Everyone Reply Please: Help with supplements

Hi Emily, I understand what you are saying, I can tell you what I take, but my NUT suggested a powder multivitamin called ALVITUM. I havent tried it yet because I do fine with the Walmart multivitamin, but you can only get alvitum on the internet. She says her patients that have trouble with vitamins love this stuff and mix it in crystal light. Here's what I take: Equate multivitamin 2x a day Citrical chewables(calcium)chocolate mint 2x a day Feosol Iron(these are really small) 1 a day Spring Valley B-12(these are also really small) 1 a day Prevacid 2x a day Karyn

I was taking Optisource for the multi, but I recently heard good things about GNC's Solotron Chewable Multis and bought some. I really like them and I take three a day. I get the impression that I'm getting more from this vitamin (without going into details). I also take 2 1000mg sublingual B12s from GNC. I like these out of different brands I have tried. Calcium Citrate...well, this is where I get less than perfect marks. I tried tablets which were on the large side...tried breaking them in half and swallowing them, but they would get stuck in my throat...not fun. I currently have Citracal Creamy Bites (butterscotch and chocolate) and can tolerate one of those a day...even though I should be doing 3-4. They do have sugar and calories, but that isn't the main deterrent, if you catch my drift! I know you didn't ask, but TRY to do Calcium Citrate and NOT carbonate. Much better absorbed by everyone in particular, not just us WLSers (and no, I'm not a doctor!). (adjusting stethoscope and scribbles something on your chart) Chele

I take sugar free bugs bunny childrens multivitamin (2 a day) 1 centrum chewable 2 bariatric advantage calcuim citrate (they come in cin. choc. and mint) I have only tried the cin...not my favorite time of the day, but better than osteoporosis. liquid b-complex twice a week (I have trouble remembering this one and it tastes terrible but it is better than dragging thru the day with low energy) biotin 4 1000mcg tabs a day (I break these in half right now) I get my iron from the bugs bunny and centrum. Gayle

Off the top of my head, I don't know the dosage of each of these. Morning I take: 2 Flinstone Complete Vitamins 1 Prevacid 1 Iron 1 B-12 1 Biotin Late afternoon I take 1 Caltrate 1 Magnesium Susan

Emily, I take a prescription chewable prenatal vitamin, IMO it tastes good. It has iron so there is not a need to take additional pills. NutriNate - Prenatal Chewable - here is the breakdown on what it contains - I put it into fit day awhile ago, fitday give the % of daily allowance - sorry I don't have the mg @ hand Vitamin A 125 % Vitamin C 200 % Iron 193 % Vitamin D 8000 % Vitamin E 138 % Thiamin 182 % Riboflavin 273 % Niacin 143 % Folate 250 % Vitamin B-6 769 % Vitamin B-12 500 % Calcium Citrate - Tropical Oasis - 1/2 tablesoppon two times per day - has an orange flavor - I get this at a local grocery store, you can order it on line 1 Tablespoon = Calcium Citrate - 1200 mg - 25% Magnesium Citrate - 720 mg - 25% Vit D - 100 IU - 25% Boron Citrate - 750 mcg - not listed B-12 - Sublingual Rexall 2500 mcg - from Walmart - tastes like cherry 1/2 tablet every other day Biotin - Rexall 1500 mcg - From Walmart - I am taking these at random ... I did not read each post, but just incase someone else did not mention it, you need to take a calcium supplement that has Magnesium and Vitamin D for absorbtion.

Hi Emily, I've been taking the following from VitaminShoppe.com: Sublingual B-12 twice a week (Wednesday and Sunday) Chewable Calcium Citrate 250 mg - 6 per day - my nutritionist says it can't be taken within 2 hours of taking iron because they prevent the absorption of each other, so I take them when I first get up, again in the afternoon around 4, and at bedtime. She also says Tums don't work for calcium for us - we have to take Calcium Citrate, not calcium carbonate. For Kids Only chewable multis - 2 per day Chew Iron 18mg - 1 per day at lunch time I bought a 3 months' supply for $100. I spoke with the nutritionist on Friday and she told me I could take the regular vitamins now rather than just chewables. Good luck!!

Hi- Im from another board- and kind of wandered on here- responding to Suanz's post.. and thought I'd share what Im taking and what I have taken. YOU MUST commit to taking vitamins- like drinking your water every day- you can wind up with some bad deficiencies down the road. Just thougt I'd emphasize that..as I didnt at first.. I would up being deficient in Vitamin D, B12 & my iron levels were off. Optisource is an excellent chewable vitimin- 4x a day- you can get them at walgreens.com. They are made for post ops- and absorb well- and taste like vitamin C. Bari-Vit - is a small one a day pill- that I take now- and it just made my life simpler- and they were like $5 a bottle- made for post op patient to absorb. Calcium- I take 4 a day- you have to read the label of the bottle. I hate pills so I found the Solaray brand- its Capsules- and they are made to be most absorbale- and they work for me. I take 2 iron capsules a day- by perscription- as I have anemia- and was anemic well before surgery. Chromium Forte. B-12- I take- sublingual- drops- 2x a day - once in morning/night thats it this tastes yummy and got it at the Vitaminne shoppe. 2fl lasted more than a month. Hair, Nails & Skin complex- got this at Vitaminne Shoppe - my hair was thinning and coming out. I dye my hair- and this also helped to strengthen it- and has cut down on my hair coming out. I take 2 pills 2x a day. I also take Energy Up pills- this is a great energy enhancer. I take this an hour before I head to the gym- it has ginseng in it- and delivers what you need- when you need to get through your workout routine. It also contains B-12. Its called Energy Up and sold at Vitaminne Shoppe. Don't skip your protein- whether you are or are not having hair issues. Even now- I have 2 Nectar shakes a day- and it only gives me what I need for my workouts..The amino complexes make a difference in our body and our muscles. good luck - Donna 325/231/145

Donna, You say that you take Bari-Vit and that it is a tablet. Is it a small tablet? And if it is small, where can I find them? Can you compare the size of the tablet to another more recognizeable medicine pill for me? Also, I had tried the chewable Solaray calciums, but just couldn't do it without gagging and spitting it up. How small are the calciums you are taking? Emily

Hi- The calcium capsules are the same size as say a contact capsule- same thing- they go down fine. And let me say- once you get further out- this pill stuff won't bother you as much. It gets better with time/ The Bari Vit- are smaller than the capsules- about 2/3 their size- I dont have the bottle on me- I think they are bariatric advantage- Im not sure. A patient came in with them to our support meeting - and our Surgeon had recommended them- so they are good. And just once a day. I'll let you know. Donna

I think simple is best...I take one Centrum chewable per day in the AM. I take sublingual B-12 2x a week (from Trader Joe's). The Centrum has iron, but if you are low, just take an iron pill once a day. For calcium, I keep Viactiv chocolate chews in my desk at work and on my kitchen counter and try to remember to have 2 or 3 a day. They taste great and really are like a sweet treat to look forward to. Good luck! Diana