Sample Vitamin Question...

I have been getting samples of vitamins that I requested from different bariatric places and was just wondering when I should try them?  lol   I have like 3 different ones from different places....how do I know which ones to use...or does my Dr help with that when the time comes?  lol

When you have your appointment with the Nut you will get tht info.  They recommended that I either use: 1. Optisource multi or: 2. Bariatric Advantage I chose to use the Optisource as it's an all in one.  With the Bariatric Advantage you had to add extra iron and calcium, etc. The optisource you chew 4 a day (2 in the morning and 2 with dinner) and you're done. My labs have been pretty good although I have to take extra iron --- but I always have even pre-op.

Optisource is the one that you can get at Walgreen's right?  Thanks Ronna

Yep :-) When are you meeting with the Nut?  I went home with lots of goodies including about a 5 day supply of the Optisource. I was instructed to start taking it a week before the surgery.

I have my 3rd appt with the nut tomorrow afternoon.  I am 1/2 way there!  that's the way I keep looking at it. Hopefully it will be all downhill from here on out!

I second what Ronna said - you get that info at your NUT apt. But before that the Kane group also has an e-store www.suburbansurgicalcareestore.com and they sell vitamins on that site. The one thing that you may want to keep in mind with the Optisource is that it contains calcium carbonate and not calcium citrate.  Christine

I second (or 3rd) what everyone else says about talking to your NUT about vitamins as every program seems to be different. The only thing that I did not see in the other posts is that you must always remember to take your iron and calcium citrate separately.  They inhibit each other.  So......a vitamin that contains both is not necessarily a good choice.   I take generic chewable multivitamins with iron, one in the morning (with my B-complex, extra iron, C and D) and one at night (with my B-12, extra iron & C).  I start taking the calcium citrate (with D-3 & Magnesium) at least 2 hours after the morning multi, then one per hour throughout the day until I've taken all 6.  The calcium are really tasty chewables, almost like a treat. I hope this isn't even MORE confusing.....you will get the hang of it.  Good luck at the NUT's and YEAH FOR YOU!!!!!  You are half way there!!!!!

What Dawn has said is so accurate. I forget that some of our members are pre op and just learning. It is just so automatic for me. I take my vits, iron, B-complex and B-12 at breakfast then at lunch and dinner the cal citrate. The iron inhibits the body to absorb the calcium correctly. I was taught to find a cal citrate that had vit D in it because it helps the body absorb it better. And what Dawn said about making sure that there is a 2 hour gap btwn the vits (iwth iron) and your calcium.  Chris

Hi Monica, The nut. will advise you on which are the best for you as well as your doctor.  I started out on Flinstones chewable twice a day,  a sublingual b-12 once per week.  For calcium, I take Costco's version of Viactiv calcium chews.  For a short while when my iron was low, I was taking an iron sup. but the iron levels are good now.  If I've learned one thing through this journey it is to not stock up on "stuff" prior to surgery. I could have openend my own fat free sugar free jello and  pudding store.  I bought so many packs.  I don't know what I was thinking.  That litte pouch can only handle so much at first.  I had chicken broth that would rival Campbells soup stock.  As a result, I can no longer stand the sight of chicken broth, jello or pudding :-) Every doctor is different, no one is better than the other, just follow their advice and you will be just fine.  You are halfway there and that is FANTASTIC.

Mary