Question:
Postop Chewable vitamins/minerals and calcium citrate/Vit D
If anyone has any good suggestionsabout good chewable or liquid vitamins please let me know. I am also having trouble finding calcium citrate and vitamin D in a form I will be able to take after surgery. My date is July 25th and I am sooooooooo excited but I really want to be prepared before I come home postop. Thanks for any and all suggestions, Jackie — RN2B2009 (posted on July 4, 2008)
July 4, 2008
I just use Centrum Chewables, 3/day, not bad but for variety I also got
Flintstones so I have three different flavours and I can switch them
up.....someone might tell me here if this is not recommended...why I'm
really writing is to pass along a tip....I had may Lap RNY last
Saturday....for the first two days I could not eat, I was nauseous whenever
anything passed my lips...they wanted me to drink water, eat broth, drink
tea, no way could I even think about it......I just balked......and did I
mention I was TERRIFIED!!!!!!! What had I just done? I was going to die
because I'd never be able to eat again......BUT THEN.....I kept hearing
people getting ice chips for other things, everybody was getting ice chips,
so I asked the nurse if I could have some, first they said no but seeings
that nothing else worked, what the hey!!!!! Dr said go for it and she gave
me a big carafe of them....little by little I would melt the ice chips in
my mouth and it would feel good going down and it didn't make me sick....I
did that for about a day and maybe a little more....then they asked me to
just try some apple juice, just a little......and I put ice chips in it and
sipped a little.....no problem.....then I put it in plain water....no
problem....then I started eating broth.....no problem......now I can get
just about anything down my throat without feeling the least bit
sick.......this all took place within two days....the third day I went
shopping!!!! And I've been fine ever since. My biggest TIP...do no
overfill your pouch...I wasn't really paying attention and drank too much
Chicken Noodle Broth and have been uncomfortable and it is manageable.....I
went out today and bought small sip bottles and small plastic cups and put
the broth or juice or whatever in that in order to no overeat.
Not just me.......the girl in the next room from me had a gastric sleeve,
she vomited for three straight days, I didn't hear about it because I was
dealing with my own issues but when I heard and went over and told her to
try the ice chips....the next day she was drinking water etc etc......
So if it happens to you......ice chips my dear.....the miracle drug!!!!!
And good luck....there may be a minute there when you think....What the
F!!!!!!!....you'll get over it real quick!!!! I've already lost 8 lbs and
haven't been hungry since June 27th!!!!!! I can't wait to get back to my
normal life!!!!!!
— Fredricka MacLean
July 4, 2008
At Sunshine Heath Center in Fort Worth, I found liquid vitamins that are
sprayed into the mouth. You pump six sprays once each day.
CELLFOOD MultiVitamin 100% RDA Formula
A highly bioavailable oral spray with all natural Vitamins A, D and E
Lumina Health Products
At first I wasn't too crazy about the flavor but am getting accustomed to
it.
— gailromania
July 4, 2008
I take Bariatric Advantage orange chewable vitamins, 2 a day. For calcium
& vitamin D I take UPCAL-D, it's powdered, one scoop or packet which
ever you choose to take is 500 mgs of calcium citrate and 250 IU's of
vitamin D, I take 3 packets a day myself. I order my Bariatric vitamins
from Ebay but you can get them anywhere online just about, and the UPCAL-D
I order from AMAZON. COM. I use the powdered in the can for home and carry
the packets in my purse when I'm out and at work. Good luck with your
surgery on July 25th, you don't have much longer.
— DEBI R.
July 4, 2008
Don't know if you have a Costco store in your area, but I got my chewable
vitamins there. They are Kirkland (the Costco store brand) and they are
actually made for adults - if you give them to children, you're supposed to
split them in half. The B12s I have are the kind that dissolve under your
tongue, and they're gross (I always somehow get the taste on my tongue), so
I save the chewable every day and take it when I start to taste the B12.
:-) For calcium I'm just taking Viactiv - my surgeon recommended that.
— lauren_marie
July 4, 2008
I took Flintstones for the first few weeks, as per my surgeon. I also had
to compromise the first month and took the other type because it was
available in a chewable version. Once I was able to take whole pills, I
switched to a calcium citrate/D version.
— suezahn4me
July 4, 2008
I happen to like Bariatric Advantage chewable calcium citrate- cherry
flavor- I also use their dry Vit D caps and B12. Kaiser had us use
childrens chewable vits for the first 90 or so days then I went with
Centrum Silver. Hope this helps. Years ago I had liquid vits for my
children and they tasted yucky so I try to stay away from liquid. Good
luck- it should be well worth the effort. Donna 26 mos post lap RNY 286-130
— dabby
July 4, 2008
I love Caltrate fruit flavored Calcium plus minerals chewable tablets. I
chew those three times a day. As for multivitamins, I use the Flinstones
plus iron twice a day. Good luck to you!!!
