Questions from Nashville...

[Guest guest]

Greetings from icy Nashville,

I am fairly new to this board but want to say I feel like I have

found my soul mates! My name is and I had a proximal, open

RNY @ 15 months ago in October of 2001. I don't think I have ever

said this publicly but since everyone on here is so open, and it

seems that you feel better once you confess things, I want to say I

was @ 430 the day of surgery. I am horrified by that # but

thankfully, 15 months later, I am down 150 lbs to 280. I feel

10,000% better but still have a ways to go. I have many questions

that were not answered by the Dr's office after surgery and the

support from them has been minimal at best. After reading your

posts, I realize I am woefully unprepared for this portion of my

journey and I want to make sure I educate myself. You guys seem

like the experts so I wanted to ask a few questions. I will try to

be brief so all of you don't have to read an epiphany.

1. Why do I crave salt so much? Is this some sort of deficiency?

2. I found the rintadine (sp?) antacid that someone mentioned

previously at Wal-Mart. It is a generic equivalent and is Wal-

Mart's store brand. Is there any reason I should not take this and

also, what is the proper level of dosage daily? 2Xs daily? 75 mg

per dose?

3. I too have the weird cramping that some of you have mentioned

recently. Mine occurs mostly in my knees though and wakes me up

throughout the night. Do you think B1 will help? What exactly does

B1 assist you with and is it part of a multi-vitamin or a separate

pill?

4. I am a semi-vegetarian and struggle with eating enough protein

all the time. I am trying to do more of the protein drinks but also

like to eat the soy protein products, i.e. Boca Burgers. I have

been told they should not count towards my daily protein count. Is

this true and if so, why?

5. Although improved from my pre-surgery days, my energy level

still really sucks. I spend my days dreaming of sleep and spend

most of my weekend getting caught up on my rest. I work @ 8.5 to 9

hours daily at my main job and then come home to a little side

business I have on the internet and work another 2 hours a night.

Sometimes at lunch, I run home from my main job and take a 30 minute

nap just to get through the afternoon. Then as soon as I come home

at night, I lay down for an hour or two before getting up to work my

internet business. I am desperate to find a way to get more energy

and not feel so ragged all the time. This is really frustrating me

and as a result, I don't get enough excercise and tend to make poor

food choices. I feel that I have gotten caught up in some viscious

cycle and don't know how to break it.

Is there some magic pill (ha..) or vitamin combo, etc. that will

help me break free of this? I have only had my bloodwork done one

time since surgery and that was @ 6 months ago. I was showing

deficient in Zinc and Vitamin D. I will admit (don't shout at me)

to being very erratic with vitamins, etc and have mostly not been

taking them because I feel I am not sure exactly what to take. I

know I should be taking a multi vitamin, B12 and calcium citrate but

am not sure what type to take. I have heard a lot of people in

other groups talk about wasting money on vitamins that aren't the

right type, don't dissole properly, etc. Also, my PCP kind of poo

poo'd me when I discussed getting the B12 shots monthly. He said he

never really knew anyone they helped. By saying that, I feel like I

am wasting mine and his time if I go in and get one. ?

I will stop for now and appreciate your time in reading this lengthy

list of questions. Please refer me to books or online somewhere if

there is a place for me to read about all of this without disturbing

all of you with my questions. I want to thank all of you for your

posts and info, this is really the online group I have been looking

for for months now that I think can help me get back on track. I

feel like my wheels have come off and I am going to be the one

person that fails to use this surgery to its fullest. I have been

very depressed about this for about 3 or 4 months and have not lost

any weight during this time. It probably hasn't helped that I quit

taking an anti-depressant but plan on rectifying that. I graciously

thank all of you in advance for your help...

R

[Guest guest]

>

> Is there some magic pill (ha..) or vitamin combo, etc. that will

> help me break free of this? I have only had my bloodwork done one

> time since surgery and that was @ 6 months ago. I was showing

> deficient in Zinc and Vitamin D. I will admit (don't shout at me)

> to being very erratic with vitamins, etc and have mostly not been

> taking them because I feel I am not sure exactly what to take.

*************************

Hi , & welcome!

No shouting here, but I think you just answered your own question.

First, get your labs done again. It's too easy to tell you to get on

a routine with vitamins, iron and calcium when there may be other

shortages, as well. But, your poor energy level is a big red flag,

and by your post, I think you know that. I don't know that you need

a B12 shot yet, but a non-supportive PCP isn't a good thing either.

Your need to nap constantly could also be due to an iron deficiency,

not necessarily B12, or several other things. Your first priority,

IMO, should be to force yourself to take your vitamins religiously,

and then maybe find a new PCP. )

Good luck, sweetie!

in NJ

[Guest guest]

Welcome .......I am going to let some other " experts " on here answer

your supplement questions....but I will add that " YES " I do think that you

will feel better when you start to take them, improve your eating, and start

exercising! As far as the ranitidine goes I guess the answer would be in

" why " you are taking them. If you have acid reflux then it would be my

suggestion to talk with your Doc, a scope might be in order to determine if

there are any ulcers or other problems. If you don't have reflux symptoms,

then yes, I think the 75mg 2xday is sufficient. But like I said, you might

want to discuss this with your Doc first!! I know what it is like to not

have good follow up with the surgeon.......mine is awesome with the

surgery.....but I think sucks with the supplements and such......good

luck..... P.

