Question:
Malabsoption? Does anyone know 15 plus years out if we will have
malabsorption, anemia malnutrition. I wonder if this was the right thing to do. I am 6 weeks out so still scared. Thank you. — angel4 (posted on May 20, 2007)
May 20, 2007
Well, it's a little late to have second thoughts now after you have had the
surgery... Having said that the answer is YES if you don't take care of
yourself. During your preop, I am sure that it was discussed with you that
this was a permanent anatomy-altering surgery that would result in not be
restrictive in nature (limiting the amount that you can consume), but
malabsorptive as well. You were told that you would have to take vitamins,
supplements, etc for the rest of your life. This is all true. If you do
this and eat properly, then the chances of the anemia are a low risk, but
higher than the general population that has not had the surgery. Also,
something to consider, is the fact that we will all need to take a calcium
supplement forever as well to help prevent osteoporosis. Good luck to
you.. just follow what you are supposed to be doing and use the tool that
you have been given as it was intended to be used....
— Kari_K
May 20, 2007
I agree with Kari....a lot of time is spent "educating" all of us
about what our bodies will experience BEFORE we have the surgery so that we
are certain that we are doing what is right for us! Look back over the
information hopefully your surgeon gave you and do what is recommended and
you'll be just fine!
I'm ten months post-op and have lost 110lbs. and feel great! You WILL too!
No regrets...Trish
— zoeysgrami
May 20, 2007
Constance, it okay to be scared. Since you are so early out, I'm sure you
are having to deal with a lot - inability to eat and your hormones are
probably going crazy. Things do get better as time goes along. Just work
toward eating what your doctor recommends - plenty of protein, water and
vitamins. If you do that, in most cases you won't get anemic. You will
have malnutrition, but that's what's going to cause you to lose weight.
Believe it or not in another 6-8 months, you are going to be able to eat
almost normally so enjoy this time while you can!
— KC
May 20, 2007
Hi Constance. Thanks for writing. Honey, do you stay up nights and think
of things that scare you? I do, that is why I ask. Sometimes I play the
what if game so much, that my blood pressure just soars over things that I
cannot control. Please, Constance, breathe. Stop for just a minute and
take a big breath, and then do it again, and maybe even again. Breathe
with me........................................
Doesn't that feel good! Now, the answer to your question. The way I
understand this surgery is that I will always have a mal absorptive quality
to my surgery. My body finds ways to re-adjust, but I am not sure I will
ever absorb the way I used to. At least I don't think I will. So the
basic answer is yes, I thing we continue to have mal absorption. Anemia?
Malnutrition? Honey the obese person eats so much, there is no way to be
mal nurished. If you stay on your multi vitamins and calicum you should be
fine. I began to take an iron supplement because I get tired, and my iron
is not low, but headed that way, so I began the iron. Some end up taking
B12. This is why you have annual check ups with your surgeon, and if you
are showing some physical problems, you contact them. They are to follow
you for the rest of your life. The only way you are gonna have a huge
malnutrition problem is if you ignore the rules of protein, vitamins and
calcium (possibley iron and B12), and don't see your surgeon for your
regular check ups. They will do blood work and know if you are ok.
Constance, this is just one of those head games that will try and convince
you that you cannot be nourished unless you are eating for 5 people. You
can have good nourishment with small amounts of foods. At 3 years out
Constance, I am eating half of full sized meals, atleast twice a day, and
very healthy. You will be too. Just follow the rules, and stay in touch
with your surgeon. Take care girl, and best to you. Patricia P.
— Patricia P
May 20, 2007
Just felt I had to interject a postscript here to another member's reply:
obese people can and do suffer from malnutrition. It may be
counterintuitive, but just because a body is fat doesn't mean that the body
is getting the right nutrients. Obese people have even died of
malnutrition (does anyone else remember the "liquid protein"
deaths?).
— Virginia N.
May 21, 2007
Well, at 13 years we do! Things you can expect: iron anemia; pernicious
anemia; osteoporosis and so on. UNLESS you are supplementing correctly
now. Even so, you'll have to adjust as time goes on. I'm taking about 20
times as much vit D now as I did way back when, for example. But then, I
was low and increased over time to levels of perfection today. While low
in vit A in the begining, I need supplement that only lightly today. We
were anemic (iron) in the early years, but found an iron that works. I
rarely see levels as good as ours on any post-op. We still supplement
protein, but have stellar labs to show for it. We both have bone mass
issues because we spent too many years on the wrong kind and not enough
calcium. We have arrested the damage with LOTS of D and the correct
calcium, but we cannot reverse the damage. Nobody seemed to be watching
the B12, but we caught it before it bottomed out. So, in answer to your
question, those are things you CAN expect if you do not have correct
nutriioinal/supplemental instruction. The things we cannot RELIABLY get
from food include: protein, iron, calcium, A, D, E, B1, B12 and zinc.
— vitalady
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