Tired of the Flinstones Complete Chewables :( - anything else out there that's better?

If you use Optisource, make sure you take enough of them and all the other things you'll need.  I know the label says to take four a day but after RNY we need 200% of the RDA of stuff and four Optisource only has 100% of most things.  So you'd need eight of them a day.

They contain calcium carbonate which we can't absorb after RNY, so you  need to take 1500-2000 mg calcium citrate with them.  Because of all the calcium in them (even though it's the wrong kind) you won't absorb the iron in them so you need to take some of that.  And since you lack intrinsic factor in your pouch, you need to take additional B12 with them.

Kelly

Carbonate can cause kidney stones too, yes?

Sure can.  I hadn't even thought of that.  Really, it makes no sense to put it in a vitamin marketed to bariatric patients.  They only use it because it's cheaper than calcium citrate and it's a smaller molecule, meaning the pills would be bigger is they used citrate and they figured people would rather chew smaller pills.  But I think it's really awful to market something like that to people with RNY.  And it really bugs me that there are dieticians out there suggesting it to their patients, because they should surely know better.

Kelly

Holy CRAPOLA you guys...I JUST realized as I was trying to compare my supplements and organize what I need to take daily/times etc that I have not started the gallstone medication given to me after my RNY in February. OMG I'm freaking out - I don't know how I forgot about this. I remember they told me to fill the prescription but to not start taking it until my surgeon gave me the OK after the first 3 week check up - and because other issues arose during that particular session (my extremely slow weight loss) it never came up and it just remained in my medicine cabinet. It just dawned on me I've never started it! I'm freaking out - what should I do?? I'm scared of calling my surgeons office to ask - as I'm sure they will tell me what an idiot I am :( Should I just start takign it - I'm afraid I'll get gallstones now. Oh brother....  :(

I'd start taking it now.  Might still end up with gallstones but it sure won't hurt to start taking it now.

Kelly

Thanks Kelly - I'm going to start today :(

Thanks for all the great info and advice everyone! I appreciate it...this really made me take a hard look at what I'm putting into my body and what is definitely lacking. Gosh I love this forum! :)

Start it today.  You can't look back but you can still prevent them going forward.  hopefully it isn't too late.

I've never used chewables.

But there's really no way to get all you need from a coupla multi vites. You still need extra:
protein
iron
calcium
vites A D E K
the whole B family
zinc
magnesium

and so on, in much higher doses than any multi can do

I am a BIG fan of Celebrate chewables.  I've always hated swallowing pills, so I'll probably be on them for life, in part because they taste like candy.  But you have to take at least 2 of them a day, plus you have to supplement your calcium, iron, B12, and any other things you may eventually need (like I've needed to add even more iron and D3 based on my labs.)

As to the protein, everyone has different tastes, so they best answer I can give is to get yourself some samples and go to town.  You can order some from Vitalady (www.vitalady.com).  You can order sample Inspire proteins from www.bariatriceating.com.  Also, MissMaryMac has a great post about where you can get a BUNCH of different proteins - I took some of her suggestions and have fallen in love with the About Time line, which you rarely hear people talk about, but it's great! (Beth aka Melting Mama actually reviewed it a few months ago.)  MissMaryMac's post is here: http://pouchiepoo.blogspot.com/2009/07/check-here-for-protei n-samples.html

Step away from the Flinstones!!  They are for children, not RNY patients!!!!!!!!!!  I like Trader Joes chewables.  The taste is very tolerable to me.

Go to Vitalady.com and order various protein samples and see which are good for your taste buds!!