After undergoing gastric sleeve surgery, your body will start changing dramatically. You will begin shedding those unwanted excess pounds and you will start getting used to the new you. As you change your diet, exercise routine, and lifestyle, you will need to pay close attention to the needs of your body. This includes taking the right bariatric vitamins for gastric sleeve patients.
Taking the right mineral, multivitamin, and calcium supplements is an important part of ensuring you are maintaining optimal health. This is important before the gastric sleeve procedure and for life after gastric sleeve surgery. Because of less food intake and altered absorption rates, your body will experience nutritional deficiencies, if you don’t follow a bariatric vitamin regimen after surgery. Bariatric vitamins for gastric sleeve surgery play a major role in keeping your body nourished when you begin to lose weight.
What kind of vitamins for gastric sleeve patients are needed?
Bariatric surgery patients need to take vitamins that are made specifically for people that have had weight loss surgery. These supplements have higher doses of the vitamins your body needs, and they are more easily absorbed by your recovering digestive system. This ensures that you will experience less irritation while taking the vitamins every day.
Bariatric multivitamins are some of the most important vitamins you will take. They come in the form of capsules, chewables, or liquids, which are the best for absorption and need to be taken two to three times a day. After surgery, your dietitians and medical team will give you some options on which multivitamins are best.
If there is not enough iron in the multivitamin, you will need to take additional iron supplements as well. You’ll also want to make sure your bariatric multivitamin includes calcium citrate, the right amount of vitamin D, and other nutrients. Most bariatric vitamins have their levels of calcium and vitamins on the bottle, so you know how many doses you’ll need to take.
We recommend patients to have a Vitamin B12 intake of about 1,000 mcg a day, and about 1,000 to 1,500 mg of calcium each day. Last, about 3,000 IU of vitamin D is also required. Many times, probiotics are recommended to help encourage good gut health. Your WeightWise dietitian and nurse practitioner will let you know how much iron, calcium, and vitamins you’ll need.
Are Bariatric Vitamins for Gastric Sleeve Surgery Expensive?
The cost of calcium, iron, and vitamin supplements ranges in price. Sometimes insurance will help pay for them, so it’s important to look closely at what your benefits provide. Not all insurance providers pay for vitamin and mineral supplements, but sometimes they will if there is a written prescription.
Contact your insurance company to see what is covered if anything. This will help you determine what your estimated monthly costs will be, which will factor into your long-term financial planning for weight loss surgery.
Experienced Bariatric Surgeons
At WeightWise, we understand how exciting it is to make positive steps toward meeting your weight loss goals. Our doctors have decades of experience with bariatric procedures and will discuss all available options for you. Contact us today to see if you’re a candidate for gastric sleeve surgery.
We also offer gastric bypass surgery, duodenal switch procedures, and other non-surgical medications to help you on your weight-loss journey. It’s important to remember that getting the right multivitamin supplements is just one part of a healthy lifestyle. In order to lose weight initially and in the long term, watch your diet and safely increase your physical activity. Please contact your dietitian if you have any questions about bariatric vitamins.