Dry Vitamins / Protein

So I know we have to take Dry vitamin D. I'm 2 months post op already, but have been taking the easy way out and buying my vitamins from the store at my surgeons office. I'm trying to venture out and find better deals and I'm feeling a big overwhelmed.

Vitamin D3 tablets is not "Dry Vitamin D" correct? I see some actually say DRY vitamin D so I just want to verify this. I know it has been mentioned not to take the gel capsuls for sure but I'm wondering if the tablets are good enough or if they are still technically oil based unless it says DRY vitamin D.

I already have a vitamin A deficiency as well so I have to add 10,000IU a day and I'm not sure if this is something I have to find in a DRY form?

Then I've also been buying my protein powder at my surgeons office and I know its over priced so I'm on the hunt for a good high protein no to low carb DS friendly protein. I don't know why but I'm a little nervous shopping for everything because I want the best results possible from my DS and don't want to make any wrong choices on this stuff.

ok so you didn't post any brands etc but as a DSer we don't absorb fat well, vit d is usually in a oil based RX, that we can't really absorb..dont even bother taking that.  you have vit a deficiency and you are taking 10K iu/day....that is a very low dose for a dser maintenance, that should NOT be used for a deficient ds patient, it is way too low, you will continue to drop.  again you didn't post your lab result so i can't give you a starting amount to take.

umm forget about buying your protein powder from your surgeons office, who do you think is paying him for his space....yes you....purchase your own on line....

wishing you luck getting heatlhy

Right.. As I mentioned I don't plan to buy the protein from my surgeons office that is why I'm asking for suggestions on what brand everyone else is using.

 

As for the labs. My surgeon has not yet provided me with a copy. I was told it was low and to add 10,000IU a day. It may be a low dose for DSer, but I'm going to stick with following his direction for at least the first year.

What I wanted to confirm was if a plain old tablet is the same as dry vitamin D. I believe you are saying it is not?

Also wondering if as a DSer our vitamin A has to be "dry" or if normal vitamin A is absorbed fully.

Like Vitamin D, vitamin A is one of the fat soluble vitamins, which is why we absorb it poorly and must supplement with doses that are far larger than what someone with normal absorption would use. This also means that we need the "dry" form of A, just like with D, and also with Vitamin K (the fat soluble vitamins are A, D, E, and K, but vitamin E deficiency is very rare).

I have no idea whether what you are presently taking is truly the dry form or not. The key is that most forms, including prescription forms, are package in oil, which is fat, and will just pass right through us with minimal absorption.

Vitamin A deficiency is serious and can cause vision loss. If you are deficient, this is not something to delay on. Start buying the dry D, A, and K from Vitalady or directly from the manufacturer (Bio-tech). Vitalady's prices are usually cheaper, and she carries them in the (high) doses that we need. It is far easier to prevent deficiencies than it is to catch up, so get going on this right away. And with all due respect to your surgeon, whoever he may be, most surgeons don't recommend nearly enough supplementation for us. They may be terrific surgeons but they aren't as good at the post-up nutrition. Don't wait a year to get going on this, you are the one who will suffer for it and not the surgeon if you wait.

Larra

Larra,

Thank you so much for your information. It was extremely helpful. You are probably right about my surgeons office. I feel that the little information I've been provided about vitamins may be a sign that the dosages could also not be the best information.

Following your surgeons directions for the first year could get you dead!  Surgeons DO NOT take a nutrition class in med school.  Why on earth would you trust someone who has NO TRAINING on what we need.  You NEED to listen to the vets here who have been there, done that.  The beginning maintenace dose of A is 25000 units dry A EVERYDAY.   Personally, I take 75000 units per day to stay in the low normal range.  

The only place to get Dry D3 and Dry A are vitalady, amazon and biotech.  

My surgeon may not be trained in this but he does have a comprehensive team of dieticians, behaviorists, exercise specialists, etc.

I have taken the vets advice, however just like we all lose differently we shouldn't all be taking the same doses of vitamins so I do plan to go by my labs and take the doses I see people taking here into consideration.

I hope to have a copy of my labs shortly so I can actually have the vets take a look.

Here are the links to what I buy:

50,000IU D3: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002V0LHI6/ref=wms_ohs_product? ie=UTF8&psc=1

Vitamin A&D: http://www.vitacost.com/twinlab-allergy-a-and-d-100-capsules -1

I hope you're also taking dry forms of E & K. 

E + selenium (aids in absorption): http://www.vitacost.com/twinlab-super-e-caps-plus-selenium-1 00-capsules

K1: http://www.vitacost.com/country-life-vitamin-k-1

K2 (aids in bone calcium absorption): http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0013EJ5QM/ref=oh_details_o 09_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Make sure you are taking a high quality calcium citrate. If you have bone issues, add a calcium hydroxyapetite and a calcium orotate. Also, you need to be taking magnesium with the calcium.

 

For protein powders, I mostly use egg white protein powder. My favorite is MRM brand: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002HREU0A/ref=wms_ohs_prod uct?ie=UTF8&psc=1.

About the only whey-based protein powder I can stand (I think they usually have a nasty aftertaste) is Chike coffee protein, which I blend with cold coffee and ice: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008O6J8QO/ref=oh_details_o 00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1.

 

Hope this helps! Best of luck to you! 

Thanks so much for the link. This is extremely helpful. I take 4 Celebrate muti ADEK's a day currently. My surgeons office does not start us on calcium until 3 months out.

I do 1000,000 of dry vitamin A (ie 10 times what you're proposing) from Vitalady and I'm not deficient. You probably need a lot more.

Please listen to the advice you've been given here. Your surgeon is a cutter, Vitalady knows about vitamins, the forms and doses for us - you need to get on her plan ASAP. Preventing deficiencies is a lot easier than recovering from them.