What to Buy in Preparation for Gastric Bypass Surgery

When I had gastric bypass surgery three years ago, my surgeon and dietician recommended I do some shopping in order to prepare for surgery. Here I'd like to share not only their recommendations, but other things I found useful in the first days after surgery. At the end of this article, I've included a helpful shopping list for you.

Protein

The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery suggests gastric bypass patients consume at least 1.1 grams of protein per kilogram of ideal body weight daily. That works out to about half their ideal weight. Immediately after surgery, you'll need protein drinks in order to get enough protein because you'll be on such a limited diet for a while.

Buy a bunch of samples to see what you like. You can get samples from m any places, including Vitalady, Unjury, Chike Nutrition and Celebrate Vitamins.

You might also want to try Isopure and Cytosport ready-to-drink fruity flavors, which you can get at GNC or Vitamin Shoppe.

You'll probably want a good blender to make your protein shakes. If you prefer, you can get a blender bottle, a plastic bottle with a wire ball inside to help blend your shakes when you shake the bottle.

Vitamins

Buy your vitamins. Here's what the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery says you should start with:

• Two multivitamins a day. These should be adult vitamins, not children's vitamins or gummy vitamins.
• 1500 - 2000 mg calcium citrate (not carbonate).
• 54 - 63 mg iron for menstruating women, 36 mg iron for everyone else.
• Sublingual B12, 350 - 500 mg a day (you can also cheese to use a prescription nasal spray or injections for B12, if you prefer).
• The ASMBS says a B complex vitamin is optional.

Many people also need vitamin D3 so you should get your vitamin D level to find out if you do.

You do not have to use special "bariatric" vitamins but if you prefer chewable vitamins, those may be your best option.

Measuring Cups and Food Storage Containers

After your surgery, you will need to measure your portions carefully. Get a set of measuring cups, if you don't already have some.

Since you'll be eating such small portions right after surgery, you'll end up with lots of leftovers. Buy some small food storage containers to keep food fresh.

Tylenol

Your doctor will write a prescription for some pain medication after surgery, but if you experience minor pain or develop a fever, Tylenol may be useful. As explained in the Hartford Hospital patient handbook, gastric bypass patients are advised to avoid NSAIDS, like ibuprofen, Advil and Motrin, due to the risk of stomach ulcers so have some Tylenol or another acetaminophen product on hand. Talk to your doctor if you have questions about what medicines you can take and which to avoid.

Your shopping list:

• Protein drinks or powders
• Blender and/or blender bottle
• Multivitamin
• Calcium citrate
• Iron
• Vitamin B12
• B complex (optional)
• Vitamin D3 (if needed)
• Measuring cups
• Small containers for leftovers
• Tylenol

Sources:

Bariatric Nutrition. http://nutrition.otago.ac.nz/__data/assets/file/0005/4784/BariatricNutritionReading.pdf. Suggestions for the Surgical Weight Loss Patient.

Hartford Hospital. http://www.harthosp.org/portals/1/images/32/patient_handbook.pdf. Surgical Treatment of Morbid Obesity.