Ana Villa, RN
— nursevilla
July 4, 2008
My bariatric center recommends that all its WLS patients take 2 children's
Flintstones chewable vitamins per day. Also, we take 1000 mg of Calcium
Citrate twice a day (and apart from the vitamins because of our absorption
problems). The tablets I found from Target are huge, but I can get them
down. I have heard from others that there are some small, chewable ones
that they get from the health food store, but the ones I take are Citrical
Plus with Vitamin D and Magnesium. I also "do" a dropperful of
vitamin B12 sublingually each day. This took a while to get used to, but it
becomes part of your routine. I'm nearly 6 months out from RNY WLS.
— jujuprof
July 4, 2008
Hi Jackie,
I recently was introduced to an awesome liquid vitamin called "Passion
4 Life" It has 175 essential vitamins, minerals, herbs, and
antioxidants. The best part is that there is up to a 98% absorption rate
in 3 minutes. Let me tell and why I believe in this product so much:
I am 6 months out and 96 lbs lighter. At about the 4 1/2 months mark my
Dr. switched my Hormone Replacement from a hardshelll pill called Estratest
to an inserted ring called Femring. Unfortunately the ring was too strong
and I overdosed on Estrogen. Unknown to me at the time, what was also
happening was that the Estrogen was wiping out my vitamins stores. A month
later with what seemed to me to be unrelated symptoms, (mood not so good,
anti-social at times, trouble concentrating, insomnia, constipation,
bilateral neuropathy, hair dry and falling out, and an inability to
tolerate any form of animal protein.) All were explained or thought to be
caused by something else. When I started having sores on my tongue I threw
all the symptoms in one basket and sure enough turned out to be a major
vitamin deficiency. When I went in to the Dr. my BP was 80/50.
A women in my complex mentioned Passion 4 Life so I started taking it and
within the first 12 hours I could feel an improvement. The symptoms are
going away as I continue. I have since switched over from Thorne Research
to Passion 4 Life and have since became a Consultant for them. Anyone who
saw me before and then sees me eight days later is amazed. Here is their
website: http://passion4lifevitamins.com/index.html. You can use my login
id # 100427 to order if you are interested or email me
[email protected] questions if you have any. Best of luck,
Charlene
— Charlene Lewis
July 4, 2008
don't be scared -- you will be able to swallow pills :) so just buy what
you want -- since day 1 i have taken all my vitamins by the handful in one
swallow and never once had a problem -- ppl just get nervous about the
unknown :) good luck
— RCassety
July 5, 2008
I used to use Centrum Chewables (broken in half) Have recently switched to
Bariatric advantage. Great people.
Still don't like the flavor but break easily, go down better than Centrum
& I have dramaticacly decreased food cravings as these vitamins are
specifically designed to compliment bariatric diets & our most needed
supplement replacements. Love my lap band vitamins
— Donna O.
July 5, 2008
Hey Jackie
Centrum has a chewable multi-vitamin and some people even take the kid
chewables. TwinLabs (found at Vitamin Shoppe) have a chewable Calcium
Citrate with Magnesium and Vitamin D included in it. It's great that you
are purchasing certain products before the surgery. Especially the first
week after surgery you want to make sure that you have everything you need
already during those first couple of weeks so you only have to concentrate
on walking and getting back on your feet.
After the surgery and as time goes on, I'm sure you will be pleased with
your results. However, I want to warn you of something that I wasn't -- be
prepared for the change in how people see you. Right now when my Mom sees
me -- she thinks I'm too small --I've down to 180 from 296. They are used
to seeing me with big butt and now I hardly have any butt and they think
I've lost enough weight; whereas, I still think 180 is a little bit too
close to 200 pounds and I'd like to lose another 50. So be prepared in
body changes and how people see you as well as how you see yourself.
Sometimes I still THINK fat me but looking in the mirror it's a whole
different me.
So just someting I wanted to share --- don't be shocked when you come to
the SKINNY realization.
Stay in touch
Peace and Blessings
— the7thdean
July 5, 2008
I really appreciate all of the wonderful advice. I just wanted to say thank
you all so much.
Jackie
— RN2B2009
July 5, 2008
I don't know if this will you, but Market America has liquid Isotonix
vitamins and calcium. You have to go through a distributor, I go to
www.marketamerica.com/kerrijenkins.
