“I feel so tired all of the time.”
Here we go again. Another day, another patient confessing that they don’t take their supplements as directed. A little further questioning and they reveal that, well, they really don’t take their supplements regularly, if at all.
I feel a migraine coming on.
I’ve been there. There were times when I felt like the invincible weight loss Wonder Woman. I could do (or not do) anything I wanted and I could still lose weight. Sometimes I want to go back in time just to bitch slap myself. We know that for the morbidly obese, the benefits of surgical weight loss are overwhelming. But while the quality of life improves and there are major physical and psychological benefits, there may be a nutritional price to be paid for the weight loss. Preoperatively, we learn all about our new responsibilities to our health - nutritious food, water, exercise, protein, vitamins and minerals. We had to sign on the dotted line, pledging to this new way of life. Hell, I would have pledged to eat Peking cat if it is what I needed to do to have my bypass. But I digress.
Look folks. We are required to take vitamin and mineral supplements for the rest of our life. Taking a bariatric formulated vitamin and mineral supplement is vital to maintaining our nutritional health and prevent vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Gastric bypass patients in particular are at greater risk for decreased absorption of vitamins and minerals because we are eating a significantly smaller amount of food in a day and the absorption of vitamins and minerals occurs in the stomach and small intestine; following surgery, there is less area for absorption to occur.
A multivitamin/mineral supplement is mandatory after all types of weight loss surgery. After gastric bypass surgery or duodenal switch, there is a risk of vitamin and mineral deficiencies without supplementation. There is a greater risk for B12 deficiency and calcium deficiency with osteoporosis. Therefore, additional vitamin B12 and calcium are required. Menstruating females and people with low iron levels prior to surgery are at risk for iron deficiency anemia; therefore iron supplementation is required. And a new study highlights the risk of bariatric surgery patients developing a serious neurological condition (Wernicke encephalopathy) associated with a vitamin B1, or thiamine, deficiency. Primum non nocere - first, do no harm.
Are you taking your supplements daily? Weight loss surgery has improved or cured your diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, heart disease, infertility, or psychosocial status. Why jeopardize your renewed health by not taking your vitamins and minerals? Please, for long-term health and well-being, remember to take your vitamins and minerals now and for the rest of your life.
I’m going to take mine right now. Join me?
