nutritional needs when pg?

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to the list and had a question for everyone. I'm about six

weeks pregnant and had a gastric bypass in September 2002. Today I

saw my reproductive endocrinologist (who I was seeing while trying

to get pregnant). She seemed extremely concerned about me getting

enough nutrients, due to the fact I had WLS. I told her that I was

eating fairly " normal " sized portions (like what a thin person would

eat), but she said that because of malabsorption, she felt my

nutrition should be closely monitored. She also told me just to

take my one prenatal vitamin every day and a B12 once a week

(contrary to my WLS surgeon, who told me to take my prenatal, plus

my chewable children's multivitamin, iron, etc.).

I am so confused - and she really scared the heck out of me! What

is everyone here doing to make sure they get all of the proper

nutrients? Maybe I'm naive, but I figured that lots of women don't

keep ANY food down in the first trimester because of morning

sickness, so I wasn't too worried about 100% perfect nutrition! I

mean, yes, I am cutting down on junk food and trying to get lots of

protein and calcium...but how concerned should I be?

Any help/reassurance would be GREATLY appreciated! Thanks!

Callie

[Guest guest]

Callie, i take all my regular vitamins, a one a day w/ iron, my b-12 daily, a

folic acid daily, calcium daily, and I eat well plsu the doc added a

prenatal to all that and Said take it ALL... I think the majority on this group

takes

them all too. That is all we really need to do special is to take all your

vitamins, some do protien shakes still ( I do not) and we eat well balanced

meals and snacks, try to stay away from the junk good Luck with everything

and

Welcome to our group.

HUGS, ROBIN, NY

Age- 41

Due Date- #4 July 27th, 2004

OPEN RNY

10-18-02

378/246/170???

DR.EDWARD HIXSON

SARANAC LAKE, NY

Mom to:

&

7 1/2 year twin boys and

Madison age 5

Miscarraige August 2001

Miscarraige August 2003

Married to Pup:

15 years this

Halloween : )

[Guest guest]

,

Unfortunately, sometimes our surgeons don't know so much about nutrition or

absorption even after they perform the surgery. Tums (calcium carbonate) is

not an acceptable nor absorbable type of calcium for RNYers, DSers, or anyone

who has any type of intestinal bypass. Calcium citrate is the only type of

calcium we actually absorb in any major amounts.

Actually, I ended up with 4 (separate even) kidney stones and attacks because

of the calcium in the Tums. I thought I would try it for the convenience,

etc., myself. The calcium is just not absorbed because we do not have enough

stomach acid to mix with it, plus it's just a very hard type to absorb

regardless. I have found chewable citrate (twin labs) and it's okay just VERY

tart.

Othewise Calcium Citrate in pill form is the best option for us.

By the way, even if your calcium levels are low, it will not show up on your

labs because your body will leach calcium from your bones, teeth, etc., to get

what it requires. In other words, by the time your calcium levels are low on

your blood work, you're already in osteopenia if not full blown osteoporosis.

Trust me, I fought that theory as well because my endocrinologist said there

were studies that showed it probably absorbed fairly well (turns out the

studies were not on RNY or any type of gastric bypass patients).....but after

having 4 attacks with kidney stones (that hurt like the devil by the way) I

finally

relented that they just weren't absorbing like they should.

Take care,

Mandi in Concord, NY

Postop Distal RNY

09/23/02

[Guest guest]

I was always told that tums didn't work for RNY - only calcium

citrate. Do you seem to be doing OK with the tums? have you had a

bone density test? Your right tums is the cheepest and easiest if it

really works. - Diane

[Guest guest]

I was always told that tums didn't work for RNY - only calcium

citrate. Do you seem to be doing OK with the tums? have you had a

bone density test? Your right tums is the cheepest and easiest if it

really works. - Diane