Should I go ahead and buy calcium citrate?

I bought the Flintstone vitamins which are nasty!  BUT I will live. Should I go ahead and buy the calcium too?  Is there some where to get just samples so i don't get something nasty again? It says in my book I need 1,000 to 1,200 MG a day,  And to take 500 to 600 mg at a time throughout the day. Any suggestions on what kind to get? I plan to go ahead and buy different samples of protein drinks to have for after surgery until I decide which kind I like.  GNC the best place to go to find lots of samples? Thanks! BTW I am having the lap band on the 27th!

Hello!  I hate taking vitamins,but I love taking the gummy vitamins.  O.k. dont laugh people but the Disney Princess ones are the best!!  I also started taking the Caltrate Calcium , chewables. they are fruit flavored and not all that bad, I eat one of them and them take the gummies.  The gummies help get rid of the somewhat chalk taste.  Everyone has said not to bother finding a drink you like before hand as your taste will change and it might be a waste of $.   Just what I hear from the girls

Did the Dietician ok the gummies?  I thought they told us they were not ok'd for us.  I would love to switch if they are ok!!!!! Thanks...Holly

UH Ohhh- I better eat those up before my surgery!  I have my class in two week guess I will know them, probaly a no no.  Thanks Holly!

Leanne, Most of are told to take: 3 Flintstone chewables or equivilent (I take Kroger's Children's chewables), 3 Calcium citrite (usually we are also told to take these at least 4 hours after the Flintstones so they don't counter each other's effect), One B-100 once a week and one B12 sub-lingual at least once a week (I do one every day). I also take the strongest Biotin I can find in the pharmacy. Biotin will help keep your hair loss at a minimum about 3-5 months post-op. Start taking the Biotin NOW.               GNC does have a variety of protein mixes/RTD (ready to drink)/powders (they have a good return policy if you don't like something).  www.bariatriceating.com and some other online sites have several samples you can try. It may take you awhile of taste-testing to find one that you really like...and you may come to a point of getting where you don't like it either so don't buy in bulk for awhile. St. V's patients are instructed to try a mix of powder milk, skim milk, and flavoring. This works well for some, doesn't work at all for others...or may work for a short time. Boy, did I give away alot of CIB & powder milk!               Congrats on your upcoming date!    Sherri

Thanks everyone!  I wasn't planning on drinking the protein drinks beforehand but buying a few different ones to use afterwards, but not stocking up on any one kind. Sherri - With lapband we only need 2 flintstone vitamins and the 1,000 mg of calcium.  We do not have to have the B-12 with lap band. I have the Biotin on my list of things to buy, but do you take a pill form or liquid form or is there a chewable or something? In my book it doesn't say that the gummies are OK to take so I will ask if its ok. The protein drink mix is listed in our book to but is not a mandatory thing, she gave a us a list of different ones and told us what the drinks have to have in it.   Which is 20G or more of protein AND less than 5G of sugar.  So I was thinking I would buy a few different kinds to start off with (not in bulk) that way I have a variety of ones to try for the first week or so. I am trying ot be prepared and have a lot of the things here beforehand so my husband doesn't have to run to the store and I don't either.  He is only taking off a day or 2 and then I will be here with my two boys as school will be out too.  So NOT hauling them to the store with me to buy these things after surgery for awhile would be ideal! I plan on buying the different things on the list of full liquids that are required for the first week afterwards so I have those things here too. Thanks for all the information. 

Leanne, I usually choose chewables when-ever I can..and tablet if I can't. I stay away from capsules because they tend to do nothing for me. They don't reach any stomach acid to dissolve. You'll be given liquid loratab for pain at the hospital and probably a script of it to go home with you. Here is a VERY strong suggestion: When you get it filled, ask your pharmacist to add flavoring to it like they do for kids! That makes it alot easier to choke down! Sherri

Good luck on your banding on the 27th!  Mine is tomorrow.  My doc says 1 flintstones complete a day, 1200 mg calcium citrate chewable, and a b complex either liquid or chewable every day.  I found in my area that the calcium citrate chewable is very hard to find in my area, so unless you are going to order from somewhere you might want to start looking for it.  Caltrate chewable is not calcium citrate, it is calcium carbonate, so be careful.  I checked all all our pharmacies around, supermarkets, GNC, and finally found them at a health food store called Elberts.  

I started out taking liquid GNC multivitamins with a cranberry base.. they were not bad.. easy to get down.. then I later was able to switch to pills when I convinced my Dr I put them in an ounce of water and they disolved in 5 minutes.. I break my vitamins in half and take them all in the morning when I wake up at the computer.. I take my calcium citrate every day without fail and my b-12 as ofter as I remember.. since it is only once a week I tend to forget.. MY BAD.. usually end up feeling drug out and saying OH Yea... Like the V-8 commercial...smacking my forhead  Be well and do the verybest you can following orders from the dietition and or the Dr. YOU come first.. If you dont take care of yourself you cant take care of the men and babies in your life... MUch Love and continued sucess.. Linda Kay