Phil and Tina

[Guest guest]

Phil & Tina:

I'm going to try to answer both your questions in this one post.

" your " calcium requirements should start at 1500-2000 mg. of calcium

a day in divided doses of around 500 mg. That is the 'basic/generic'

calcium requirements for everyone....then as time goes on " YOUR "

vitamin/calcium/iron/ requirements will be tweaked by Dr. K as

indicated by your lab work.

On the subject of Iron...if You are not anemic and not a menstruating

female...then you don't need to be taking Iron unless Dr. K has added

that to " your " requirements. There are several men and non-

menstruating females that do need to take iron as time passes...but

you don't have to until you are told to. That is why follow-up labs

and appointments are important to our long term health. If you do

need to take Iron...it is best taken by itself, on an empty stomach

with something acidic (like vitamin c or juice).

Tina, there are some folks on this list that go to the Paso meetings.

Congrats on your success so far, it is soooo sweet when you finally

get to the place where you think you will survive!

Hugs

Jo

The following is taken from your DS bible (workbook). You can also

find the workbook on the www.dssurgery.com website.

Daily Multivitamins & Calcium:

The limited absorptive part of the surgery makes it necessary for you

to take and be committed to taking multivitamins and 1500mg calcium

for life. The multivitamin should be a general multivitamin with

minerals and added calcium (you may need to add a calcium tablet to

get 1500mg of calcium a day). The Calcium should be taken in divided

doses over the day, not the entire 1500mg in one dose. Read your

vitamin labels!

If you are a menstruating female you maybe at risk for iron

deficiency anemia and may need to take iron supplements also.

We will also be monitoring your vitamin D and A levels to see if it

is necessary for you to take water soluble Vitamin A & D.

The limited absorptive properties of the surgery can put you at risk

for loss of bone density but with exerc ise and taking calcium

supplements this can be avoided. Bone density scans are something one

should consider having done as a baseline and every few years after

surgery especially if you are 50 years and older.