tired of nausea and zofran... experimenting... i now think it's at least 50% related to...

After my last surgery in October, I started resenting the fact I live on zofran almost daily. IF i take my vitamins, I'm taking zofran. So here it is.

After some experimenting, I have found that calcium is the WORST offender. Iron is another. The vitamin b12 is too, intend on talking to my surgeon this week about the shots. D is another that bothers me, although not nearly as bad as b12, calcium and iron.

I have tried calcium citrate, calcium carbonate (figured it was better than nothing), and oyster shell calcium. They are awful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I've tried liquid iron, I've tried ferrous fumerate, ferrous sulfate (and I'm allergic to sulfates), and I've tried some other junk I've found online. Ferrous fumerate is easier on my lower digestive system. But horrible for the nausea. They all are. I can eat liver without issues, so I do that at least once weekly. (YUCKY).

B12, I've tried several brands, all sublingual. And nothing helps. I've tried both liquid and pills.

I really need some suggestions. I see my surgeon on tuesday, and expect a total lecture about not taking them like I should. I know I'm anemic. No question about it. I'm getting muscle spasms so highly likely I'm low on calcium too. Energy is in the dumps, so likely I'm deficient in other areas too. Have a long visit set with my fnp with the group that did my surgery. He's awesome!

teri

I take Bariatric Advantage vitamins because I've had significant problems with other vitamins throughout my life. They are not cheap but I am able to tolerate them with no nausea. I think they are better than Celebrates bariatric vitamins.


I take the BA multi chewable (it is chalky but does not cause nausea). I can take chalky without nausea any day. I also take their calcium chews (my favorite is the caramel). I night I take their chocolate raspberry chew before bedtime.


I just had my 3 month blood draws last Friday so I will find out how I am doing on vites soon.


I found an B12 sublingual that is orange flavored tablet by Countrylife my husband found for me at the health food store.


Hope this helps because I would not take vites in the past and I know it would be even more difficult now.

 So the calcium pills are causing nausea, right? Have you tried Upcal D? Just trying to think if the form you take things makes a difference or if it's the actual product/vitamin/mineral. Trying the B12 shots or Nascobal spray hopefully can help keep you compliant with that.
For the nausea itself, have you tried ginger tea? Are you in to alternative therapies? Maybe consider accupuncture or accupressure to help with nausea. Has your surgeon ruled out physiological causes for nausea?

 You have to figure this out. You have to take these vitamins and you have to take them for the rest of your life.
Are you taking them on an empty stomach?
What drinks are you using to take them?
Have you had so much nausea that you are getting nauseated just thinking about taking them? You can train your mind pretty quickly to be nauseous to any stimuli.
You also are early out.
I have a lot of nausea early out not associated with vitamins but if I would have taken a dose I would have gotten sick.
If right now you need zofran to get your vitamins and food down take the zofran and then figure out how to handle one thing at a time.
I've taken all sorts of different vitamins. I have a cabinet full of options. Sometimes I chew the chocolate chews from BA, sometimes I just throw down some  citricals. I also have chocolate wafers from BA. They make me puke the first 6 months. Now I can eat them all day.
There really are a lot of choices for us. Read posts here about what different people like.
Good luck in figuring this out. Keep trying. Ask all the  vitamin people to send you samples.
You will figure this out.
Deb T.

I'm a year out.

I have tried with foods and without. With hot and cold drinks.

I Do wonder if I'm just getting nauseated thinking about taking them. How do I test for that?


I've had an egd (nearly killed me- literally), and upper GI's, cat scans, physical and surgical exams. No one can figure out why.

I took them, and my zofran. Can't take more until 3 pm, and then I'll take my iron and vitamin c. Then at 11 pm I'll take the other dose of calcium. It's horrible I have to schedule around things like this.

Teri

You can't really test for that. The brain makes connections real fast. I'm a Rny'er and also a chemo nurse. Patients sometimes will puke once after eating a certain food and not be able to eat it again.  What has to happen is some therapy to break the response if that's what it is for you.
How about the chewable chocolate calcium? Have you tried those?
I think if the zofran is working you shoud keep trying it but keep working with your doctor for a solution.
Do foods make you nauseated  too?
How about lactorse?

Things that make me nauseated..
Drinking milk out of the carton (which makes my family happy since I no longer do this)
plain water
most egg dishes

Good luck.
Deb T.

I've tried the chewable calcium. They've pretty much given up and just write for more zofran. I'm at 8 mgs 3 times a day, which I gather is a larger dose.

The only food I've found to make me nauseated is pomegranet. ( i killed that word). Can't drink or eat anything that flavor.

I don't often throw up. Yesterday I had a bad bad day, and had some serious dry heaves. Rested my pouch, took my zofran and laid down, and it finally improved enough to move on with life, sipping slowly on water.

Truth is, even though I might dump, I can eat anything but pommegrante. Sugars, and high carb foods make me dump. Lactose? No that doesn't bother me. Truth is I drink at least 20 ounces a day trying to get some calcium into me. It doesn't bother me.

Teri

COMPAZINE 10mg (the generic name is PROCHLORPERAZINE)
PLEASE, PLEASE, Write this down and ask you doctor to consider this. It is for the "mental" nausea. When you have no physical reason to be vomiting or nausea like a stricture.
Let me tell you, this was my saving grace! I seriously would not have survived without it.
The full 10mg pill made me a bit sleepy, but when I cut it in half and took it a couple hours apart, I was fine.
I really, really think you should talk to your doctor about this.

I hope you feel better soon

I've tried compazine. My insurance required that before they'd approve the zofran. All it did was make me sleep through the nausea, and with little kids, I couldn't sleep all day.

teri