Nutrition and Supplementation After Bariatric Surgery
Regardless of the procedure a patient ultimately undergoes, they 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 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 are likely to require additional 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 the procedure is critical, so patients should follow their bariatric surgeon’s recommendations. In the meantime, more information about common vitamin and their deficiencies can be found below:
Post-Op Nutrition Thoughtd:
- Patients can consider buying a few different protein shake brands to try after surgery. Sometimes what they were able to tolerate or like before surgery may not be the same after.
- Watching portions, especially 6 months post op, is very important. Some patients begin to lose focus around that time, so it’s important to continue measuring size. A possible option is to eat from a small plate or use kids’ utensils to help with portion sizing.
- Eating slowly does not come naturally in a typical person’s life, especially for those who have a hectic, fast-paced job. Sometimes it requires using a phone timer to ensure sufficient chewing time. Patients often use reminder alarms to help with water intake as well.