Expert: Jacqueline Jacques, ND - 2/28/2010

Question
Dr. Jacques,

I'm currently in the preparing to have Roux en Y surgery.  I'm shooting for May of this year.  The part making me particularly nervous is the vitamins I'll need to take for the rest of my life.  As I understand it, I will not be able to take a once daily vitamin.  I'll need several supplements several times a day.  I'm looking for the least complicated routine possible.

I was wondering what you would recommend?  I want to maintain a healthy vitamin intake, but I am often forgetful.  I don't mind taking multiple supplements; I just would like to keep it to once or twice a day.  

Thank you for your time and especially for getting AllExperts to create this category.

Sincerely,
Karen

Answer
Hi Karen,

Long term vitamin replacement is a necessity after bariatric surgery.  Especially with a procedure like a gastric bypass, you can develop serious malnutrition and permanent health problems as a result.  Trading obesity for serious bone loss, immune dysfunction or nerve damage is not a good idea.  

A procedure like a gastric band (Lap-Band or Realize Band) is much less nutritionally demanding, so you may way to be sure you are exploring all your surgical options.

There are formal guidelines available from the ASMBS (American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery for vitamin replacement after surgery. You can find these here:
http://www.asmbs.org/Newsite07/resources/asmbs_items.htm
(It is the document titled: ASMBS Integrated Health Nutritional Guidelines for the Surgical Weight Loss Patient).  It's a long article, but there is a chart - I think it is table 5) that summarize the key nutrition by procedure.

One thing you can always do before surgery is start taking all or some of what you need now.  It won't hurt you, but you can start practicing the habit.  You can set reminders (alarms on your phone), keep product in the places you are during the day (home, office, car...).  It's a good way to see what your day to day regimen will look like in your life.

Please let me know if you need more information.

In Health,

Dr. Jacques