It's NO joke folks...

Thank you for scaring me straight!  I promise, promise, promise to always take my Vitamins!!!!!!

Okay, I'm just STARTING my vitamins at 1 week out, and you have all given me a swift kick in the pants to suck it up and find a schedule that works for me.  I have Vitalady's schedule and all her vitamins.  I'm trying to add a new vitamin each day, so hopefully by 3 weeks, I'll be taking everything.  Anyone see a problem with waiting on the iron (there IS iron in my multi, which I take twice a day already****il I see if I'm able to keep it up with my diet?  I don't want to borrow trouble by taking it and having to deal with constipation if it isn't necessary.  Thoughts?

I don't know Michelle; I was taking a multi with iron and didn't get any benefit from it. What kind of iron did you get from VitaLady? The Poly or the Tender, or both?  Gina

I got the chewable tenders.  I haven't started them yet, because I'm so early out, and my doc wants me to get my multi w/iron, calcium, and B-12.  I'm up to the multi w/iron and the B-12.  I'm going to start adding the calcium today.  I'm going to wait until I have those three down as a habit (a week or so) before I start adding more from Vitalady's list.  What do you think?

You do what you and your surgeon think is best; just remember to keep dairy and calcium citrate away from iron.  Gina 

Bekah, 

I just took mine now!  I haven't been as diligent as I should be, so thank you for the reminder!  :)

Cindy 

Wow, that is so scary!!!  I have been good with my vitamins so far. Tomorrow I have an appointment to see what new vitamins I will be adding to my basics.  Thanks for posting this!!!!! Melanie

I have personal experience with what low vitamin and mineral levels can do... and that was PRE-OP with a good diet... Gum disease (Vit D), numbness and pain in the hands (B1 & B12), headaches and IBS (Vit B3), and that's just a few of them.  (BTW - one reason I have only a small amount of faith in Nutritionists... I got those conditions while under their supervision!!) The only days I don't take my vitamins is when Oscar is being a grouchy pouch... but I get right back to taking them the next day. There is no way I'm going to stop taking my vits... ever! I don't follow VitaLady's schedule perfectly because I don't need that much iron (no menstruation) or calcium (50% of my protein is dairy)... but I do take 1 iron a week (don't like the multi's with iron) and one dose of calcium/magnesium citrate everyday. So far, my labs look really good... but if they ever go wonky or I feel funky again, I'm all over the supplements!  The only thing I have to watch out for now is that my Folate (B9) is way over the recommended levels... probably due to my mega B-complex supplement.  Might have to take individual B's instead of the B-complex to correct this. Because excessive B9 can cause stomach problems, and I have enough of those already! Another soap box... keep getting your bloodwork done, even after goal! And once a year isn't enough... if you have a deficiency, a year is long enough to have permanent damage! Make a promise to get your levels checked at least twice a year if you can't manage it quarterly. Your body will thank you.

Hey PC, How much of that iron and calcium might you be malabsorbing with your rerouted intestines? I know my intestines malabsorb more than yours and I'm done with monthlies, but I see trends on my labs where they are starting to slip if I'm not taking extra supplements. Just thought you might want to experiment with your next 2 labs... Gina 

Gina, Doc estimates that I'm probably malabsorbing about 20-40% of my calcium, and virtually none of my iron since the medial RNY. I've gotten my labs done pretty much every month since surgery and we're monitoring closely. My Ferritin is a little high now (and has been climbing) so I might knock back my iron supp to once every two weeks, and my calcium was high but is coming back down to high normal now that I'm supplementing my D (which is also in normal range now!). It's all about balance and what your body needs  I just posted some lengthy educational info on iron and anemia, and if people are interested, I might do one on calcium and other supplements, too. Cuz, you know, I'm like that!! ---PlicketyCat