New to the message boards..

Hi I am Cathy, and I have been learking here the last few days. Decided to update my profile tonight and start messaging. I need some motivation!! I had my surgery on Oct 27, I am down 48.5 pounds, and feeling really good. Lacking on the exercise, but I hurt my back and was on meds for afew weeks.. need to get back into it now though!! Also looking for advice on HOW MUCH vitamins I should be taking. How do I know if it has enouh of everything I need. Like I know I need Iron and Calcium and B12..etc.. but do I need MORE then the 100% daily value.. I thought I read somewhere I need like 500mcg daily of b12.. and my multi vitamin is 100% Daily Value.. but it only has 6mcg!!! HELP..lol Anyways...glad I found this group.. 260/211.5/160

Hi Cathy and welcome!!! About the vitamins each doctor is different, I only take one B12 a week. I take Iron, calcium, B1 & multivitamins daily. Celia

Celia is right, every doctor is different. I even got different advice from the surgeon's that did my surgery. One said take a multiple, B12, calcium and iron and the other one said just take the multiple until your labs come back! He said at that point if I was deficient they'd tell me, but I take my mutiple and my B12 every day anyway. When it's that time of the month I also add the iron. I should probably take the calcium too, but I hate these 4 times a day chewables. Are you being followed by your surgeon's office? Is there someone you can call and ask? If they have a nutritionist on staff, she would be a good person to ask too. Vi

Vi, I noticed what you wrote about calcium. Have you tried the calcium citrate from Vitalady.com? They're capsules (and they are large) but they don't get stuck and they dissolve quickly. I take 2-3 a day. Angela

Oh thanks for the tip! I really need to get on the ball with the calcium. Even if my labs come back ok, at my age we gals need that calcium. Vi

Hi Cathy, WELCOME!!!! We had surgury the same day, COOL! My doctor instructed me to take calcium, iron, B-complex and 2 multi's a day. Welcome to the board and I hope we hear a lot from you. Deb 392/318/180???

Hi Cathy- I'm new to the message board too! Everyone is right...all doctors are different. Everyday, for the rest of my life, I have to take B-12, Zinc, Iron,Vitamin C, Calcium, multi-vitamin and Actigall (only for 6 mos so I don't get gallstones) Asking your doctor and/or nutritionist is the best advice. Have a great week! 289/235.6/145

Hi Cathy, First of all Welcome! Everyone is right about the differences of opinions from their surgeons. I had my surgery done at UCLA and they had mandatory classes we were to take and one was specifically on vitamins. We were told to take 1500-2000mg of Calcium Citrate a day, Iron (not sure of the mg but I take 25mg a day with a chewable Vitamin C), B12 at least once a week 500-1000mcg but everyone is different on this I take 500mcg a day, 2 Multi-Vitamins a day ( I just bought the chewable Centrum) and one B1 a day. I get my labs done this month, and you should be getting yours done soon too. That's the only way you'll find out if you're doing it right. Hope this helps! Angela

I am 3 hours from my surgeon. I had a 1 week follow up, 1 month follow up and have another the first of March.. I think after this I pretty much follow up with my PCM here on base (we are military). I have my prescription from the surgeon for my b12 shots (I go in Feb again to get it.. my husband can come along and the nurse will show him how to do the shots and I can get them from the pharmacy after that, every 2 months.) I know what vitamines I need to be taking.. mine are about what everyone else has said.. but they never told me how much. I could call up to the surgeons office and ask, the nurses there are wonderful! Thank you for your replies! Cathy

Hi Cathy ! Welcome this is a great group of people! I take Viactiv chewable [chocolate] vitamins, then had my blood checked at my regular doctor and was on target, wasn't lacking anything. Hope this helps.