Question:
DS post-ops: Is vitamin deficiency a problem and can you have children?
I am considering DS and am worried about 2 things mainly: 1) vitamin deficiencies and 2) will my body be able to produce a healthy baby (preferably two). If vitamin deficiency is a problem, what vitamins seem to be the hardest to keep at normal levels? Have any DS-post ops been unable to keep vitamin levels normal? As for children, I worry about malabsorbtion's effect on a growing (and hungry) fetus. Anyone with first hand experience? Thank you so much. — [Anonymous] (posted on August 20, 2001)
August 19, 2001
With either the RNY or the DS, you will need to take vitamins. I had the DS
in April of this year, and am currently taking a pre natal, 1000 mg of
calcium, and one allergy a and d per day. It is well worth it to watch the
pounds melt off. 91 lbs gone forever so far, and it has been 4 months. As
long as you stick to taking your vitamins, you should be okay..... As for a
baby, my friend found out she was expecting a little more than 6 months
after her DS. Imagine her surprise! (She didn't think she could even have
children!) Because it was so early on she did have some difficulties, but
in the end everything was fine. She had a healthy baby girl this past
January, has lost over 200 lbs, and is ready for her tummy tuck and breast
lift. My surgeon recommends waiting 18 months to 2 years before getting
pregnant. I would like one more also, and am looking forward to a healthy
happy pregnancy. If you have any questions feel free to e-mail me.
— Kim B.
August 20, 2001
I had an Open BPD/Ds in April 2001. My labs have all come back great and I
feel and look wonderful. I take 1 Flintstone Vitamin 3x day(chewable's are
more easily absorbed-so I'm told), I take 1 ADEK 3x day(those are the fat
soluble vitamins A,D,E,K hence the name)and I take 1 Calcium 3x per day.
I take them spaced out about 8 hrs apart-not brkfst,lunch,dinner. I do it
this way as my body constantly has the vitamins in it's system(I hope).
Anyway, I take when I get up in the am,mid afternoon(about 3 or 4)and then
at bedtime.So far this works well for me. The ADEK's are by Scandipharm and
many Cystic Fibrosis patients take these as they too have malabsorbtion
issues. I get them over the counter at Costco for $18.95 but at Rite Aid
they are $29.35. It's worth the membership to Costco.
My Dr. recommends waiting about 18 months-24 months before getting
pregnant. This way your weight has pretty much stabalized. If I were to
become pregnant I would seek an OB/GYN who specializes in high risk
pregnancies. Not necessarily that I would be one but I think the care and
follow up might be a little bit more. Just because you have surgery dsn't
mean you wouldn't be able to have children. I might think you may do a
little bit better with DS only because you can eat more during a pregnancy
than the RNY(altho many healthy babies born to RNY moms too)
— Linda M.
August 20, 2001
Hi.. Nope! Almost 2 years postop and no problem with vitamin deficiency.
Pregnancy after your weight stabelizes is very possible. Many people have
surgery just so they can get pregnant. If you're considering the DS, it's
a great idea to join the DS mailing list at Yahoo to get answers to all
your questions from people who have been there.. Here's the address for
you: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/duodenalswitch. Good luck to you!
— [Deactivated Member]
August 20, 2001
Every individual is different, and every level of malabsorption is
different. There are some people who have had real difficulties in
maintaining healthy levels with both the DS and the RNY. For me, at 14
months post-op, I have no deficiencies, and no problems. What I have
noticed even among the majority of us who have no problems, is that we take
different levels of vitamins to keep our nutritional levels at the right
place. I take two multi-vitamins, and three calcium a day. Some folks
need to take a lot more to stay at the right levels; some folks need to
take a different type of vitamins. Although no one can predict how *you*
will react, the majority of DS patients do not seem to have nutritional
deficiencies. -Kate-
— kateseidel
August 20, 2001
Calcium seems to be one of the major potential deficiencies. People speak
of their levels being normal a year or two post op. The body steals
calcium from your bones in order to keep your blood calcium level normal. A
bone scan is probably the best way to know whether or not you are deficient
in calcium.
— [Anonymous]
August 21, 2001
Yep..bone scan and all... no deficiencies. I take Niferex PN Forte and two
viactiv daily. It's always a good idea to ask the specific surgeon about
patients track record. Good luck in your research!
— [Deactivated Member]
August 21, 2001
Hi, I'm six months post-op from a lap BPD/DS and haven't had any
nutritional problems to date. I take 2 multis, 3 ADEKS, calcium citrate
(two pills three times a day) and iron (chormagen forte) twice a day on an
empty stomach. My three month labs were almost perfect - just my calcium
.05 below normal range (my PTH was fine). My six months labs were 'totally
normal'. :) My surgeon also recommends at least 18 months post-op before
trying to conceive. He told me that it wouldn't be any problem but to make
sure that one has an OB/GYN that understands the need for extra
supplementation and frequent monitoring/bloodwork/labs. All the best, (lap
DS with gallbladder removal, January 25, 2001)
— Teresa N.
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