Question About Calcium Citrate!

Okay, So I bought vitamins today. I got a multi-vitamin that is chewable. And I got calcium citrate/D3 vitamins but they're capsules. I have surgery July 30th... SO I was wondering if I am going to be able to take the capsules after surgery or if I am going to need to get the chewable. Also, do I need two separate vitamins? Like a chewable D3 1000ud's and a calcium citrate, not combined? Sorry this is a lot and it's working on my mind... On a Saturday night of course so I can't just call my nutritionist.. lol So I thought I'd ask y'all. 

Highest Weight- 253.8

Current Weight Pre-Op-235lbs

Height 5'4

19 Years Old

I took liquid vitamins the first month, just to make sure I was healed. The docs advised me that liquid is the best... don't take pills right away. I also take those exact calcium vitamins and my levels are fine. Good luck! 

I did not have any trouble swallowing capsules just a week after surgery.  The advatmage of capsules over large pills is that the capsule itself is gelatin-based and before will dissolve very quickly, so even if it would get stuck, sipping some water will dissolve t quickly.

Most RNYers find that they need MUCH more Vit D than they get in their multi and their calcium and end up taking a significant dose of D3 separately.  1000 units of Vit D isnt likely to be enough, but you can start with that and see where your labs are.  I take 50,000 units of Vit D twice a week.

Lora

You need to ask your doctor, some will clear you upon discharge to swallow pills (or cut them in half if need be). You also have the option of crushing them (then you mix with like a tbsp of water) but that doesn't taste so great. I was cleared to stop w/the chewables at 2 weeks post Op. I still love my calcium chews though and think I'll keep with that, same for the iron which is a yummy lemon/lime (bariatric advantage).

Dr. Lalor's nutritionists want you to take the chewables for the first few months, and yes, they still want you to take another D3 pill besides that! The D3 pills are small. If you go to your pre-op appointment, go to Jax pharmacy, down from the doc's office, and ask them for a couple of sample packets of the BA calcium chews. You will get 4 flavors of the lozenges, and then 4 flavors of the chewy bites and they are only $2 per sample bag!. Take these after surgery to see which one you will like and then at the 2-week post op, after deciding which one you may or may not like, purchase them at Jax. They are cheaper there than online. A big bottle of lozenges will last 3 months, and then get a bag or two of chewy bites for a sweet treat, like candy. You cannot get a chewable d3, but doc's office does recommend taking them as their own pill, even though they are still in the calcium citrate chews.

Hope that helps a bit!

Connie

I was going to replay the same as Connie did!  Which nutritionist do you see?  I see Beth and she has been great!  She even sat down with me and since I have other meds that interfer with when I can take certain vitamins and supplements we figured out what would be best for me and laid out my schedule for vitamins after surgery.

I was able to swallow them, but they made me feel REALLY full and I felt like I was constantly taking them to get it all in, as it took so many pills to do 1K IU of the calcium citrate. Now I do either the chewable or drink mix from Celebrate. LOVE IT!