Vitamins/Supplements?

What vitamins and supplements are you taking each day and how much of each? I had been taking two Centrum chewables a day and 800-1000mg of calcium citrate, plus a sublingual B12 when I remember. However I found out recently that post-ops need to get in at least 2000mg of calcium citrate per day to help our bones due to weight loss. So I'm upping my calcium intake, but was wondering what you all are doing out there. When listing your vitamins and supplements, please list brand and if it's chewable, liquid, pill, etc. All mine are chewables because I heard those are better absorbed post-op. I'm also trying to find a calcium citrate that is reasonably priced and chewable because if I have to take 2000mg a day, I'll be going through about one bottle a week! Ouch!! So what are you doing? Trisha

Trisha, I take Vitamin Shoppe's Daily 3 (3 per day) and Viactin calcium chews (3 per day) and a B-12 shot once per month. I know that Viactin chews are calcium carbonate and not citrate - I checked with my surgeon and he said that they were fine as long as I counted the calories. I know you can get Citracal Plus (citrate) at Wal-Mart that is pretty inexpensive but it is not chewable. good luck, Corgimom

Hi, I use Optisourse from Walgreens mail order. I take 4 orange flavored chewables a day and a bottle last a month. They have everything we need within those 4 tablets so no other supplement is necessary according to my surgeon. Cost is $24.95. Roxi

I have trouble getting in all my pills in a day. I am good about taking them in the morning, but I often forget to take them in the afternoon or evening. I'm better at taking them 2 dose during the weekday... I keep the bottles on my desk, but on the weekends, I just never seem to get in that 2nd dose 1 sublingual b-12 weekly. I bought mine at wal-mart 2 Chewable Multi Vitamins a day - Bariatric advantage, Tropical flavor (not cheap) Calcium.... I was taking 4 chewable calcium citrate a day from bariatric advantage. I got tired of all the chewables and asked my nurse about switching to pills. She said that I could switch my calcium to but to keep my multi as a chewable because it is absorbed better. I am taking 3 calicuim citrate tablets a day... THEY ARE HUGE! I split them in half. I was reading up on the difference between calcium citrate and carbonate. The main thing is that carbonate needs acid. We don't have that much in our stomachs, that's why they tell us to use the citrate. The acid is another reason that they tell you to take the carbonate with food. I think that I read you could take it with citrus juice to help the absorbtion.... Now I'm not a Dr. and I would check it out with your Dr. The carbonate is easier to find and cheaper... many people take viactive or tums. A lot of people like the vitamins from twin labs, although I haven't tried those. I tried the centrum chewable, but I didn't like the flavor. Good Luck, Suzanne

2 bariatric advantage chewable tropical multi-vitamins 1 bariatric advantage chewable strawberry iron (18mg) 1 bariatric advantage sublingual cherry b-12 2 tbsp. tropical oasis liquid calcium citrate & magnesium (2400mg total) 1 biotin tab (dunno brand, found at wal-mart) 1 vitamin c chewable (publix brand) taken w/iron my one concern is i only recently found out that human beings in general can only absorb about 600mg of calcium at one time, so i've got to either split my doses of the liquid or maybe add a couple of citracals to my through-the-day regimen. cost-wise the liquid is pretty good, i get the big bottle which has over 30 1200mg doses in it. that and it tastes good and isn't hard to swallow like the citracals. i get it from bariatriceating.com

AM One GNC Women's Multi One GNC Calcium Citrate ~ 400 mg One Glocosamine/Condriotan (sp?) Kirkland/Costco brand PM One Kirkland/Costco Women's Multi One GNC Calcium Citrate ~ 400 mg One Glocosamine/Condriotan (sp?) Kirkland/Costco brand Bedtime Trinsicon (Rx iron and B complex) GNC Hair,Skin, & Nails

Oh yea, and I'm drinking a zipfizz (zippfizz.com) for extra vit C, and B-12, and other stuff.

My surgeon says two Tums a day!!! Can't get any cheaper then that. Dr Jawad has been doing these surguries for years and years and he follows his patients closely. Donna--down 80 pounds

your body can't absorb more than 400mg of calcium in one dose. The recommendation I was given was to take the 400mg of calcium 3 to 4 times a day. I usually just take one in the morning, one at lunch, and one at dinner. I take the chocolate bariatric advantage ones. They are pretty good. Kerri

Hi Trisha, This is what I take: 1 packet of vista vitamins (capsules) can't take both like I should pouch does not like it! So I do half (4 capsules a day). 2 ester c chewables from gnc (so I won't get sick) 2 15cc of tropical oasis calcium citrate with magnesium I think this equals 2000mg. (liquid) 1 squirt a day of liquid vitamin b complex from gnc this equals 1000mg. 1 cc vitamin b 12 shot once a month The calcium citrate I get from myhealthpro.com, it is in a 16oz bottle at 10.00 a bottle but since it is a wholesale price you have to order 30.00 so 3 bottles. Not bad since it can really be expensive. My Husband and I go through a bottle once a month. He takes half my dose. I hope this helps.