Vitamins!

Hi friends - after reading Michael's post about passing out, and some of the responses, it made me wonder about what vitamins everyone is taking. I currently take something called Optisource and it is supposed to be all you need to take (4 of them a day). I supplement with some calcium. Has anyone heard of that vitamin, it's especially formulated for WLS patients. It appealed to me because I got confused (senile!) on when to take what with what and couldn't make it easy for myself. So what does everyone else do. Maybe I can see a simplier solution. donna

I usually take B12 sublingual prevacid (antacid) Multi vitamin Biotin ( hope that helps with hair) I also take calcium but not faithfully they are too big. I am going for blood tests maybe today so when I see my doctor on Monday he will have the results and let me know what I need. Sandy

I had been taking vitamins every day, a formulation my pharmisist made for me. Liquid children's vitamins, basically. But the subligual B12 wasn't working for me. So... looks like I'll be taking shots.

good morning my surgeon recommended that I take a chewable multivitamin (so I take Centrum chewables)..he also said to take 3 tums per day for calcium but I have opted to take a calcium pill instead...I have always taken 500 mg of Vitamin C daily so I continued with that (chewable). my blood work up came back fine with B-12 so I don't take that (yet)...we'll see! Linda

I take a chewable multi vitam, viactive calcium chews, b12 . That is all my doctor has me taking now. I see him again on the 18th and will see what he says. Carol

I take centrum chewable vitiams 1 daily. I take one b12 sub daily. 2 big calcuim pills daily. Dr told me we do not need iron. There is enough in the centrum. and it can really mess with you stomach. Hope this helps Barb

I also take Optisource. My surgeon's PA said that they've only had one person who couldn't tolerate them. However, they want their patients to have more B1, so I do take an extra B1 in the morning. I love Optisource though - it took me a little while to get used to the taste. (I always hated Tang! ) Amy

My pcp doctor said we can get enough from the regular calcuim pills. I ask him about that. He said that enough is absorbed. I hope I am getting enough. I could only find the caltrate and the citrate is so expensive. And I chew 2 of thoses caltrate a day. He said That is plenty. He is very baratric friendly. So Will this show up on my blood work if this not working. I do not want kidney stones. I heard that is terrible. Do you have trouble with your iron blocking you up. My doctor also said there is enough iron in the vitiams. Every doctor is different Take Care Barb

All the research I've done really stresses taking the calcium citrate, not the carbonate. Go to Vitalady.com, she has some good explanations of vitamins there. I take 2 Bariatric Advantage (BA) multi vits chewable a day, 1 to 2 BA chewable iron (my iron was low on my first blood tests), 1000mg of calcium citrate bought from Vitalady.com, and 1 sublingual B12. It is also my understanding that our bodies will live off our reserves of vitamins and minerals for a while so it may take time before anything shows up of concern on blood tests. I personally cringe when I hear that there are so many Doctors out there that are only having their patients take childrens vitamins, they simply are not enough and don't have the right combination of ingredients for WLS patients to absorb properly. Just my 2 cents on all the research I've done. Nothing against all of our great doctors, I do listen to them but I do my own research just to be sure.

I take two of the CVS generic brand of Centrum called Spectrovite Multi a day. One sublingual B12 (Bariatric Advantage brand) a day and one tablespoon of liquid Calcium Citrate a day (Tropical Oasis brand) Had blood work done at around 8 weeks and all was fine. I"m due to have some more taken this month. Paula