This page lists dietary requirements and supplements for patients before and after surgery. Any time that you have questions or concerns, you should consult our office.

Liquid Diet for Two Weeks Before Surgery and Two Weeks After Surgery
Replace meals with protein supplements, up to four per day. We encourage you to use one of the brands listed below. If you choose a non-recommended brand, it must fit the following guidelines:

20 grams of protein and 5 grams or LESS of net carbohydrates per serving.

Recommended brands:

• Unjury Protein Shake Powder. Mix with 1 percent or fat-free milk in blender.
• Atkins Low Carbohydrate Protein Shakes
• Slim Fast Low Carbohydrate Protein Shakes
• Whey Protein Powder Supplement (available at Sam’s Club or Wal-Mart)
• Bariatric Advantage Protein Meal Replacement, Nectar Products, & Profect
  (Available at http://bariatricadvantage.com)

Each day, you may also have all three of following:

1. One serving of low-carb yogurt per day (i.e. CarbMaster at Kroger)
2. One 8oz cup skim milk per day
3. Protein Pudding (follow the recipe on a box of sugar free/fat free pudding mix, add two scoops of approved protein powder. Serving size = ½ cup per day)

Each day, you may have unlimited amounts of the following:

Bariatric approved beverages that contain no sugar, caffeine, or carbonation.
Examples include:

Examples below:

• Crystal Light (or store brand)
• Sugar free Kool Aid
• Slim Light (Sam’s Club)
• Snapple diet drinks
• Decaffeinated tea with artificial sweetener
• Low sodium broths/stocks
• Sugar free Popsicles and sugar free Jell-O
• Water
• Vitamin 10 Water/Vitamin Zero Water
• Propel

Vitamin Recommendations

We recommend that all patients take the Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), 50 to 100 mg. per day.

Gastric bypass patients should take the following daily:

• Bariatric multivitamin as directed. Usually taken two to three times daily. Please read bottle to verify appropriate dosing.
• Calcium citrate, 500 mg., twice a day. It should include Vitamin D.
• Vitamin D, 800 I.U. daily
• B12 supplements (choose one of the following):
  • Injections monthly
  • Sublingual tablet daily (dissolve under tongue completely)
  • CaloMist nasal spray daily to both nostrils
  • Nascobal nasal spray to one nostril once a week
• Iron supplements, 15 mg. for males or post-menopausal women, 30 mg. for menstruating women. Must be chelated or ferrous sulfate.

Laparoscopic band patients should take the following:

• Over the counter multivitamin, daily
• Calcium citrate, 500 mg., twice a day. It should include Vitamin D.

Sleeve gastrectomy patients should take the following:

• B12 supplement (choose one of the following):
  • Injections monthly
  • Sublingual tablet daily dissolve under tongue completely)
  • CaloMist nasal spray daily to both nostrils
  • Nascobal nasal spray to one nostril once a week
• Over the counter multivitamin, daily
• Calcium citrate, 500 mg., twice a day. It should include Vitamin D.

Recommended Annual Blood Work

Blood should be drawn after fasting. Please fax results to us at 912-350-9037.

• CBC with differential
• Vitamin B12 level
• RBC folic acid level
• Ferritin level
• Thiamine level (whole blood)
• CMP
• Vitamin D (25-OH) level
• PTH (intact) level
• Serum iron level