far as
the Boost, Ensure and Slim Fast go I was told that I could take them but
get the ones using artificial sweeteners (they make ones for diabetics and
those are fine) also Carnation Instant Breakfast makes sugar free, and
premixed and they aren't so bad. Another drink is Myoplex they make a low
carb one.. I think that it is advantage (less protein then the regular
myoplex) I have used both. I was told that I couldn't have anything with
15g of sugar or more per serving.
All this goes to show how different each doctor and nutritionist are.... go
figure!
— wendy-s
August 19, 2009
I would consider checking at GNC for some of your supplements. Some of the
walmart brands aren't standardized meaning there is no guaratee that they
have what they say is in them. GNC products are standardized and quality
controled. I would drink EAS pre mixed protien drinks and I got those at
Walmart. I hope you have great success.
— Lisa von Wallmenich
August 19, 2009
Hi Tim,
I use a chewable Vit by Centrum..Wal-marts..about $10.00 for 100. I was
told ok to use SUGAR-FREE Carnation..to start with..REMEMBER every DR has
their own likes and dis-likes. I could not tolerate the smells of many of
the proteins. My group has been VERY helpful in samples and direction for
what works well. I also went to a private owned GNC. They had mixes they
could let me sample...important to remember...your tastes will change..so
try not to go overboard on to much buying to much at once. I use some
powder protein and some of ISOPURE in a glass bottle..to grab and go. It is
like a..KOOL-AID type of drink..always hated Kool-aid as a kid. But some of
the flavors are tolerable now..with lots of crushed ice. My group I attend
uses VITALADY products alot. they have a online site. When I want something
I want it now..so ordering is hard for me. I wish you well and everyone on
this site has been FABULOUS with me & my questions for the past yr! See
you on LOSERS bench!!
— tootsie52
August 19, 2009
Tim,
I buy the Optifast vitamins for postop bariatric surgery patients at
Walgreens. They cost about $25 for a 30-day supply. I used the Atkins meal
replacements shakes as they are low in carbs. You can buy these at Walmart
for about $6.00 for four, sometimes they have specials where they put six
in a pack for the same price. At bariatricchoice.com you can get the 18mg
iron w/vitamin C for $22 for a bottle of 90 tablets. If you don't have a
computer their number is 800 993-1143. I buy lots of protein bars from them
that I use for either mid-morning or mid-afternoon snacks they taste great
and come in lots of flavors.
Hope this helps.
Bob
— rkurquhart
August 19, 2009
I used these "ONE A DAY Vita Craves Complete Adult Multivitamin
Gummies" they were the only ones I could handle with my new stomach
they are just like the kids chewable gummie bear candies I found them at
walgreens for about 9/10 dollars for 50, More if you get the childrens ones
at costco but bigger bottle, I think i had 4 a day of the childrens.
The protein was harder, definitly buy in small amounts until you find one
you not only like but your stomach likes, new stomachs are very picky
anyway mine was and still is.I buy the kind with no sugar, at a vitamin
store, the brand I ended with is called "Nectar by Syntrax" It is
a Whey Protein Isolate, It mixes easy, its the best tasting I have found so
far but, it is zero carbes and zero fat, it has refreshing fruit juice
flavor, and promina whey isolate,and for me best of all NO sugar, which I
can barely handle 7 grams a day without dumping. Protien is 23 grams,
potassium is 120 mg. sodium 60 mg. cholesterol 5 mg. calcium 15%,
phosphoruos 8%.magnesium 6%,and if I remember there were like 4 to 6
different flavors my favorite was carribean, it turns blue when water is
added very good..and fairly cheap..
Found at vitamins for less in lakewood wa..don't know if you have a store
there or one similar you could look the name up online for your area...Good
luck its mostly trial and error in my opinion and with me the doc told me
to only watch the sugar and lots of protien.
— gaydria
August 20, 2009
EVERY DR. IS DIFFERENT IN WHAT THEY RECOMMEND, i used the LOW CARB slim
fast and did great with it. it's very low in carbs and sugar (uses
substitute) and has more protein in it than the high protein version.
there are lots of protein supplements and powders you can try, but sample
them before you stock up on them, because some of them are hard to
tolerate. as far as the vitamins.. i never had to take the chewables i just
stated on the regular daily multivitamins and have done great with them
since-labs are always great. talk with your nutritionist at the surgeon's
office and ask him/her to recommend some things that are easier to find and
cheaper. remember... they probabley get "little bonuses" for
recommending certain name brand products...i'm a nurse and know this to be
very true! hope this helps..Holly
— RNlvnCARSON
August 20, 2009
Centrum has a chewable that you can get anywhere... Protein I use Supreme
carb concious bars and Gold Standard 100% whey powders both affordable and
at GNC in stores or online.
