All in One Bariatric Vitamins

poet_kelly
on 6/21/12 8:30 am - OH

There are several different companies that make all-in-one bariatric vitamins. Most of them say you only need four tablets a day.

Most post ops take vitamins four or five times a day. I have a shoe box full of vitamin bottles and once a week I set up my pill container. You know, those things that have little spaces for pills for each day of the week? Otherwise opening all those pill bottles and getting out my vitamins several time a day would be a huge hassle. And most people would love to be able to only take four pills a day, all out of the same bottle. It would make life a lot easier and it would save money.

So how come most of us aren’t taking those all-in-one deals?

Because they don’t meet our needs. It would be great if they did, but they don’t. Just because they print “bariatric” on the label and say you only need four a day, that just doesn’t make it true. Even though some surgeons sell these in their offices (which makes me cringe), that doesn’t mean they meet our needs.

The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery says we need 200% of the RDA of most things. But most of those brands that say you only have to take four a day, do not give you 200% in just four. With most of those, you’d need EIGHT a day.

The ASMBS also says we need 1500-2000 mg calcium CITRATE a day. It needs to be citrate because we no longer have enough stomach acid to absorb calcium carbonate. But those all-in-one brands usually have calcium carbonate.

We also must take a B12 supplement. We can’t absorb B12 from a chewable multi, or any multi we swallow. We do not have enough intrinsic factor in our pouches. So we have to take a sublingual B12, or the nasal spray, or the shots.

In addition, many of the all-in-one brands contain forms of some vitamins or minerals that we do not absorb well because of our RNY. If you want to take one of these, you can, but if you want to get the nutrients you need, you will need to take a LOT of other vitamins in addition to the EIGHT all-in-one tablets you’d need. Personally, I find a good multi I can take just twice a day more convenient and more affordable.

Kelly

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor and do not play one on TV. I've done a lot of research on vitamins but am not qualified to give medical advice. I'm happy to share my research with you, but you should see a health care professional if you want medical advice.

Check out my blog at: storyofmyservicedog.blogspot.com/

MichelleNC
on 6/21/12 8:39 am

Thank you for all your help with the vitamins but I have a question about down the road. I have read here that you don't absorb as much food in the beginning and after awhile your body will start to absorb more. So does that mean our vitamin needs will change later? Or really that means oohing about absorption because we will be getting labs done every 6 months and the dr will work with us on what we need? Thanks

Michelle
Did the happy dance onto the Loser's Bench March 18, 2013!

Visit my blog at http://skinnyundermyfat.blogspot.com/

poet_kelly
on 6/21/12 9:52 am - OH

RNY on 11/04/08 with

Down the road, you will start absorbing macronutrients (protein, carbs, fat) better. You will not absorb micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) better, ever.

Kelly

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor and do not play one on TV. I've done a lot of research on vitamins but am not qualified to give medical advice. I'm happy to share my research with you, but you should see a health care professional if you want medical advice.

Check out my blog at: storyofmyservicedog.blogspot.com/

karen D.
on 6/21/12 8:46 am

RNY on 02/23/10 with

Kelly,
You are a tresure. thank you for all your information.

JUSTJUNQUIES
on 6/21/12 9:09 am - Citrus Heights, CA

RNY on 04/04/12 with

I am still trying to get used to this vitamin thing and I am heading towards 3 months out!!! I haven't found a pill container I like so all my vitamin bottles are on the kitchen counter with the vitamins set out for 3x a day....I am a "clean counter" person . so this is making me crazy. I am going to look AGAIN at walmart today for a pill container so I can get my counters cleaned off!!!
Thanks for all your help and info !!

Donna Q. --5'8" -59 years old
Band 2005
hw320 sw276 lw with band 195 gw 160-180?
Bypass 4/4/2012
pre sw 258 sw 244 cw 165

poet_kelly
on 6/21/12 10:40 am - OH

RNY on 11/04/08 with

Drugstore.com has a number of different organizers you can buy.