Questions from Nashville...

> Greetings from icy Nashville,

>

> I am fairly new to this board but want to say I feel like I have

> found my soul mates! My name is and I had a proximal, open

> RNY @ 15 months ago in October of 2001. I don't think I have ever

> said this publicly but since everyone on here is so open, and it

> seems that you feel better once you confess things, I want to say I

> was @ 430 the day of surgery. I am horrified by that # but

> thankfully, 15 months later, I am down 150 lbs to 280. I feel

> 10,000% better but still have a ways to go. I have many questions

> that were not answered by the Dr's office after surgery and the

> support from them has been minimal at best. After reading your

> posts, I realize I am woefully unprepared for this portion of my

> journey and I want to make sure I educate myself. You guys seem

> like the experts so I wanted to ask a few questions. I will try to

> be brief so all of you don't have to read an epiphany.

>

> 1. Why do I crave salt so much? Is this some sort of deficiency?

>

> 2. I found the rintadine (sp?) antacid that someone mentioned

> previously at Wal-Mart. It is a generic equivalent and is Wal-

> Mart's store brand. Is there any reason I should not take this and

> also, what is the proper level of dosage daily? 2Xs daily? 75 mg

> per dose?

>

> 3. I too have the weird cramping that some of you have mentioned

> recently. Mine occurs mostly in my knees though and wakes me up

> throughout the night. Do you think B1 will help? What exactly does

> B1 assist you with and is it part of a multi-vitamin or a separate

> pill?

>

> 4. I am a semi-vegetarian and struggle with eating enough protein

> all the time. I am trying to do more of the protein drinks but also

> like to eat the soy protein products, i.e. Boca Burgers. I have

> been told they should not count towards my daily protein count. Is

> this true and if so, why?

>

> 5. Although improved from my pre-surgery days, my energy level

> still really sucks. I spend my days dreaming of sleep and spend

> most of my weekend getting caught up on my rest. I work @ 8.5 to 9

> hours daily at my main job and then come home to a little side

> business I have on the internet and work another 2 hours a night.

> Sometimes at lunch, I run home from my main job and take a 30 minute

> nap just to get through the afternoon. Then as soon as I come home

> at night, I lay down for an hour or two before getting up to work my

> internet business. I am desperate to find a way to get more energy

> and not feel so ragged all the time. This is really frustrating me

> and as a result, I don't get enough excercise and tend to make poor

> food choices. I feel that I have gotten caught up in some viscious

> cycle and don't know how to break it.

>

> Is there some magic pill (ha..) or vitamin combo, etc. that will

> help me break free of this? I have only had my bloodwork done one

> time since surgery and that was @ 6 months ago. I was showing

> deficient in Zinc and Vitamin D. I will admit (don't shout at me)

> to being very erratic with vitamins, etc and have mostly not been

> taking them because I feel I am not sure exactly what to take. I

> know I should be taking a multi vitamin, B12 and calcium citrate but

> am not sure what type to take. I have heard a lot of people in

> other groups talk about wasting money on vitamins that aren't the

> right type, don't dissole properly, etc. Also, my PCP kind of poo

> poo'd me when I discussed getting the B12 shots monthly. He said he

> never really knew anyone they helped. By saying that, I feel like I

> am wasting mine and his time if I go in and get one. ?

>

> I will stop for now and appreciate your time in reading this lengthy

> list of questions. Please refer me to books or online somewhere if

> there is a place for me to read about all of this without disturbing

> all of you with my questions. I want to thank all of you for your

> posts and info, this is really the online group I have been looking

> for for months now that I think can help me get back on track. I

> feel like my wheels have come off and I am going to be the one

> person that fails to use this surgery to its fullest. I have been

> very depressed about this for about 3 or 4 months and have not lost

> any weight during this time. It probably hasn't helped that I quit

> taking an anti-depressant but plan on rectifying that. I graciously

> thank all of you in advance for your help...

>

> R

>

>

>

> Homepage: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Graduate-OSSG

>

> Unsubscribe: mailto:Graduate-OSSG-unsubscribe

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

On Sun, 19 Jan 2003 08:06:59 -0000 " angela6237220

1angelar@...> "

> 4. I am a semi-vegetarian and struggle with eating enough protein

> all the time. I am trying to do more of the protein drinks but also

> like to eat the soy protein products, i.e. Boca Burgers. I have

> been told they should not count towards my daily protein count. Is

> this true and if so, why?

>

,

welcome to the group. You certainly have a lot of questions.

Since I had the VBG and not the RNY, I am really unable to shed a lot of

light on some of the other things. I have several friends that are

vegetarians. I have been told that the soy protein is okay but it may

not be a complete protein. It is kind of like rice and beans makes a

complete protein but separately, they are not a good source of protein.

I personally don't understand a lot of the mechanics of the protein in a

vegetarian diet other then the fact that it is harder to get. You may

want to consult a nutritionist and work out a plan. Let us know how

things are going.

Also, if it helps any , I was 479 lbs at my heaviest and I

am 5 ft 1 in. 430 # doesn't sound so bad, not good, but a little bitty,

teensy, weensy bit better then 479 lbs.

Lori Owen - Denton, Texas

CHF 4/14/01 479 lbs.

SRVG 7/16/01 401 lbs.

Current Weight 339.5 lbs. and loosing again

Dr. Ritter/Dr. Bryce