Flinstones VS the Fancy Schmancy Vitamins

Okay--my surgeon is recommending the Flinstone's chewable multivitamin for me... yet there are all these other chewables that are a lot more expensive that are made with a bariatric patient in mind. 

So for those in the know---what is your opinion.

Vitamins depend on your surgery type, but personally, I never think that kids vitamins are a good choice for adults.

I don't mal-absorb with my surgery, so I take generic adult strength chewables.

I have having the VGS... no malabsorption. 

I love the Flintstones sour kids gummies and do find myself taking them every day if I have a bottle as opposed less good tasting "adult " ones .  I am a big kid at heart so taking calcium even in this form works for me ...I just take four or so of the flintstones and chew a handful of the cortical calcium gummies whenever I remember .

My new addiction is Airborne everyday gummies .. the grapefruit orange and lemon flavors taste like old fashioned fruit slice candy and theyre good for you !  I eat  the Airborne everyday  until I totally skeeve them ( probably because I've overdosed myself on vitamin D ) .. then I switch to plain peach flavored vitamin C dummies which Ill eat ten of at a sitting . 

I'm ridiculously healthy five years post op ... and mostly maintaining my weight loss .. thank God .  I don't have to spend a lot of money on vitamins , my labs are good , and I get to treat myself to guilt free " candy " every day while taking care of my health ... truly a win-win solution I think ... 

Well I use the bariatric advantage brand it's 50.00 for a 3 month supply, one advantage is that it has the b12 included in the multivitamin so it's one less pill I have to worry about taking.  I also take the calcium citrate chews from them and that's 35.00 for a months supply I kinda don't see the advantage in them besides the fact that their chewable, I have a list of brands you can buy from gnc,Walmart,cvs etc... So I'm definitely switching to something less pricy once I'm able to swallow pills. My surgeons office sells everything there so I'm sure the fact that they recommend bariatric advantage strongly has something to do with them selling them in office I'm sure they get a piece of the profits. 

Does a sleeve still produce intrinsic factor?  If not, the B12 in your multi is useless ...  you will need a sublingual

Well my 6weeks labs were good idk about intrinsic factors but I suppose if I'll need a sublingual they'll let me know but as of now I'm good. I also notice the b12 in bariatric advantage is 16,666% daily value everything else is 200,250 or more daily value!

If your stomach fundus was resected (the part of the stomach that contains a lot of  the parietal cells that make intrinsic factor) your pill could be 1million per cent daily value and the B12 would not be metabolized.  

No one is going to have a deficiency in 6 weeks and probably not even in 6 months, but if your B12 does tank you could end up with permanent neurological difficulties.

Maybe you'd like to discuss this with your surgeon or nutritionist when you next visit?

Like I said I'm sure if I need one they will let me know! I trust that I'm under great care and I'll let them do their job! My surgeon has nothing to do with the vitamins so I'll check with my dietician just to make sure thanks!

Not everyone tanks on their B12...bu****CHING labs like a hawk is essential. Cause you are right that most ride on their reserves for 6-12 months. And many will need extra supplements of their B vitamins.

Reason I say what I am saying...over 4 years out and I still do not supplement any B vitamins. Last lab on B12 was in Feb 2015 and was over 2000. And all my B's except for B6 is high normal. My B6 is mid range normal.

The sleeve part of my DS was made with a 32 bougie.