Vitamins...chewable vs. swallowable...

Hi! I am still pre-op, but have sampled chewable suppliments from Celebrate. Though I was pleased they sent samples, I found them really rather discusting. They also hurt my teeth.

I am wondering if I have to take everything chewable, or can I get things in tablets and swallow them? (I know B-12 can't be swallowed and that is cool. )

Just trying to get all of this ironed out beforehand.

Thanks!
Amanda :)

I've used the Centrum Chewables for a long time and really liked them.  Recently I started using regular tablets, because I don't require the chewables after so long.

Just be aware that you NEED to take twice the amount of Calcium Citrate (2,000) as well as Vit D3, and don't take these any sooner than 4 hours after you take your multi with iron, as iron interferes with the absorption of Calcium.
 
If you have a Trader Joe's nearby, check out their B12 sublinguals;  they melt under the tongue in less than 30 seconds.  I take one 1,000mcg tab daily.  B12 depletion happens because the RNY means you won't have the "Essential Element" absorption post-op, so you need the sublingual.  Lack of B12 can be devastating to the nervous system.

Go to the Vitalady website;  she has some really good info about the necessary vitamins and supplements, and is very helpful. 

Good luck!

I think we were suppose to have chewables for the first 6 months but I use CVS brand generic of Centrum and I like them so I have continued to use them.  Pretty often, CVS puts them on sale and I load up.  Same with their Calcuim citrate,D, mag but it isn't chewable.

Do you have a surgeon or bariatric center selected yet?  They would probably be glad to send you their guidelines.  So many things differ depending on surgeons.  (Although vitamin requirements should be standard, and are, according to the ASBMS, different surgeons will still specify different things.)

Having spit out that disclaimer, my instructions were to take the chewables as long as possible.  I still take 2 Centrum Chewables per day.  They are not my favorite, and at this point (2 1/2 years out) I'm sure I could take the pills but I've just stuck with them.  I take so many vitamins in pill form it's nice not to have to swallow two more each day.  And they really aren't that bad.

FWIW, I didn't like the Celebrate either.  Some people swear by them though.

Good for you for getting a handle on this pre-op!  =)

ASMBS guidelines say:

"Begin with chewable or liquid. Progress to whole tablet/capsule as tolerated"

Personally, I could tolerate swallowing tablets and pills very early on in my process, so moved away from chewables quickly, but everyone is different. Just wanted to get the official word out there. It has NO reference at all to a period of time.

As badly as i hate to chew them, and as badly as i hate to spend the money. I went and bought the ones that are made for us. I was taking the chewable centrum, and was tired all the time. Now that I take the bariatric vitamins, I feel a lot better. There are a lot of vitamins that I take that are in tablet form because as far as I know they dont make them in chewables, but just make sure they are dry, and not oil based.

Be sure to learn HOW to take them also. There was ceratinly a lot that I didnt know about taking vitamins. Like you cant take your iron at the same time as your calcium, and the calcium needs to be calcium citrate. Not carbonate. I found some yummy ones online though. They taste like starburst.

I have the info saved in a word program if you are interested in learning more just inbox me, and I will send it to you.

I take Bariatric Advantage chewables. Even though I'm a good 8 months out now and could swallow pills now, the orange chewables honestly taste so good, I just stick with them and my labs are pretty great. The SL B12 is really good too. It's black cherry.

Try-the Bariatric Advantage chewables. Personally I think they a very good....I eat mine after meal and the replace dessert for me.

I switched to swallowable pills for a while and didn't think I did as well on them nothing specific...just general feeling of health and well being.

Your tastes post-op will differ so much from pre-op, I'm not sure it does much good to trry ahead...save the samples for post-op.

I also get all my vitamins from Bariatric advantage.com. The Calcium Citrate is 500 mg and I take the cinnamon ones, they are spicy! I love cinnamon! And I am taking the Multis with the high ADEK, but I just ordered the regular multis, orange, I think. The SL B12 I got from GNC, I take that once a week, as I was instructed, until I do my first set of labs. I also take a chewable probiotic, from Bariatric Advantage, as well, I think it's strawberry. If I were you I would get some chewable fiber, too... I recommend the Vitafusion Fiber gummies... I tried the powder to add to stuff, YUK! And the chewable tablets almost made me gag. Those I found at the grocery store, and also at Costco. At this point I am not taking Iron, that may change as soon as I see my first set of labs, or not. We'll see. The mutlis, the calcium and the fiber I take 3 X a day. The probiotic once a day, and the B-12, only once a week. Bariatric Advantage will also send you samples of things if you ask. Also, the bariatric coordinator at my hospital gave me a SACK of 'samples' from different companys so I could try different ones, different flavors. Don't buy huge jugs of vitamins, til you find one you are sure to like. Most vitamins on BA come in 2 sizes.  Good luck! Hope that was helpful!

Tablets you swallow are just fine.  In the first few days, some people are uncomfortable swallowing large pills and some docs recommend only swallowing small pills, but you can always cut tablets in half if you need to.