Question:
What happens if you are distal, and you stop taking your vitamins?
— Laura W. (posted on January 6, 2005)
January 6, 2005
There are certain vites that can't be gotten from food realiably, but in
essence: vit A = eyes (night blindness); B1 & B12 = nerves/brain (brain
damage, numbness, loss of ability to walk); C = immunity and enhances iron
absorption; D = bones, absorption of calcium (rickets/osteoporosis); E =
hair, skin, nails, capillary wall (first would be red bruising, crispy hair
& skin); iron = base of blood, so brain, heart, all organs (first thing
is usually fatigue and being cold); calcium = bones and muscle (first you'd
feel might be muscle spasms, which could be anything and then, of course,
the big one, osteoporosis); multi vite touches these, but does not hit them
hard enough. we don't KNOW which trace minerals are malabsorbed, so the 2
multis per day are a shot in the dark to cover the basics. And of course,
uncontrolled wt loss (skeletal) or weight gain. That's the basics. Some
take a few months to show, some take years. Not all are reversible.
— vitalady
January 6, 2005
Laura, you didn't say so but are you contemplating stopping your vitamins?
I can't imagine why anyone would have this risky surgery to get in better
health then stop doing one of the vital things that keeps us healthy.
Wonderful answer from Michelle...........it's always obvious she has done
her homework. Please reconsider if you have stopped or are considering
stopping your supplements. Your quality of life, and life itself could
depend on what you do.
— scbabe
January 6, 2005
You'll become anemic.. Possiblity get osteopeoris (spelling) your B12 will
drop - WHAT does will cause in the long wrong... can not be good.. Dont
stop vitamins. If you are having trouble taking vitamins; may I suggest (I
hate taking vitamins took a long time to get these).... B12 - Solary brand
- no taste, UpcalD powder - calcium citrate no taste. Vitamins - One a day
essentials are SMALL; or even to Vitaballs (gum) they have 11 100% vitamins
- and Sweet Essentials from drugstore.com is a 'malt ball'. Iron VitronC is
small... In all honesty you dont want to stop taking your vitamins, unless
your are 'prepared' for ill health.
— star .
January 7, 2005
Laura, please PLEASE do not stop taking your vitamins! If you need to read
my profile because it will tell you what can happen if you stop taking your
vitamins! And it will also tell you what I am going thru now to get it
back on track......NOT FUN!!!
— Carole M.
January 7, 2005
Laura, I noticed that you stated your are a distal bypass??? Why on earth
would you set yourself up for real danger of malnutrition and possible
death!!! I too am distal as is almost everyone in my support group. We
are all doing very well with a few exceptions. Being Distal makes you
already prone to possible malobsorption issues more so than proximal. I
would hope that your doctor would have explained to you the REAL dangers in
not following your vitamin program. Please do not even consider not taking
your vits. If you are having problems (heart burn or something), contact
your doctor or someone else in your group for ideas on how better to take
the vitamins. Good Luck and please be careful. Distal can be a wonderful
way to go as we have an extremely low rate of weight gain post op but you
have to take responsibility for maintaining your nutritional requirements.
— debbie11092002
January 7, 2005
Reading michelle's list of what could happen if you go off vitamins below
ought to be enough,but if its not, read Carole's profile. I just
did...geesh, it made me run to my iron pill bottle and scarf down an extra
one!
— Cindy R.
January 8, 2005
I forgot to mention protein. The first thing you'd see would be edema in
ankles. But no, not all edema means this. But usually, the local doc will
give you water pills, which makes them crash. ER will give them potassium,
but not check protein. Next time, they will check potassium, calcium, MIGHT
check protein. It's a slow process. SC BABE, unfortunately, what I reported
is what I SEE, not what I read. Textbook stuff is kinda boring, but real
people with real faces and real families are what I see. So, when I sound
a little bit fanatical, that's why. But :-), thanks for the compliment!
Sad thing is that it can happen to proximals, too. Just takes longer.
— vitalady
January 9, 2005
Well, you *could* die. Or worse, end up brain damaged, with brittle,
porous bones. Sick all the time.
Why don't you just kill yourself quickly, if you're really feeling
suicidal?
And if you're not suicidal, don't even *think* about not taking vites!
— RWH G.
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