What vites and how many do you take?

Elemental iron is something you see in how you read the label, IF it is labeled correctly. For instance, I have a bottle of ferrous gluconate here that I bought to toss in a donation box. The label says "iron (from ferrous gluconate) 27 mg." It then goes on, which many labels do not, to explain that each 240 mg ferrous gluconate provides approximately 27 mg of elemental IRON."

So your label needs to actually say the vitamin or mineral and then have the source behind it. Many will just say (cheap calcium is notorious for this), "calcium carbonate xyz grams," for example. If it said "calcium (whatever source) xzy grams," then it's more likely to be giving the actual amount of the element.

ADEKs doesn't cut it for a lot of DSers.  For example I take A, D, E, and K all separately - they  must be in the correct forms - I get them from vitalady.  Her prices are competitive.

BA is a completely inferior product line for us. You are comparing apples to horse turds. Look at the ingredients.

I'm crying here. Thanks for the LOL

Oh, dear, sweet EN-
I've had a ****ty afternoon and your "horse turds" comment made me LOL.  Thanks to your colorful language, I often find myself in near hysterics at my desk.  You just fire it right out, no holds barred, and it's wonderful.  Go on girl!

I changed my mind about giving you all this information for free. Ask a few oldtimers how often I delete a message.

Hi Hoosiermoma,
First, I have not heard of your surgeon. Is that the doc your planning on or did you change to someone else and not change the name ? If that is your surgeon, how many DS's has he done ? Do you know any long term patients who have used him ?

I had my first WLS in 2003 and I started with Bariatric Advantage vits. Over time my labs were not very good on the BA vits... I ended with the schedule below and I am due for labs next week, to see if they need tweaking. I have had to tweak continuously. It seems like the further out people get the more vits are need on average. I realize this might not be true for everyone, but it is for most.

I order my vits onilne for 3 or 4 months at a time to reduce the cost of shipping as I do not live near any good stores for vits. If you google and plan carefully, you can keep the costs down by watching for online sales and free shipping offers.

Here is my routine before my labs of next week. 3 months ago I had to increase calcium, magnesium and Vit D3.

2 Ferrex 150 Forte (prescription elemental iron) -with - 500 mg of Vit C to help absorption.  2 Kirkland Daily Multiples –(Costco brand) supposed to be equal to Centrum Multiple http://www.vitalady.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=1520   Vitalady Calcium Citrate 4000 mg/day starting every 2 hrs after iron   http://www.vitalady.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=1220X240   2 prescription (Micro K) potassium (20 meq each), I take 2 a day     1 in a.m. and 1 in pm 1- B12 sublingual - Natural Factors B-12 Methylcobalamin -- 1000 mcg http://www.vitacost.com/Natural-Factors-B12-Methylcobalamin   1 Vit A – 25,000 IU from vitalady   http://www.vitalady.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&k ey=1008   3 Dry Vit D 3- 50,000 IU each for a total of 150, 000 IU every day   http://www.bio-tech-pharm.com/products/d35.html   or http://www.vitalady.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=1070 1 Dry Vit E Jarrow 400 IU http://www.jarrow.com/product.php?prodid=217 3 zinc picolinate (50 mg each) by NOW  http://www.bulknutrition.com/?products_id=586 or sometimes www.webvitamins.com or www.luckyvitamin.com is cheaper 1 Culturelle HS - Premier Probiotic w/ Lactobacillus GG http://www.vitacost.com/Culturelle-Culturelle-with-Lactobacillus-GG   Omeprazole cap 20 mg qd (generic Prilosec)   Biotin 1000 bid Boron 3 mg per day Vit K2 w/ D3 - Nature's Plus Vit D3/Vit K2 -- 1000 IU/100 mcg http://www.vitacost.com/Natures-Plus-Vit-D3-Vit-K2   Vit K1 - 100 mcg   http://www.vitacost.com/Country-Life-Vitamin-K-1/pd_section- pr#ProductReviews

 

 

Changed so that my post and information is not shared on FB without my permission or knowledge.

Where did you look at prices for dry A, D, and E?

 Hi again, 
In my experience the BA vits did not keep my labs in good range. I know others who will agree and some who will disagree. 

That is why labs are so important. Like others have said, this is our individual experience. Labs tell you the true answer on what vits you need and how many. It is best to come up with a plan and be sure you can somehow supplement properly as your life depends on it. Some people think because they feel okay that they are okay and do not need labs. This is untrue ! 

If you can't afford the follow up do not have the DS, find another way to get healthy. At first the cost seems minimal, but it can change in time. I take many more vits now than I did at first.