Obesity Surgery WP Blog

This is my first post. I read this list everyday! My husband Don and I will be
having open RYGBP on April 30, 2002. Let’s just say that our insurance okayed
our surgeries within 24 hours of our doctor’s visit (Dr William E. Roll,
Fairfax. VA). We attend staple club meetings (one in Woodbridge, VA the other
at Fair Oaks hospital - where our surgeries will be preformed) and are starving
(lol) for information. As we gather our knowledge, we have found some
conflicting information. A big question is how to take my 80mg of Prozac daily.
Once I read a question on this forum about how to handle the stuff (specifically
Prozac) and recall a reply that the outside (of a Prozac)is gelatinous and will
dissolve as per designed. - - - This just didn’t sit right with me. Heck,
everything going into my stomach was changing and my physiology/anatomy will be
permanently changed. I don’t need my brain to go bazook on me during my
adjustments.
So I called my Nutrition Consultant. Dr. Roll INSISTs on classes with her
before he performs surgery. BTW seems any reputable Surgeon would! Our

nutritionist is available during business hours to all approved/scheduled
patients of Dr. Roll. She gave me this valuable advise: Your stomach will only
be a 2 oz. pouch! Gastric juices (which would normally dissolve the gel
container) will be limited, plus the dissolving time will also be severely
limited. So you CANNOT depend on the medication (in capsules) you need to be
absorbed. One complaint, on this forum, was that in applesauce, Prozac tastes
like poison. Let’s get this straight - Medications are chemicals you add to
your body for a reason. That (Those) chemicals are designed to provide your
body with something it needs to be healthy, balanced and functional.
Medications are designed for people without GS! To block or misuse a
psychotropic is just plain stupid! Same goes for other meds. Use your
doctor’s/nutritionist’s advice. Mine said to try V8 or some other strong
tasting liquid. Do not assume that capsules will dissolve! Capsules are
designed for “normal” stomachs with gastric juices/time/absorption.
Malabsorption is one of the basic reasons that GS works as a weight-loss
program!!!! She finally eased my mind by reminding me that this particular
situation is temporary! Within a few months, you WILL be able to take capsules.
It is however up to your doctor and nutritionist to decide when you can reliably
go back to taking capsules. I’ll get off the soap-box.
BTW, I learned from my pharmacist (while checking on liquid Prozac - it doesn’t
exist yet) that for pill crushers; be sure to check the pet aisle in your
favorite discount store. The pet med crusher is often made of stronger material
that will perform better and longer.
Looking for other couples who did this surgery at the same time.
Melissa

This entry was posted on Saturday, August 30th, 2003 at 11:18 am and is filed under obesity help. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.