Topic: Why should I take my vitamins postop?

An excellent post from Andrea over on the main board......

It's completely up to you.. if you are willing to gamble with your life (yes, you can die from non-compliance with supplementation) then go for it.

Otherwise, take the initiative and do the research on your own to decide what supplements you should be taking, rather than take the word of a "medical professional."  This includes me -- I am not a medical professional in any shape, form, or fashion.  Do your own research.

So deficiencies in the following can result in:

B1 or Thiamin
 - irreversible neuromuscular disorders
 - permanent defects in learning and short-term memory
 - coma  (aww.. this isn't so bad..)
 - death  (Nothing worth worrying about, right?)

B9 or Folate (Folic Acid)
 - forgetfulness
 - irritiability
 - hostility
 - paranoid behaviors

B12 or Cobalamine
 - neurologic sumptoms
 - numbness and tingling of extremeties
 - difficulty walking
 - memory loss
 - disorientation
 - megalobalstic anemia
 - permanent neural impairment
 - extreme delusions
 - hallucinations
 - overt psychois
+ Permanent damage can occur if treatment doesn't start soon enough!

Calcium
 - chronic low intake creates metabolic bone disease presenting as
  - osteoporosis
  - osteomalacia
  - hypoparathyroidism
  - combo of above
 - muscle cramping
 - hypotension
 - bone pain

Vitamin D
 - rachitic tetany
 - mucle pain and spasms
 - weakness
 - bone pain
 - decrease in daily calcium absorption
 - rickets (osteomalacia)
 - osteoporosis
 - concentrations in blood greater than or equal to 80nmol/L, there was a 50% reduction in colorectal cancer rates
 - concentrations in blood greater than or equal to 50nmol/L, there was a 50% reduced risk of prostate cancer
 - risk for type 1 diabetes increased dramatically in vitamin D deficient children
 - higher circulating levels of vitamin D linked to a significantly lower Multiple Schlrosis risk

Iron
 - anemia
 - fatigue
 - hair loss
 - feeling cold
 - pagophagia (constant desire to eat ice -- pica)
 - decreased immune function

Zinc
 - decreased sense of smell
 - altered taste
 - poor wound healing
 - poor appetite
 - hair loss
 - low libido
 - lethargy

Vitamin A
 - problems with skin and mucous membranes
 - dry hair
 - broken nails
 - increased risk of infections
 - linked to anemia and iron absorption
 - ophthalmologic consequences such as night blindness



Did I get them all?  Hell no.  But it makes you think twice about skipping your vitamins, doesn't it?

I've shared this before but it bears repeating. I had a protein n vitamin deficiency and am still low bu the worst one I was numb from the chest down to the feet and had to learn to WALK again from a walker.

I take 3 multi a day currently, 5000-10000 B12 and 3 zinc. I am adding others. My A and D are low because my teeth are bad because of deficiencies

Once oyu get low you really have to work to get back up.

Flintstones ain't going to do it folks. They are kids vitamins. ALso most surgeons take one class in nutrition and vitamins so they are not well aware of the need to keep ourselves up.

I think this is changing though

Great Post Boner!

The B's are particularly dangerous, at least that's what I understand. There are supposedly few if any physical symptoms of deficiencies in B vitamins (except for B9 which makes you act like a psycho A-hole, according to your post!).  But years down the road these deficiencies can lead to partial or complete paralysis of the toes and feet - and severe pain before you get to the paralysis!

I don't take any chances. I still take the Walgreens Bariatric vitamins 4 times a day

-and do sublingual multi - B's: 

http://www.nutritiongeeks.com/sublingual-b12-hsnaturals-30/sublingual-b12-hsnaturals.html

The  message is...Don't skimp if you've been bypassed, no matter what!

Links Really screw up these posts, don't they?

Dave

Just an interesting note: inability, or muted-ability to taste salt can be a sign of an iron deficiency.