Introduction and questions ~RNY v. DS v. Sleeve

Has anyone heard anything from Vitalady? I don't know here but know she was going through some stuff and said a prayer, I haven't heard anything lately about her.

Also I am drawing a blank, what is proximal RNY? I know I know this but I am at work and can't look things up here all the time and be on OH LOL.

I hear from her on occasion or see something from her or about her on the grads group I belong to. She is doing fairly well considering she is going thru a LOT of things that affect her weight but is UNRELATED to her WLS.

Here is the best explanation I have seen: What’s the difference between distal, medial and proximal procedures?

Ohh see I did know what it meant. I had a brain fart. Sorry and thanks.  :)

Glad to hear she is doing well even if its fairly well.  :)

The largest pills I take are the calcium citrate and they should be taken by everyone regardless of whether or not they had WLS.  You can get them in chewables but the cost is prohibitive for me.  I really have been having a hard time with those for some reason. I have taken them for years but lately I have been choking and gagging on them.  It may be because I switched to Walmart generic calcium citrate and they are bigger.  I used to take the petites but they weren't really a whole lot smaller.  The rest of my vitamins are normal size.

Welcome to the LW Board.

I think the others have covered great points.

Just be sure when you decide to be committed to taking your supplements with RNY or DS both.  This is so very important.

I had RNY and am very pleased with it.  I had Diabetes and was taking Metformin.  I have not taken anything since the day or surgery and all my A1C is normal now.  I had sleep apnea also and am off my CPAP also.  The CPAP will depend on what type of sleep apnea you have as to whether you can get rid of it or not.

Read and study everything you can find.  It is a personal decision and needs to fit your lifestyle and eating habits.

Good luck and keep us updated!!

Linda

Linda,

Thank you for your reply!

Do you mind if I ask when you had your surgery and how much you have lost and stayed at goal?

Someone mentioned malabsorption only last 18 months with RNY, does that mean it will be easy to gain or AIC may climb?

Deb

Deb,

I had my surgery in August 2009 so I am a little over 3 years out.  I have lost approximately 122 pounds total.  I have maintained pretty good.  I can assure you it is much easier for me to gain weight now than it was a year ago. 

You do have to make lifestyle changes and stick with them for any of the surgeries to work.  They give you the chance to do these changes and get into a habit of them - then the rest is on you.  My A1C has not gone back up, but I do try to limit my carbs and do protein first.

I know you had some vitamin questions.  Here is what I take on a daily basis.  Some of these are large pills, some of them are chewables, but you should prepare yourself to have to take these the rest of your life with either the DS or the RNY.  You will probably not need all of these, but after your labs you will have to tweak what you need to keep your labs in a good range.

Super Magnesium-Pill
Bariatric Advantage Chewable Multi-Vitamin - Chewable
Bariatric Advantage Iron -Chewable
Bariatric Advantage Dry D3 - Pill - 3 per week
Super B Complex w/ C - Pill - 3 per week
Milk Thistle - Pill
Vitamin B12 - Sublingual
Ranitdine (Acid Reducer) - Pill
Docasate Sodium(Colace) - Pills
Miralax - Mix with water
Calcium Chews - 6 per day

For me the health benefits have far outweighed the pills I have to take and the expense for them and the Protein drinks that I do.

The surgery will help you get where you want to go, but it is up to you to stay there.  Let me know if you need anything else. We are here to help you.

Linda