It's no problem...that's what I'm here for. You are asking the questions that other people probably want to know as well. To answer your questions, yes, he does go to the outer islands: Maui, Kauai and the Big Island. You can always come to the Oahu office if you need an excuse to go to Ala Moana!

Yes, pre-op people are not only welcome, but are encouraged to stay for the support group. You have a wonderful oppurtunity to hear how it really is from patients who are at all different stages. I think it's a great experience.

Hello Chrissy,
Yes, everyone is welcome! Dr. Cirangle is pretty unusual for a surgeon. He does all of his seminars, consults and follow-ups. The practice doesn't have a nurse or a PA that sees patients. I think it's so crazy that that some programs don't  give you the oppurtunity to meet the surgeon from the start!

Dr. Cirangle will go over insurance questions. Also, he always makes time to speak with people privately after the meeting.

Hope to see you on Friday night!

Nicole Kimbrough

Just ordered my vitamins online with Bariatric Advantage just because at last nights post  op meeting everyone uses the Bariatric Advantage ones and they all have great labs so I will jump on the band wagon for good labs.  I can't believe it I am so close I can taste it.

let see, I took the centrirum chewables.... and a b12 sublingual, and viactiv calcuium....

We tried the bariatric advantage and thought they were the worst thing in the entire world...but maybe you will be diffrent and maybe the falvors have changes since we took them... They give you a discount if you get auto dilivery, and were acually really good about taking the un opened bottles back, after my mom and i dident want to use them anymore...

there was also a vita drink powder at GNC i took, it was strawberry flavor- it was god awful! but it had the calcuim mixed into it....

good luck, i hope you find something you like :-)

It would be my pleasure! I currently take Centrum Silver (yeah, I'm over 50! ARGH!) in chewable form.... the Citrus Berry flavor ones are pretty darn good to me, but everyone's tastes are different. I also take a lublingual B-12 each day as well as a Calcium chew. I get the Centrum at Safeway or Longs and Calcium chews (Viactiv) at Costco and the B-12 at Longs.

I am sure your doctor will advise you which vitamins you will need to take. Also, you're having RNY so your vitamin issues are different than mine. I don't have malabsorbtion issues. But, since I can't eat a lot, I need to be sure I am getting the vitamins and minerals I need since I can't eat enough food to ensure that.

One thing you might want to consider and talk with your doctor about is regarding hair loss. I am also taking biotin and zinc. My doctor gave me this handout regarding hair loss: (I hope this copies ok to this site. If not, I think you can figure it out. I can send you the document if you like.)

Hair Loss

Telogen effluvium (rapid hair shedding) can occur as a result of rapid weight loss. Many patients suffer from increased hair loss during the first six months after surgery. However, this never leads to baldness and normal hair growth will eventually return.

Nutritional deficiencies can contribute to increased hair shedding by weakening hair shafts that cause breakage to the hair and slow regrowth. Principal nutrients that are involved include vitamin A, certain B vitamins, biotin, vitamin C, copper, iron, zinc, and protein--all of which are malabsorbed to some degree by gastric bypass patients. Surgery and anesthesia can also result in temporary hair loss. With time, adequate protein, and vitamin supplements, hair loss will subside.

Below is a list of supplements we recommend to slow or deter hair loss:


SUPPLEMENT NAME DOSAGE

Biotin 1-3 mg per day
Co-Enzyme Q10 50 mg per day
Fish Oil 2,000 mg per day
Primrose Oil 500 mg per day
Zinc 80 mg per day

I started taking supplements almost a year before my surgery, but I have very thin hair. It needs all the help it can get! I've also been using Nioxin shampoo system. I am at the 3 month mark when hair loss usually begins, and so far so good. We shall see!