Guest guest Posted December 23, 2005 Report Share Posted December 23, 2005 Just a reminder for new postops... If you have any of the following symptoms, don't wait, see your MD:Trouble breathingInability to keep fluids down for more than 24 hoursFever over 100 F (37.8 C)Pain (we're not talking discomfort--I mean Pain), especially in abdomen, or chest, or legsIf you're less than 3 months out, don't expect to be able to take in all those supplements, chug all that water, or eat all that food. Your little pouch has to walk before it can run. Make sure you:Get in some form of protein first--If you're having problems, try softer and wetter. Forget the cream of wheat, mashed potatoes, saltines, rice. No nutrition there, takes up valuable space that could be filled with protein, and carbs are calories you don't need.Drink your water/fluids in sips. No way will you be chuggin' that stuff down right now.For supplements: Make B12 and multivitamins your first priority; iron and calcium your second priorities, but don't take calcium at the same time as your iron. Calcium does come in liquid form, so that may be easier at first. For vitamins, try Bariatric Advantage chewables. Trader Joe's has great B12's ( " sublingual " means under the tongue). For calcium: Take cacium citrate, not calcium carbonate Carbonate is cheap and easy to find, but not well-absorbed by little pouches or by post-menopausal women: Needs a lot of acid to break down. For iron: Take ferrous gluconate or ferrous fumarate, not ferrous sulphate (very irritating to stomachs and very constipating).Start with the exercise as soon as your MD says it's okay to do so.Go to support groups.You'll notice I don't tell you requirements (for example, how many grams of protein, how many vitamins, etc.). Those are given to you by your Kaiser program. Hair loss:Most of us had hair loss starting at 3-4 months postop. 95% of the time, the hair loss is thinning. It is very rare to have bald spots. Hair loss is a result of many types of trauma; for example, childbirth can cause it. Your hair WILL GROW BACK. In fact, it starts to grow as soon as it falls out, but it takes a while for it to be long enough for you to notice it. There are no remedies that have been proven to make it grow back faster. Good nutrition does improve the texture and shine of hair, so keep up that protein and those vitamins. But if you don't have room in your pouch to take both the vitamins, iron, calcium, and Biotin (which some people recommend for hair regrowth), forget the Biotin: There's no proof it works.Finally...why do I think I'm such an authority? First of all, I'm an old RN (general medical/surgical, specializing in oncology*) who loves to do research and see what helps people recover from illness. The above are lifestyle guidelines I've learned from going to 2-4support groups/month for over 3 years, reading the medical literature,and talking to the Bariatric staff at Kaiser South City. And all of it has helped me stay at goal for 1.5 years. Thanks to everyone for being here, and happy holidays! Martha*I have to give credit where credit is due: My chemo patients have taught me everything I know about hair loss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 23, 2005 Report Share Posted December 23, 2005 Just a reminder for new postops... If you have any of the following symptoms, don't wait, see your MD:Trouble breathingInability to keep fluids down for more than 24 hoursFever over 100 F (37.8 C)Pain (we're not talking discomfort--I mean Pain), especially in abdomen, or chest, or legsIf you're less than 3 months out, don't expect to be able to take in all those supplements, chug all that water, or eat all that food. Your little pouch has to walk before it can run. Make sure you:Get in some form of protein first--If you're having problems, try softer and wetter. Forget the cream of wheat, mashed potatoes, saltines, rice. No nutrition there, takes up valuable space that could be filled with protein, and carbs are calories you don't need.Drink your water/fluids in sips. No way will you be chuggin' that stuff down right now.For supplements: Make B12 and multivitamins your first priority; iron and calcium your second priorities, but don't take calcium at the same time as your iron. Calcium does come in liquid form, so that may be easier at first. For vitamins, try Bariatric Advantage chewables. Trader Joe's has great B12's ( " sublingual " means under the tongue). For calcium: Take cacium citrate, not calcium carbonate Carbonate is cheap and easy to find, but not well-absorbed by little pouches or by post-menopausal women: Needs a lot of acid to break down. For iron: Take ferrous gluconate or ferrous fumarate, not ferrous sulphate (very irritating to stomachs and very constipating).Start with the exercise as soon as your MD says it's okay to do so.Go to support groups.You'll notice I don't tell you requirements (for example, how many grams of protein, how many vitamins, etc.). Those are given to you by your Kaiser program. Hair loss:Most of us had hair loss starting at 3-4 months postop. 95% of the time, the hair loss is thinning. It is very rare to have bald spots. Hair loss is a result of many types of trauma; for example, childbirth can cause it. Your hair WILL GROW BACK. In fact, it starts to grow as soon as it falls out, but it takes a while for it to be long enough for you to notice it. There are no remedies that have been proven to make it grow back faster. Good nutrition does improve the texture and shine of hair, so keep up that protein and those vitamins. But if you don't have room in your pouch to take both the vitamins, iron, calcium, and Biotin (which some people recommend for hair regrowth), forget the Biotin: There's no proof it works.Finally...why do I think I'm such an authority? First of all, I'm an old RN (general medical/surgical, specializing in oncology*) who loves to do research and see what helps people recover from illness. The above are lifestyle guidelines I've learned from going to 2-4support groups/month for over 3 years, reading the medical literature,and talking to the Bariatric staff at Kaiser South City. And all of it has helped me stay at goal for 1.5 years. Thanks to everyone for being here, and happy holidays! Martha*I have to give credit where credit is due: My chemo patients have taught me everything I know about hair loss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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