You could also look at plastic storage containers used for craft items (I used to make a lot of jewelry and kept beads in plastic containers similar to pill organizers) or those used for hardware stuff (like to sort nails and bolts and things in). One of those might seem to work better for you.

I've also known people to sort out a month's worth of pills, putting them in small ziploc bags. They would label each bag with the day and time to take it, like Mon 9 am, Mon noon, Tue bedtime, etc.

Kelly

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor and do not play one on TV. I've done a lot of research on vitamins but am not qualified to give medical advice. I'm happy to share my research with you, but you should see a health care professional if you want medical advice.

Check out my blog at: storyofmyservicedog.blogspot.com/

MichelleNC
on 6/21/12 9:34 am

Donna have you looked online I saw some online I don't remember the sites I was just looking around one day. What about. Pharmacy toothed probably have some great ones. Good luck!

Michelle
Did the happy dance onto the Loser's Bench March 18, 2013!

Visit my blog at http://skinnyundermyfat.blogspot.com/

shellbell75
on 6/21/12 9:35 am

RNY on 06/24/11 with

Pretty sure I got my "big" pill container at CVS or Walgreens.

**SHELLY** HW: 316 SW: 256 GW: 125 CW: 118

KellyRhyne
on 6/21/12 10:38 am - SC

Hi Kelly,

I know this is a lot to ask. Can you post a complete list of what vitamins you take at what time of the day and also the brand name. If you order your vitamins from an online website, can you include this information as well? For us newbies...We thank you for the wealth of information that you give us every day!

Thanks,

Kelly

bridie_53
on 6/21/12 10:32 am - IL

RNY on 05/16/12 with

I bought a large 7 day pill container. Instead of using it for individual days, I put different vitamins in each day. Like MOnday has my multis, Tuesday = B12, Wednesday = Calcium etc. Works great for me!

stoney5150
on 6/21/12 10:39 am

RNY on 03/26/12 with

Hi Kelly
Thanks for all the vitiman info you help with. I guess I'm gonna be a lab rat for the one a day vitimans. I've been taking ProCare Bariatric one- a- days since day two after surgery and I go for my 3 month check up and blood work next week. I personally feel like I'll be lacking in some areas just because of the way I feel sometimes. I do take plenty of calcium but that's the only extra I take. No b-12 or iron just the one a day so I'll see how the lab results turn out. One thing that stands out is the B-12 on the label it says like 8333% daily but if it doesn't absorb I'm sure I'll be low.
Anyway, I'll let you know how the lab results turn out. Thanks again for all your post s about vitimans because I've learned a lot from them.

poet_kelly
on 6/21/12 10:42 am - OH

RNY on 11/04/08 with

Keep in mind that we do store some vitamins and minerals in our body for a good amount of time, so at just three months out, you might not be low on stuff yet. But you probably will be at some point.

When you get the results of your labs, make sure you get a copy of the lab report so you can see all the numbers for yourself. Your B12 needs to be above 550 for sure, and up around 900-1000 is best. If it's below 550, it's probably making you tired.

Kelly

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor and do not play one on TV. I've done a lot of research on vitamins but am not qualified to give medical advice. I'm happy to share my research with you, but you should see a health care professional if you want medical advice.

Check out my blog at: storyofmyservicedog.blogspot.com/

stoney5150
on 6/21/12 10:56 am

RNY on 03/26/12 with

I have a copy of my pre-surgery lab work so I'll be sure to compare and look for any decreases. I've had a couple bouts with dizziness but that is a symptom of so many things so it has been hard to pin point. I'm curious to get the results and see!

poet_kelly
on 6/21/12 10:57 am - OH

RNY on 11/04/08 with

yeah, dizziness could be low blood pressure, low blood sugar, not enough fluids, not enough protein, all kinds of things not related to vitamins.

Kelly

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor and do not play one on TV. I've done a lot of research on vitamins but am not qualified to give medical advice. I'm happy to share my research with you, but you should see a health care professional if you want medical advice.

