Pre-Op and Low Vitamin Levels

Hey all,

I am hoping to gain some insight here. I met with my surgeon for the first time yesterday and received the laundry list of tests I have to complete in order to get a surgery date. I made like 10 appointments yesterday from blood work to a sleep study. The good news is, I got them all scheduled! I am concerned that at my last physical in January of this year, my blood work showed low levels of folic acid, vitamin D, and Iron. My primary care doctor placed me on prescription folic acid, gave me a 1 month prescription for vitamin D after which I was supposed to get an over the county supplement to take daily, and then she advised me to purchase an iron supplement to take daily. 

I have been really bad with remembering to take my supplements. I finished the vitamin D Rx but have not purchased an over the counter supplement nor have I even started taking the iron. I remember to take my folic acid maybe 4 out of 7 days a week. I know it sounds stupid but I guess I am just realizing that having low levels may delay or even cancel my surgery! YIKES!! I know the answer is to just take the damn vitamins but I was wondering if anyone experienced this and what brand of vitamins you would recommend to get my levels back where they need to be in time for a late July/early August surgery date.

Thanks!

Its hard to remember to take all your vitamins. I just have to make a mental list of them. Also you could try buying a pill case like the ones at the drugstore,you know the ones with a box for each day? As far as brands, I like the bariatric advantage website. It was recommended by my nutritionist.

Thanks so much for this info! I had not heard of the bariatric advantage website but I see lots of options there already. Thanks again!!

No problem... I got my multivitamin and calcium from there. The calcium chewables taste like candy! I got the cherry kind. Their products are also sold on amazon. I also go to GNC a lot, I have a gold card there so I can get some good deals, and I've been meaning to check out the vitamin shoppe.

I suck at taking me vitamins. So, I use an app called Dosecast to remind me to take my vitamins.  My doc also put me on Vitamin D.

My nutritionist said 80% of bariatric patients have low vitamin D, apparently it gets stuck in fat cells. I have low vitamin D, low iron as well is common in women who still menstruate. 

Thanks so much for your reply. Are you also pre-op? Have you been taking the D long enough to see if there has been an improvement? If so, what brand do you use? Thanks again!

I am pre-op too. I don't know if there has been any improvement in my D levels. I haven't had any other labs done yet. My doc called in once a week D for the entire 6 months, so I haven't had to buy any. However, I've been looking at all the chewable vitamins on bariatric advantage.com. Also found out on here that we need to take calcium "citrate". Walmart doesn't carry this at all. :(

I used an iPhone app called "rxmindme" to remind me to take my meds.  It works pretty well!