Newsletter
September 20th, 2009

Important Visit / Blood Work Reminder

All surgical weight loss patients should be seen in the Bariatrix office for a general health evaluation and blood work evaluation every 6 months for the five years following surgery. It has been demonstrated that patients who follow a regular visit schedule with their bariatric staff for five years, achieve the greatest long term weight loss success.

Wednesday is our weekly clinic day for patient appointments. Vitamin deficiencies and other nutritional or medical conditions are often treated quickly and effectively when detected early through regular check-ups. Be pro-active about your health and make your needed appointment.

Phone Consults are Available

If you live out of the area or have a work schedule that does not allow you to come into the office, please call Diane and schedule a telephone consult and blood work review. If you need a new prescription for the regular Post-Op blood work, please call the office and the staff can mail or fax you a copy.

Vitamin Supplementation Change

According to some recent vitamin/nutritional information, your bariatric healthcare team has made the following changes to our post-op vitamin regime. In the past, when we stopped selling vitamins in the office, we offered patients the options for over-the counter vitamins. We are NOW no longer advising OTC vitamins and are asking patients to switch over to either of the following two bariatric vitamin options – Bariatric Advantage or Celebrate. The information on how to purchase the vitamins is listed below. These two vitamin companies sell what is thought to be the highest quality, best absorbed vitamin products suited for the less acid based stomachs following gastric bypass or gastric sleeve surgery. The products that are available by these companies are many – please refer to your list of required vitamins below. The vitamins will also be available to you in several routes – pills, lozenges, chew-ables, liquids, powders that add into water. The choice is yours.

Gastric Bypass Patients:
Multivitamin daily
Calcium Citrate – 1500-2000 mg daily * Daily dose change
Iron – 30 mg daily (women)
Vitamin D daily – 1200 IU daily
For Vitamin D deficiency – prescription D or increased dose will be advised

Gastric Sleeve Patients:
Multivitamin daily
Calcium Citrate – 1500-2000 mg daily * Daily dose change
Vitamin D daily – 1200 IU daily

Gastric Band Patients:
Multivitamin daily
Calcium – 1200 mg daily
Vitamin D 1200 IU daily
*Since there is no alteration in the stomach or intestines, you may continue taking over-the-counter vitamins or chose bariatric vitamins
*Calcium Chews are OK for band patients

Reminders

Do NOT take calcium and iron at the same time. The two supplements counteract each other and should be taken 2 hours apart or at a separate meal.

Individuals differ in vitamin absorption. It is very important to check vitamin blood levels every 6 months in first 5 years after surgery to check for deficiencies associated with the gastric bypass/sleeve procedures. Gastric band patients should have blood levels every 9 -12 months.

Return to Top

Home, Meet Dr. Wizman, Meet the Staff, About Bariatric Surgery
Patient Instructions, Office & Hospital Information, BMI
Calendar of Events, Meet the Wizkids, Insurance
FAQ's, Links, Contact Us, Contact Dr. Wizman