Nutrition and Supplementation After Bariatric Surgery
Depending on the procedure you ultimately undergo, you will require some nutritional supplementation after bariatric surgery. Patients who undergo a purely restrictive procedure such as a gastric sleeve or gastric band may require as little as a daily multivitamin with other vitamins and minerals supplemented based on the results of periodic blood testing. Patients that undergo a combination of restrictive and malabsorptive procedures like the gastric bypass or duodenal switch almost always require more supplementation, which can include iron, vitamin D, calcium, vitamin B 12, and more.
Understanding and following post-operative information on what supplements will be required after your procedure is critical, so follow your surgeon’s recommendations. In the meantime, you can read more about common vitamin and their deficiencies below:
Some Post-Op Nutrition Tips:
– Buy a few different protein shake brands to try after surgery. Sometimes what you were able to tolerate or like before surgery, may not be the same after.
– Watching your portions, especially 6 months post op, is very important. Some begin slacking on their restrictions around that time, so it’s important to continue measuring size. A trick could be eating from a small plate or using kids’s utensils to help with the portions you are putting in your mouth.
– Eating slowly does not come natural in our busy life- especially to those who have a hectic, fast paced job. Sometimes it requires using your phone timer to make sure you are chewing long enough. Also, you can use reminder alarms to help with water intake.