Gastric bypass surgery reduces the size of the stomach and reroutes the digestive system so that fewer nutrients are absorbed. You will need to pay very careful attention to what you consume after your surgery to make sure that you get the vitamins and minerals you need each day.
Taking a good multivitamin daily is one of the most important things you will need to do to maintain good health after weight loss surgery. Failing to keep up with that can lead to serious complications related to vitamin deficiencies. However, a multivitamin alone will not be enough to make up for nutrients you will no longer be getting from foods.
You should also supplement B vitamins. A B-1 deficiency can cause heart problems. It can also lead to a nervous system disorder known as beriberi. Symptoms include dizziness, nausea, vomiting and a loss of appetite. B-12 is also necessary. Many surgeons recommend that you take 500 micrograms of B-12 in a sublingual pill each day.
Anemia is common after weight loss surgery, and an iron supplement can help stave it off. Taking your iron supplement with orange juice or with an iron supplement can help your body absorb iron more efficiently.
Calcium helps protect bones against breakage. You should take 1200 milligrams each day. Take half of this in the morning and half at night. Do not take calcium supplements at the same time as iron, as calcium can keep iron from being absorbed properly.
Talk to your doctor about the specific supplements he or she recommends after
bariatric surgery. Many of the vitamins that you will need can be purchased at any drugstore in the Salt Lake area.