— phyllismmay
August 20, 2009
If you use the Flintstone vitamins, use Flintstone complete; it has more
iron than the Flintstone with Iron! For protein, I use Isopure, available
at some grocery stores or Nutrition Depot. 40 grams of protein per 20 oz.
with no carbs. Lotsa flavors. I also use Max Protein that I order online
for a treat. A powder in several yummy flavors. 3 grams of carbs per
serving. Check http://theworldaccordingtoeggface.blogspot.com/ for lots of
recipes with the Mac Protein. God bless you on your journey
— jtoothman
August 20, 2009
Hi Tim, At Wallmart, Spring Valley makes a great gummy vi1tamin and
Centrum makes a good chewable. Prices are probably as low as you will
find. They also have some good whey power protein products. At Costco,
there is a "Premium" brand protein shake shake with 30 gms of
protein, 1 gm sugar, 2 gms fat 3total carbs. It is only $25.00 for a case.
It comes in chocolate and Vanilla at my Costco and tastes pretty darn
good. GNC stores have many options, but they are really costly for long
term use. Hope this helps!
— Bonnie H.
August 20, 2009
My suggestion would be to go a Vitamin Shoppe. You can find Iso Pure Ready
to Drink 20 oz bottles with 40 grams of protein and zero carbs. Tastes
like grown-up koolaid, with several flavors, but I recommend Grape Frost,
Icy Orange, and Pineapple Orange Banana. You can also find the Syntrax
Nectar Protein Powders there, they come in fruit flavors or a delicious
Chocolate Truffle (and I'm sure Vanilla, too). They even have Lean Dessert
Protein Powders, which are some of the best I've ever tasted (like Fresh
Cinnamon Bun and Chocolate Coconut Candy Bar). You can also find many of
the vitamins you need there, and they are very reasonably priced. If you
don't have a Vitamin Shoppe, you can also find many of the same things at
your local GNC. As an alternative, it was easier for me to just go online
to BariatricAdvantage.com, and order a three month supply of their chewable
multi-vitamin for Gastric Bypass patients for $30 or so (they have a
different formulation for LapBanders), and sign up to have it automatically
shipped to me every three months, and then THEY pay the shipping charges.
They taste good, you only have to take them twice a day, and I don't have
to worry about whether or not I'm getting in ALL the proper vitamins and
minerals for a bypass patient. I get my calcium at a local store called
Max Muscle, and lucky for me, I don't have to take iron (at least not right
this minute, because I no longer have periods)...but I've recently noticed
a lot of unusual bruising, so that may change. Good luck to you!
— Erica Alikchihoo
August 20, 2009
I've often heard that Flintstone and Gummi vitamins are for kids, not
adults. Makes sense to me. I use Centrum chewables for adults (Walmart has
best price-taken 2/day), Citrical plus D for calcium needs (which is
citrate, not carbonate form that is useless to the RNY patient). Iron
should be taken 1/day with Vit C and a minimum of 2 hrs apart from either
the multi or calcium supplements because calcium & iron taken too close
together will negate absorption. You need to add a B-12 sublingual to your
daily regimen also; typically 1000-5000 mcg. You can take more of any B
vitamin without fear of overdose cause you can't OD on B vites, the body
sheds all excess B's. All these supplements can be found reasonably priced
at Walmart. Also, if you have a CVS or Walgreens pharmacy in your area,
watch their sales. They both run 2-for-1 specials fairly frequently.
— Arkin10
August 20, 2009
The surgeon I seen had me start Flintstone complete then my PCP put me on
one I have to filled through the pharmacy which to me seem to work better.
But I have CHF and have not had surgery as of yet. I also drink EAS shakes
that I get from Sam's Club for 27.00 for 24 shakes and Walmart has them 4
per pack and are not expensive to by them there eithe. Each shake has 17g
of High quility protein and 2g net carbs per shake which is 11 ozs. I like
the chocolate Fudge flavor I hope this helps.
— lscheller
August 21, 2009
I like Syntrex-Nectar as several have mentioned.Chocolate Truffle favor is
good, high protein, no carbs. Drink it cold with crushed ice.Mix a few
ounces of chocolate soy milk.Yumm
— gay56-
Click Here to Return