Question:
What type of vitamins do we need to take?
I am presently 1 month post-op, and I had my surgery in Mexico, therefore I have NO aftercare except for my PCP. I have been taking 2 chewable children's vitamins and a B complex. I know that I need to take calcium with Viatmin D, to help with the absorption of the calcium, I was also told to take Vitamin C. What do I really need to take? I have talked to pharmacists and they pull out these big horse pills.... I am sorry I can't take those at this stage... and personally Vitamins taste bad and I don't want to crush them... :) Please Help... Thanks Dee Flowers — kaitlene (posted on September 30, 2003)
September 30, 2003
Hi Dee!
I am a little over 14 weeks post op(Open RNY)and the Vitamins that I take
are: 2 Centrum Chewable vitamins a day, plus I also take a chewable
Vitamin/Supplement from GNC(Solotron), but I only take one of those a day,
usually in the afternoon. I also take a couple of Caltrate Plus, they are
chewable Calcium tablets..They are the Calcium Carbonate form of Calcium,
and they don't absorb as well as the Calcium Citrate, but I take them
anyway..plus I do crush a Calcium Citrate pill once and day and mix it with
warm water and drink it. I am paranoid about calcium, so I also drink alot
Tropicana Orange Juice that has Calcium and Vitamin D in it. I take one
Sublingual Vitamin B-12 Tablet twice a day, which you just put under your
tongue and let disolve and last but NOT least...I take one GNC Biotin
Capsule twice a day to keep my hair healthy...I know it sounds like alot,
but it really isnt bad...If anyone has any other suggestions, please throw
it out there, I am all for new ways to get my Vitamins and staying Healthy!
Thanks and Best of Luck to you!
— Beth K.
September 30, 2003
Dee, you're likely to get many different answers to this question, as it
seems docs do this differently. On the advice of my surgeon and dietitian,
I take the following: every day, I take 1500 mg of calcium CITRATE (if
there's controversy over carbonate, why risk it?, I say) spread out over
three doses; two chewable children's multivitamins with iron, one in the
morning, the other in the afternoon (because iron interferes with calcium
absorption, keep your multivitamin and calcium dosages at least two hours
apart) and a potassium supplement. Once a week (on Monday mornings so I
don't forget), I also take a sublingual B12 (let it melt under your tongue
for maximum absorption). It's common for people to also take an iron
supplement, but I don't seem to need one. My advice is to sift through the
advice you get here, and make your best judgement about what to take. Get
your bloodwork checked often, and adjust the regimen as indicated by those
results.
— Vespa R.
September 30, 2003
I'm 8wks PostOp. I take Prevacid twice daily this is an acid blocker
prescribed by my Surgeon, he likes everyone to take it at least 6mos, Adult
Chewable 2x day, Calcium Citrate 2x day, Iron once daily, B12 w/ Folic Acid
once daily. I'm scheduled to have my first blood labs at 3mos. Be sure to
either take a Sublinqual B12 or other liquid type B12 which is to be placed
under the tongue. B12 in pill form is absorbed by only 10%; when placing
the B12 under or on the tongue it is absorbed directly into the blood.
— [Deactivated Member]
September 30, 2003
Vespa's right, you'll get lots of answers to this. For calcium, I use
calcium citrate capsules (3x a day, 500 mg. per capsule, total: 1500
mg./day) that come with Vitamin D and magnesium in them from vitalady.com.
They're large capsules, but the capsules are made of thin material, and
I've never had a problem with them getting stuck in my pouch.
Alternatively, you can break open the capsules easily and mix the powder in
with yogurt, applesauce, or other food.<P>Beyond that, I use Centrum
Adult Chewable vitamins (one or two a day), which don't taste bad at all.
I also take Trinsicon, which is a prescription iron and B complex
supplement (which I take with a chewable Vitamin C tablet to help the iron
absorb better). Two or three times a week, I also take a B-12 sublingual
pill under the tongue.<P>Just remember to keep your calcium and iron
away from each other by a factor of at least two hours, as one blocks
absorption of the other.
— Suzy C.
September 30, 2003
Hi Dee,
My surgery is next week and frankly, I'm confused too because someone's
answer is always different from the previous person's answer. I ordered
(and am taking even though I'm pre-op) one single vitamin made especially
for gastric bypass patients. Go to Vita4Life.com and look at their
Multi-vitamin. I got a 3 month supply for $54.95 - free shipping. They are
in capsule form - easy to swallow and you do not taste them - not even
burping them up. I got the Quick Absorption day packs - individual packages
so you can easily take them with you without having to take the whole
cannister. People that take them have excellent blood lab results and you
only have to worry about taking one sort of vitamin instead of many! Just a
thought... Good luck! ps. you can also get gastric bypass vitamins at
bariblend.com ~~~Lisa
— Lisa B.
September 30, 2003
— Jazzy
September 30, 2003
If you are on a budget go to Wal-Mart, Sams Club, or Costco because the
majority of the supplements are there.
1,200 mg Calcium Citrate (capsules can be opened into your protein shakes
or drink - I found Citracal to big)
1,000 Sublingual B-12 (under the tongue)
1 Iron pill (if still menstruating, not ferrous sulfate)
2 chewable multi-vitamins (Centrum or One-Source)
Add Biotin (for hair problems if necessary)
— Starrlina
September 30, 2003
Go to www.wlssuccess.com. There are my surgeons recommendations for the
different surgeries. Dr. Oh is his name. You can purchase them through
this site for reasonable prices and shipping. Good luck.
— blank first name B.
September 30, 2003
Vitamins don't have to be expensive to do the job according to my surgeon.
He told me to go to the drug store and ask the druggist to help me find the
smallest multivitamin that was 250mg with iron and take 2 per day. I think
the bottle I got was something like $3.89 per bottle of 50. Then he said
get Vitamin A&D capsules. Those were less than $3 per bottle of 100.
He also advised sublingual Vitamin B-12 of at least 500mg. Those were less
t han $5 a bottle of 50. And lastly he advised Calcium Citrate plus
Vitamin D. Those were $5.89 per bottle of 100. That is my vitamin regime
for life. Occasionally I add potassium, but only if I have leg cramps and
my labs for the past year have been within normal ranges.
— Cathy S.
September 30, 2003
RNY? In a rough way, like so: 2 multi vites equal to Centrum or
Flintstones; iron (not ferrous sulfate) with vit C (any one is fine);
calcium citrate with D3 & magnesium, at least 2000mg a day, more if you
fall into the high risk catergory for bone loss; dry form A, D, E; small
dose chelated zinc; sublingual B12 or shots (up to you & your doc), and
protein supplement to make you feel better & maximize your surgery.
Personally, I have yet to see a one size fits all vite that contains things
in the right portions for "us". Also, they mix things together
that do not get along well. I wish there was, too, and I keep searching,
but so far, nothing meets my criteria. My life depends on it, so I'm pretty
darned picky.
— vitalady
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