# Ask the woman who had a BMI of 36, had gastric bypass surgery a year ago and is thrilled about it **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 8, 2011, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-woman-who-had-a-bmi-of-36-had-gastric-bypass-surgery-a-year-ago-and-is-thrilled-about-it/591930 "2011-08-08T11:04:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2016, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-woman-who-had-a-bmi-of-36-had-gastric-bypass-surgery-a-year-ago-and-is-thrilled-about-it/591930/84 "2016-09-19T19:13:36Z")
> [@Maastricht](#): > > From what I understand, less stomach means less stomach acid and as calcium is generally absorbed through the stomach, we need more calcium. It also has to be another kind of calcium, calcium citrate instead of the more common calcium carbonate. > [@Maastricht](#): > > The problem with vitamin supplements is that you need both iron and calcium, but those two prevent each others uptake… Also, bariatric patients should have crazy high dosages of vit B12, and they should contain calcium citrate instead of calcium carbonate. Calcium carbonate is insoluble at moderate to low pHs, that’s why it’s in so many rocks. Organic salts such as the citrate and Ca-containing proteins are usually soluble. One of my pet peeves with vitamin supplements is that many of them have what’s called “incompatible salts” in chemistry: each of them is water-soluble, but one or another of the crossings is not. If there really are supplements formulated with calcium carbonate directly, the formula might as well say “pebbles”. ---
**Author:** ![DianaCox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d26b3c/32.png) [@DianaCox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaCox)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2016, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-woman-who-had-a-bmi-of-36-had-gastric-bypass-surgery-a-year-ago-and-is-thrilled-about-it/591930/85 "2016-09-20T05:35:02Z")
Anyone finding this thread - please go to [bariatricfacts.org](http://bariatricfacts.org) (patient-run) for help. I am 13+ years out from the duodenal switch, 63 years old, enjoying life and enjoying EATING! You can find help getting insurance approval (for free!), how to pick which surgery, your surgeon and PCP, how to live with your surgery afterwards. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2016, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-woman-who-had-a-bmi-of-36-had-gastric-bypass-surgery-a-year-ago-and-is-thrilled-about-it/591930/86 "2016-09-20T06:55:17Z")
> [@DianaCox](#): > > Anyone finding this thread - please go to [bariatricfacts.org](http://bariatricfacts.org) (patient-run) for help. I am 13+ years out from the duodenal switch, 63 years old, enjoying life and enjoying EATING! > > You can find help getting insurance approval (for free!), how to pick which surgery, your surgeon and PCP, how to live with your surgery afterwards. No-one recommends the lap-band ( crap band?) anymore. What, exactly, is your beef with the gastric bypass? ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2016, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-woman-who-had-a-bmi-of-36-had-gastric-bypass-surgery-a-year-ago-and-is-thrilled-about-it/591930/87 "2016-09-20T07:43:22Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > Calcium carbonate is insoluble at moderate to low pHs moderate to high, apologies. Apparently my math was taking a day off. ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2016, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-woman-who-had-a-bmi-of-36-had-gastric-bypass-surgery-a-year-ago-and-is-thrilled-about-it/591930/88 "2016-09-20T23:39:40Z")
I’m glad this thread got bumped: I have a co-worker with a lap band and I reminded of how glad I am I got a VSG instead. she is constantly having stomach pain, I worry she needs it taken out. she didn’t keep any weight off at all ☹ not sure how long ago she got it but I really hope it’s true they aren’t recommending bands anymore - they shouldn’t be still doing them at all. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-woman-who-had-a-bmi-of-36-had-gastric-bypass-surgery-a-year-ago-and-is-thrilled-about-it/591930.md?page=4)