B Complex question for everyone

What is the dosage of B Complex that you are taking? - I know B12 but never really got info on B-Complex.   While I am here I will ask about Calcuim Citrate - how much are you taking....they took my chews off the market so I need to find anothe substitute which I guess will be pills YUCK. Ideas, brands and suggestions are needed. Thanks

Debbie, I highly recommend Bariatric Advantage Calcium Citrate. It comes in a chocolate chewable. I take 3 a day . Most people take 2. It also comes in other flavors but  this is my favorite. Debbie likes the wild cherry.  Email me your address and I ill send you a couple of samples to try. See you lighter. Joanne

Debbie!  That's a great question!  I don't know either.  I've been taking the B-complex 50 from bariatric advantage, but I'm also taking a B12.  I have no idea whether I'm supposed to or not.  There's not much guidance out there, or else I don't know where to look, so I'm with you - and hope someone can help.  As for calcium, I take 2-3 of the Caltrate-D 600mg chews every day.  Again, I'm not sure I'm taking what's right so....

I don't know much about the B Complex... I like the cinnamon bariatric advantage calcium citrate... Right now I am using the Twin Lab 1000mg brand and they aren't too bad at all.. and I got them online for about $8 for a 2 month supply so it was worth it!

Hello Debbie Girl-

The B Complex is a new discovery in the bariatric world. They are finding out that we need more then B-12. B Complex helps our body convert food into energy. B Complex has B-12 in it, but not enough. There is also a Stress B-Complex, that essentially does the same things. B-Complex or Stress B-Complex will help with some of the emotional feelings (but it is not primarly used for this and you didn't hear it from me).

Anyway you need to be taking B-12 1000 mg daily. If you chose to take B-Complex, one a day is fine, just look on the bottle. You can not over dose on B vitiamins because they are a water soluble vitamin, so if your body doesn't absorb the extras or doesn't need it you just pee it out any way. This is why we have bright yellow pee.  That is just a supplementation. For those of you who get B-12 shots, they do have the B-Complex shots as well.

Calcium. This is an interesting topic, or at least with the Delaware boards. It has gone back and forth; should I take citrate or carbonate. First PMRI told us to take Carbonate. I have not idea what they are telling people now, BUT...I will detest that. Because I have gone to several other baratric centers and support groups and have spoken with their dieticians regarding this issue. Everyother cliinic/center that I visited has their people take CITRATE. Ok the difference of the two:

Carbonate is harder to digest, so it MUST be taken with food. CITRATE breaks down easier and gets absorbed better with or with out food. So there you have it, you can take either but if you take carbonate, make sure and take with food. Every female needs to have 1200-1500 mg of calcium daily, with or with out surgery.

Either calcium can NOT be take with in four hours of iron, so you must separate iron and calcium and have four hours in between. If taken to soon, they will wipe each other out and you won't absorb either. Also, if you are on Thyroid medication you should not take calcium within 2 hours of that medication (synthroid). Calcium is better absorbed when it has magnesium and/or vitamin D with it. You can usually buy it that way, I get mine at CVS and I like the petite size. Oscal also makes a great lemon chewable calcium tablets. Honestly I switch off with the different brands of vitamins I use. Although the amounts are the same, the sources are different.  I have also got a different doctors point of view this weekend. They recommend all females, whether they menstrate or not to take iron and calcium. The calcium I have heard before, but the iron is new. His reasoning is, that our bodies need it... plain and simple. The iron send oxygen to the cells the cells are then open to let vitamins in to be absorbed, which makes sence. Because with me being 5 1/2 years out and still doing in my blood work, for the first time my iron was low and I needed to start taking an iron supplement. I have not taken one since surgery, because I do not menstrate, but I have never had an issue with the iron in the past. I have not switched the my vitamin regimen at all and I was so puzzled why..Why after 5 years is this showing up??????  Come to figure out, that my body needs more B-12 and/or B-complex than most, which does not show on the blood work. Since my B vitiamins were not enough for my body, the iron was not getting full absorbed from the food. Thus requiring my body to take an iron supplement. Iron should be taken with Vitamin C.   Of course we should all be taking our multi vitamin. Studies have just come out saying the a "normal" body does not absorb the whole multi vitamin, so you should break the vitamin in half and take half in the am and the other inthe pm. Well, my personal opion..I actually take one in the morning and one in the afternoon. The reason being, our bodies as gastric bypass, do not absorb vitamins and/or minerals form the pill form or food source. So to insure that I get what my body needs I take two.  I actually take a prenatal vitamin in the am and a regular in the pm. My family doctor started me on the prenatal way back when and I can definately tell a difference. If you think about it, a prenatal has extras in it so it is going to ultimately going to provide you with more whether you have a baby in you or not. The center that I went to listen to this weekend, they do not recommend Flintstone chewables, as they prevent your body to absorb some minerals that is in food. I thought that was interesting because CHRIAS is big on Flintstones, especial right out of surgery. The other differences what Opti-Source  vitamins. The RD said, she didn't think it had enogh in it, even though they are made for baraiatric patients. My issue with Opti-Source, is that you are to take four a day and that is all you need. Well if you are not suppose to take Iron and calcium together, then how can they be together in Opti-Source vitamin? I have always disagreed with Opti-Source. The center this weekend really like Bariatric Advantage products.  My opion, do what you have agreed with youir surgeon and keep yourself well informed. The further along we go the more data and studies will come out with updated knowledge. I say, take something! Do what works for you. If you don't like to take alot of vitamins and then take the Opti-Source or Flintstones. It is better than not taking anything at all.  Now just to reitarate, I am not a doctor or a health care provider, you should seek your doctors and/or dieticians opion. You can always refer to Bariatric Bibles" to review. You can always contackt the cordnator ,                                                                                                              ***Please get your blood teasted the first year at least 2 times, then yearly after that if you have not had any issues when it comes back. When in doubt call the office.