Why You Should Take Your Vitamins

Nerve Damage May Occur After Weight-Loss Surgery Anew study shows patients can develop potentially disabling neurologic complications after gastric bypass surgery performed to treat morbid obesity. Researchers from the University of Arkansas for Medical Science (Little Rock, AR, USA; www.uams.edu) described 26 cases of neurologic problems that occurred in gastric bypass patients. The neurologic complications affected most regions of the nervous system: encephalopathy, optic neuropathy, myelopathy, and others. Myelopathy, or muscular disorder, was the most frequent and disabling problem, with symptoms beginning about a decade after surgery; the spinal cord typically Is affected, resulting in falling, extreme coordination and gait problems, and severe spasticity. Except for vitamin B12 and copper deficiencies in patients with myelopathy, the researchers could not correlate specific nutritional deficiencies to the neurologic complications. While restoring nutritional deficiencies - whi*****luded lack of vitamin B12, thiamine, or copper - helped patients, many continued to have symptoms for months, while symptoms remained permanent in some patients. The researchers suggest that steps should be taken to help prevent gastric bypass patients from developing these problems in the first place by advising them to take vitamin and mineral supplements and to avoid severe and rapid weight loss. The study was published in the May 22, 2007 edition of the journal Neurology. HospiMedica International Vol.25 No.5 8-9/2007 ISSN 0898-7270 http://64.235.57.229/display_article.php?id=12740

wow thanks for sharing that

I am in marketing for a medical imaging company, so I read all these types of publications regularly. Anything I come across I am happy to share, since it effects all of us so personally. Susan

I did a whole blog entry about this. This subject really hit home with me since one of my surgery buddies who was in the hospital at the same time had these problems. She is now in a wheelchair and had to move home to her parents house to be taken care of. She has also been unable to work. It is very upsetting. It started with bad nausea so she could not eat, drink, and consequently did not get her vitamins in. I do not know what the solution is but hope her nerves will heal and she will be back up again. It is also very important to take the vitamins properly. You need to space out your multivitamins and calcium since you can only absorb 500mg at a time. I make sure I have at least 2 hrs between my multivitamin and between each calcium. I know some people were taking them all at once at the beginning of the day. It is a waste since you can only absorb a certain amount at one time. Sharra

Sharra - I had no idea about spacing out the vitamins & calcium. I have been doing the handfull in the am! I really need to get my act together!! What types of vitamins & calcium do you take?

I take my first multi-vitamin at breakfast. I follow that with a b-12 sublingual (1000mg). Later in the morning or at lunch I take a Citracal chew (500Mg). Then, I take another Calcium chew around dinner time or I can do another multivitamin then and save the yummy calcium for evening. I am unable to tolerate the iron but it would need to be 2 hrs away from your calcium since they interfere with one another's absorbtion. It really is not that complicated once you get used to it. I always look forward to the calcium since it tastes like candy to me. I use the Citracal Chews since they are the Calcium Citrate which we can absorb so much better than Calcium Carbonate(which is what most supplements are. I keep them refrigerated and they are yummy! I hope this helps!

I'm terrible at remembering.. anyone have any ideas how to help with that? I know it's so important.. I wish I could be disciplined. *taking her vitamin now* -Shakeira

I put mine next to my toothbrush....2 birds with one stone....but ewwwwww toothpaste and vitamins....not a good mix

I put all my vitamins in a small cup on the kitchen counter. I do this the first thing when I get up in the morning. When my cup is empty by evening. All my vitamins are in for the day Jan

Susan I'm glad you posted this and brought this to our attention. I went a whole month without taking any of my vitamins and I paid the price! I felt so tired and run down...like the life was being sucked out of me. Then it occurred to me that I hadn't taken my vitamins in like a month. YIKES! Well, I quickly got back on track and within a few days I felt 100% better with more energy. I am so convicted after reading your post that I promised myself that I'm not gonna take anymore chances with my vitamins. As a matter of fact I'd like to even start taking more supplements but I'm not sure what to take. Right now all I take is 1 multivitamin and 1 B12 a day. I don't feel like I'm taking enough. I'm thinking at my age extra calcium wouldn't hurt. You know a big part of the reason I had WLS in the first place was to get healthy and that's what I want to do. I want to be as healthy as I possibly can. If that means taking more vitamin supplements then bring them on!!! Thanks again for posting this very important reminder.