— jenks621
July 5, 2008
I can refer you to an awesome chewable fruit and veggie supplement.
Contact me [email protected].
— bariatricdivalatina
July 5, 2008
I take liquid vitamins as well as a liquid glucosamine/chondroitin product
from www.mothernaturesmiracle.com. They taste good and go down easy.
Remarkably effective. I am approaching 50 and never had the strongest
teeth to begin with - many cavities at a young age. But I was surprised
when I broke three teeth one right after the other when I began chewing
pills. Even the chewables. I know I am in the minority but would
recommend that folks at least try the various liquid products that are
available. Best of luck!
— sunny99
July 6, 2008
Twin labs has a chewable calcium citrate/vit d/magnesium that doesn't taste
too bad. They carry at Whole Foods (expensive). Less expensive online at
www.vitaminshoppe.com
— Susan C.
July 6, 2008
GNC carries chewable Calicum Ciltrate, and a line of chewable vitamins.
— nancygp
July 6, 2008
Liquid vitamins: http://www.myvemma.com/stacymassey - this has a good but
strong orange flavor.
There are several chewable calcium citrates on www.vitaminshoppe.com - but
you have to take 4 or 6 a day. Eventually you will be able to swallow
pills - just put them in warm water and make sure they dissolve within 15
minutes.
— stacyface
July 7, 2008
Go for an ADULT chewable that includes Vit K and selenium...
I use 2x Centrum Chewables
Calcium Citrate or calcium Citrate Malate is about the ONLY calcium you
should be taking...Calcuim carbonate in the doses you need can cause
gallstones and kidney stones as well as bloating and gas. You MUST take
VitD3 (Dry D) with calcium or you will not absorb any calcium. Vit A, E, D
and K is not absorbable after RNY surgery and must all be in DRY form of
capsules. Calcium Citrate with magnesium helps keep your bowels from
binding from calcium. If you find a calcium without magnesium...and have
constipation (iron causes constipation too) Magnesium citrate in DRY
capsule (200-800mg daily) will make your bowels totally regulate as well as
keep your electrolyes in balance! Cut back on mag if it gets too loose or
you lose electrolyes.
I love Upcal D but it does noot have magnesium, so I take those
seperately...It come in a tasty powder that disolves on your tongue quickly
and I open a mag capsule (no taste) at same time and it's over in a second!
I also use Twin Labs Cal Cit wafers...but you have to chew two at a time 4
times a day and it's soooo expensive...But it has everything you need in it
(As far as cal, mag and D3) I also love Bariatric Advantage Cherry Flavor.
But again very expensive...Up cal D is so far the cheapest i found and a
good quality, easy to take calcium...Just add magnesium citrate caps...Or
you might experience constipation. Trader Joes makes a GREAT B-12
sublingual...It melts in five seconds flat and has a mild cherry
flavor....It's like a little powder puff. I've used it faithfully for
almost 5 years and have Excellent B-12 results. There are sprays
too...I've seen then at Walmart even! Never tried them yet. I always go
back to my TJ's B-12... If you are still menstruating , I suggest carbonyl
Iron (Tender Iron) and NEVER EVER take ferrous sulfate...It is not absorbed
by RNY patients and most docs haven't quite caught on yet. I was severely
anemic and brought myself into normal ranges using Carbonyl Iron in two
months and escaped Iron transfusions, which is about the norm, once you
become anemic. My doc gave me ferrous sulfate and make me soooo ill...She
just didn't know....Bariatric Advantage recently changed their formula to
carbonyl iron too! (It's non toxic, virtually no side affects and does not
taste like blood or metal as other iron does) I get a great chewable at
Vitalady.com. It saved me from serious health issues and infusions as well
as a blood transfusionand got my blood cells back to normal ranges. Iron
needs to be taken with Vit C as ascorbic acid...NEVER take Iron and calcium
within two hours of each other...and never take either calium or iron with
coffee.
Hope that helps...It helped me with my vitamin deficiencies that developed
after 4 years from taking the wrong vits or not knowing that they can't be
taken together or ignored...You must take your vitamins forever! Knowing
what kinds work best and keep you healthy is so important. I learned this
the hard way...I got it all now! :)
— .Anita R.
July 7, 2008
Excellent liquid vitamin is VEMMA, has 1000 IU of vit D3. Go to
www.TrySomeVemma.com Good results for diabetics
— [Deactivated Member]
July 7, 2008
I like Bariatric Advantage chewable, the Flinstones had too much sugar.
Dawn Vickers, RN, BLC, CLC
— DawnVic
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