Vitamins

Do you take them everyday? What do you take? I was at the doctor and told her that I forget and I feel ok, so I haven't been taking them. If I feel ok do I have to take them? Tammy

I take a Centrum Silver every day along with 2000mg of calcium. Yes, you need to be taking them every day also, even if you feel OK now. Your shortened digestive system means not only do you absorb fewer calories but fewer vitamins also. By the time you stop feeling Ok the damage may have already been done. This is nothing to mess with. Serious vitamin deficiancies can damage your health badly. Please start taking them. Take one NOW! Good luck and God Bless Tim

I also give myself a B12 shot once a month

I'm in Hawaii on vacation. On tonight's news they showed a bypass patient who wasn't taking her vitamins. She was "normal" sized, but had lost her vision. Blind. Couldn't see to drive. Wasn't getting her vitamin A. It has been a year, and with special treatment her sight is back. Luckily. I've discovered if I miss my vitamins for a couple of days, my energy level starts to lag. Don't gamble with your health. Take your vitamins. Lecture over. Me, I take Centrum Silver chewables. Also, because my labs showed low iron, I take iron supplements. My mom and grandma have/had macular degeneration (eye problems) and it can be inherited - so I take "eye vitamins" daily. And glucosmine with chronditin to help with the arthiritis. And a B12, because you can't have too much B12 and the consequences of not having enough can be very serious. At night, when I remember, I take my calcium and a fiber tablet. To make it easier, once a week I fill up one of those "weekly" tablet holders - with labeled days. That way when I'm in a hurry in the morning, I can just grab 'em and go. -Pam

I saw this too. She lost her vision because she wasn't taking her vitamins (particualry lacking in vitamin A), and I have to tell you that I also get very worn down and groggy and down right ornery when I forget to take my vitamins. That little snipit they had on our local news about that lady made me rethink to make sure to get my vitamins in every day. Mandie

Mandie~ Hows bout a "name that tune".....tomorrow? This gives you all night to think about it! I'll be looking for it! C

I take a handful for my "pre-shower" snack each morning. Each morning I take the following: High-potency vitamin Calcium citrate (630 mg) - 2 giant horse pills Glucosamine Chondroitin (for my bad joints) - 2 giant horse pills Biotin - 2500 mcg Folic Acid - 800 mg Nioxin Vitamin (for hair) Then, when I jump in the shower, I toss a B-12 (2500 mg) under my tongue. At night, I take another dose of calcium citrate. Every once in a while, I'll skip - but not very often. My bloodwork has been great. Maria 272/156.6/155

Tammy, I too take my vitamins daily, if I don't I start to feel like crap. I draf throughout the day. I take a multi vitamin with iron, tums and prevasid 2x a day. B-12 shot once a month Cheri

Tammy- I echo Tim-- You do need to take them. We had this operation to be healthy, so not taking the vitamins defeats the purpose-- and anyway there are plenty of people (who have not had WLS) who take them religiously. I take Centrum Performance daily 6 Calcium pills (2, three times daily) 2 iron pills vitamin A supplement ( I had a slight deficiency at my 3 mo. mark) Ask for a copy of your labs when they do your bloodwork next time-- then you can keep track of it. Also note that it takes up to a YEAR to develop a Vitamin B deficiency.

As everyone else on here ... you really really need to take your vitamins, even though you are feeling okay now!! "Centrum" or "One a Day for Women" = 2x a day Calcium Citrate plus Vitamin D = 2x a day Liquid B-12 under the tongue = every other day GNC Hair, nails and skin supplement = 1x day Iron supplement = every other day (I'm anemic so had to start taking that after month 4) Cranberry supplement plus extra Vitamin C = 2x a day (I'm prone to getting sick and having bladder infections) I take one multi-vitamin, GNC Supplement, Iron, Cranberry and B-12 with breakfast, take calcium at 10am with my snack, another multi-vitamin at 1pm with lunch and then my last calcium at 3pm with my second snack. Good luck and PLEASE TAKE YOUR VITAMINS and stay healthy!!