Check out my blog at: storyofmyservicedog.blogspot.com/

kenhud1
on 6/22/12 12:50 pm - Houston, TX

RNY on 05/17/10 with

Stoney,
Watch the iron. My surgeon did not require it or even suggest it (same doctor's office that suggests Flintstones). By the time I did some research and got on a supplement, I had a severe anemia issue. I know we want to trust our surgeons implicitly, but be certain to do some research yourself (the ASMBS website Kelly refers to is the best in my opinion) and don't blindly follow.
Ken

KenHud
RNY 5/17/10 highest: 407 lb - maintaining a loss of 200+ pounds and enjoying life

Lady Lithia
on 6/22/12 1:03 pm

RNY on 03/18/08 with

I wanted to add that some vitamin deficiencies result in PERMANENT nerve damage. MOST don't but some do, and B12 deficiency can result in pretty awful issues, and most labs say you're fine when you're in the range to be having permanent damage. If your B12 number is below 1000 you're probably going to need to supplement sublingual. 8,333 percent doesn't help if you're bypassing the method of absorbing and if you excrete 8,333 percent. Some things just aren't worth discovering the hard (and permanent way)

~Lady Lithia~ 200 lbs lost!
March 9, 2011 - Coccygectomy!
I chased my dreams, and my dreams, they caught me!

Sonogrrl
on 6/21/12 10:58 am

RNY on 05/22/12 with

Vitamins are frustrating to me...I HATE swallowing pills, to the point that it could (or does) deter me from taking supplements I should be taking. I bought chewables (calcium, iron, multi) from Bariatric Choice but they taste gross and are expensive.

The chewable calcium other places is either the wrong calcium or contains sugar alcohols (baaaad for me). Kelly, did you say you take a regular multi but more of it? So if I take a chewable multi I should double the dose daily? Does that sound about right?

RNY 5/22/12 27.5.bs lost pre-op

poet_kelly
on 6/21/12 11:02 am - OH

RNY on 11/04/08 with

With most multis, we need two a day, yes. Look at the label and if it says it has 100% of most stuff in it, then you need two a day.

For calcium, you might wanna try Upcal D. It's a powder and it's calcium citrate and you can put it in any drink or soft foods like yogurt or pudding and it has no taste. And it's pretty cheap. I think it's something like $12 for 120 doses.

ENS from Celebrate is another option. I used it for a long time. It's a powder and you mix it with water. I think it tastes like Koolaid. It's a multi plus 500 mg calcium. They also have it in a protein shake, which has 25 mg protein plus a multi plus 500 mg calcium in it. It's expensive. But it was worth it to me because it was the only way I could get my vitamins in for a long time.

Kelly

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor and do not play one on TV. I've done a lot of research on vitamins but am not qualified to give medical advice. I'm happy to share my research with you, but you should see a health care professional if you want medical advice.

Check out my blog at: storyofmyservicedog.blogspot.com/

Sonogrrl
on 6/21/12 11:09 am

RNY on 05/22/12 with

Oh yes, I'm using the Upcal D (per your recommendation previously)in my shakes. I was trying to take one Citrical petite in addition to two Upcal servings to get me to 1500 but I can't even stand swalling the petite (I think not being able to chug water makes it harder for me.
I will check out the ENS...I am allergic to red 40 so that's an issue with a lot of chewables & powder drinks; and it appears sorbitol is not my friend either.

RNY 5/22/12 27.5.bs lost pre-op

poet_kelly
on 6/21/12 11:11 am - OH

RNY on 11/04/08 with

Upcal D is 500 mg per dose and the Citracal petites are only 200 mg per dose, so you'd need to take two and a half of them to get up to 1500 mg.

Have you tried the Calcet creamy bites or the calcium chews from Bariatric Advantage? I like the caramel ones from BA and the Calcet creamy bites are just wonderful. But they are costly.

Kelly

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor and do not play one on TV. I've done a lot of research on vitamins but am not qualified to give medical advice. I'm happy to share my research with you, but you should see a health care professional if you want medical advice.

Check out my blog at: storyofmyservicedog.blogspot.com/

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