Pretty soon I will be having the jpouch surgery after I heal up from the first surgery of having the large intestine taken out. I was wondering what vitamins I should be taking for now on since the large intestine is gone.
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I've had my pouch for over 25 years and I've never taken supplemental vitamins. Every person is different, but I've been able to get what I need through a balanced diet (so far, at least). Most vitamins are absorbed in the small intestine so removing the large doesn't change that.
Calcium and Vitamin D supplements, Iron, Vitamin B12, and magnesium. I eat cereal every morning so that helps me get vitamins too!
Congratulations on your surgeries 
thank you!
@JoeJoe posted:thank you!
You are soo welcome
Remember to Drink water: before, during, and after every meal
Second the drink a lot of water all throughout the day to stay hydrated since you lose a lot more liquids with j-pouch. I do a mix of gatorade and water each day to stay hydrated. Also the dietician at the hospital told me to drink Carnation instant breakfast and I have a glass of that every morning.
The only vitamin that seems to be directly affected (at least potentially) by J-pouch surgery is B12, since it’s the only one that requires the terminal ileum (the part of the small intestine used to fashion a J-pouch). Even so, most J-pouchers don’t become B12 deficient (my B12 has always been normal). I do need to take Vitamin D to maintain normal levels, but I don’t have a good explanation for that, other than living in a northern latitude and avoiding excessive sun exposure. As far as I know plenty of J-pouchers have normal Vitamin D levels without taking supplements.
The best source of Vitamin D is sunlight and your daily quota is met with 30 minutes of it. If you don't get 30 minutes sunlight every day supplementation is a good idea, otherwise it's probably unnecessary.
By the way sunlight is free of charge to you.
@CTBarrister Sunlight isn't precisely free of costs, since it's strongly associated with skin cancer. People will vary in their propensity to develop skin cancer, but it seems like dermatological recommendations may well conflict with nutritional requirements for many folks. Sunlight nevertheless does provide vitamin D with no cash expenditure.
Sunlight taken in excessive quantities causes skin cancer. While susceptibility to that condition may vary in the population and with the amount of exposure, in most instances 30 minutes of sun is a healthy and exhuberant dose as noted in the article I posted. It also tends to prevent seasonal affect disorder, although in wet climates such conditions are a problem and do require purchased Vitamin D supplements by the afflicted. Someone living in a sunny climate shouldn't need to do that.
A good idea would be to go to a doctor and have your blood drawn. They can check all your levels and tell you what you are low in if anything at all. I personally just take a multivitamin in powder form
Thank you.
@JoeJoe posted:Thank you.
Sunlight exposure can build up a lot overtime and cause skin cancer. Dermatologist recommend wearing sunscreen each time you head outside. I stick to pills, calcium and vitamin D pills are really cheap at TARGET, 400 pills for around $7.30. If your going out in the sunlight, definitely wear a lot of sun screen.
Potassium Supplements are good for you too! I put salt in my water to make the water adsorb more in my body