Fear of Vitamins on an empty stomach

Hi all!

I am ready and gearing up for surgery. I have not freaked out in days! My mother is on board and I feel so blessed and excited! Whoooot!

I have a fear of viatmins though. As of now, I can't take vitamins on an empty stomach. And when I say empty I mean, w/o some SOLID food, usually bread (not just crackers). I try to flush them down and dissolve them with water.

I ususally take the generic one a day women's from Walmart, though I have been recently on Vitality Gold for Women with mineral complex, cell wise and vitality packs day and night and they are better on my stomach, but still cause me to be nauseated after taking them w/o food.

My question is this: Will this be an issue for me post op as well? I know my tummy won't be able to hold much food, especially in the beginning with liquids/soft foods. Should I change my multi vitamins or wait until I can tolerate solid foods again. But dang, will I have enough room for them??

Thanks guys!

-Elle

Hi Elle,
I think you're going to have to experiment with your vitamins until you find the right solution. I can take my VitaLady brand vitamins with a protein shake; no problem. If I try to eat and take vitamins, I fill up pretty darn quick. So, it's a balancing act to be sure. I like the bariatric vitamins (powder inside capsules) best. I feel like my stomach and shortened intestines don't have to work as hard to break them down. Good luck! I hope you find the right fit.
Gina
 

I was about 3 weeks out before I could take all of my vitamins. I would work them in slowly. I'd take a pill and then a sip. Wait a bit and take another pill then a spoonful of pudding, soup, etc. You are not expected to take a handful in one sitting right out of the gate. It might take me over an hour to get 6 pills in. You'll just go slow and you'll see it gets easier and easier. In the beginning you feel like it's an all day chore to get your vitamins in but that time passes quickly and soon you'll just take tyhem without even thinking about it. Mine always sit better in my tummy taken with food. If I eat, I'm taking vitamins.

You're sure to have some trial and error along the way.

I think you will find that you have to play around with when & how you take your vitamins. I had really high expectations of myself and really wasn't able to get most vitamins in until about a month out and now at 6 weeks out I can do all of them in a day with little problem. I suggest starting slow and if you can stomach them take a chewable multi. Also, mix up your schedule. I am up very early and always had a hard time getting in my final calcium at night (I'm on the Vitalady schedule). So I actually started taking those late morning and then my mid-day vitamins about 2 pm. This has given my tummy some time to empty out from lunch but maybe (or maybe not) all the way empty. Same thing with nights ones ~ I have an hour or so after dinner.

Also, consider taking with a little food (I like peanut butter or cashews currently). I did have some problems with taking them on an empty stomach and got one heck of a tummy ache one day.

So just try and you'll find a way you can manage. And literally sometimes the passage of just a few days made it easier. So be a little patient

I take all my vitamins except iron with food, at meal times. There was only 1 time it was an issue, I guess I was really full and there was NO room for the water I was drinking with the calcium pill. But, other than that once I haven't had any problems with it.

Bev

I find waiting about 20-30 minutes after the food works well for me.