vitamins.."Do I really have to?"

*This post is in response to someone who asked me is I wouldnt mind posting about what I have went through because I didnt take my vitamins like I should. I am happy to tell me story if it helps even one person from not having to go through what I did.

I was really good about my vitamins the first couple of years. Then what happened? Life I guess. I figured that I was a few years out that it didnt matter too much anymore. Yeah I was wrong. I started to feel off at about 3 1/2 years post-op. So those that are a year or so out saying "My labs are great and all I take is a multi once in a while" are living life on a chance. It started with being really tired. Then it progressed to not being able to walk up my stairs. I went to a doctor (key word here "a" not my surgeon) and he checked my B12 and yep I was low. Gave me daily shots for a week. Thought I was all good. Im not sure how long after that it was til I collapsed. I still dont really know what day I did collapse. Im not even sure about the month. I do know though that it happened in front of my children. I was laying on the floor basically dieing in front of them. I was saved because my sister called and figured out something was wrong. From what I have been told my system was shutting down and my family was told that I may not live.

Well obviously I did but not without a lot of physical and mental problems. I was in the hospital for a while and basically because of the lack of B1 and B12 it caused me to have a few mental health isssues, to say the least. Hallucinations are a blast. With this and the small problem of not being able to feel my arms and legs and being completly bed bound my family had to make the hard choice to place me in a long-term care facility. I was there for a few months and was given daily PT to help me learn to get myself in and out of a wheelchair. I left there in a wheelchair with alot of other medical equipment. Just a little perspective on just how low I was...it took DAILY shots of both B1 and B12 for about 4 months then to weekly for a few months and now monthly, plus I take it daily in supplementation, to have OK levles.


I also left with the memory problems. Not your run off the mill.."where are my keys?" But the "what keys?" I dont remember day to day stuff. I dont remember Bdays, christmas or conversations. My family has to take care of all my health and personal needs. They transport me and pay my bills. I will never work again. I most likely will never drive again. It is not known if I will ever get better. I may not be able to remember the day my children graduate or walk down the isle. As for the here and now I wont remember my baby turning 10 tomorrow.

I could go on with what I have lost because of my stupidity. Yes I have learned a lot of valuable lessons. It is too bad that it had to come at the expense of so much. So for those of you reading this and have questioned just how important can vitamins be (cause you feel so great right?) ask yourself just how important is it for you to feel your legs? How important is it for you to remember today? Ask yourself just how important is your life.

How Scarey!

Thank You so much for sharing your experiences.

I hope all is well now

 Tanya, I am bookmarking this post so that it can be a constant reminder.  Thank you for sharing, and I appreciate your honesty.  I havent missed a day of pills since surgery, but I know how comfortable people can get...just like they do with their eating.

 I hope that you can make somewhat of a recovery in the future and enjoy the life that was intended for you post-RNY.  

Thank you for posting your results about not taking vitamins. Many post ops do get complacent about taking their vitamins. I've heard at my support meetings about a couple of patients, who did end up in long term care facilities due to vitamin issues--from not TAKING THEM. One of the patients had his RNY done by my surgeon--the office manager told me this patient is in the facility as a permanent resident, due to not taking his vitamins. DAVE

I am another who wants to thank you for posting this.  I try and plug taking vitamins and how important it is in your long term health at my support group meetings. 

Another thing people need to know is they need to keep up with their blood work.  You can't know what is happening in your body with out it.

I wish you the best and I hope you will continue to improve.

*gulp*
Thank you so much for sharing this.
So far, I have been very good about taking all my supplements, but I do sometimes dream of the day where I might get to "slacken off" a little.

Guess I better forget that dream, it sounds like too much of a nightmare!

Thanks for posting and I am sorry you had to go thru that.  I wish you all the best and thank you for the reminder to follow the new life we choose.  Raynetta

Thank you for posting this.  I am sorry you had to go thru this.  I have not had surgery but this is something that all of us need to hear.  I can see how easy it would be to get complacent with taking the vitamins and feeling like you don't need them.  I will bookmark your post as a constant reminder of what can happen if you don't take your vitamins.

Good luck on your road to recovery!!

Thank you for sharing this story with us.  It really made me sad and I cried reading it.  I am sorry that you had to go through all of that...  from a tiny pill called "a vitamin"...  isn't amazing how one pill, or lack of, will cause that much damage?

 Someone might say, "but it wasnt  just ONE pill... it was all the pills she didn't take..." Oh how true, but it all started with missing just one pill... which led to another one pill...  It is so important that we take vitamins, and this story shows us why.  Thank you again for sharing because I do believe there are many hard headed people who think they can get away with no vitamins.

Thank you for posting this.
I am diligent abt taking my vits
and will continue for life...ty
for sharing your story.