Wednesday Roll Call

Dear Kelly: I have problems with my iron.  I had my first infusion in August of 2007.  My Hematologist thought that I could not absorb iron and I would need infusions twice a year from then on out, BUT, when I went in earlier this month my iron was actually UP!  I have been taking Carlson Chelated Tasty Iron since January.  It is a chewable.  I take a couple of them each morning with 500 mg Vitamin C (also chewable) first thing, with no other vitamins or minerals.  It must be helping.  I have had no stomach problems or constipation.  I get them from VitaCost:  http://www.vitacost.com/Carlson-Chelated-Tasty-Chew-Iron They are relatively inexpensive too.  At 2 per day, a 30 day supply is less that $ 5.00! I try to get all my vitamins in chewable form, or if I can't, if possible, I get a capsule.  Some solid pills may or may not disolve all the way in order to be absorbed.   Hope this helps!

im going to try that. I take viactive calcium chews and i also take a viactive multivitamin. Thanks so much!!

Hi Kelly: Just one more word of warning.....The Viactiv Calcium Chews are not the correct kind of calcium.  I am pretty sure that they are calcium cabonate, and we do not absorb that very well.  We need Calcium CITRATE.  These would be Citrical Chews, but I don't know if they make them any more.  I get chewable Calcium Citrate from VitaCost too.  They have 2-3 kinds.  I have tried them all and like them all.  The NSI (VitaCost's brand) is the cheapest, but also the chalkiest tasting.  It took a little getting used to, but I now take the 8 per day required (for me) without any problem.  It may be less for a lap-bander, ask you nutritionist. Just make sure to separate your Calcium from your Iron.  They DO NOT play well together.

my dietician specifically told us to get viactiv brand and to chew two a day. I need to educate myself on vitamins and such, as i know so little. I do remember something about iron and vit c, that it helps it to absorb better, and not to take iron with any kind of milk antacid or dairy stuff, so that would make sense not to take it with the calcium. I gag easily from bad tastes and smells so i have problems with nasty meds. It has been HORRIBLE taking pills the last week, the crush method doesnt bode well for me, so ive had to cut them up and swallow  in tiny pieces, lol it takes forever to take a couple of pills. thank you so much for your help. the sooner i get iron that i can tolerate, the better off ill be!!! :)

It's possible that the carbonate/citrate thing might not be an issue for lap-banders, I don't know for sure.  It's just that everything that I have read says we need Citrate.  I DO know that the absorbtion factor is not as much of a problem for Lap-Band. Keep reading and educating yourself.  YOU are your own best advocate.  Sometimes, the dietitians and nutritionist do not understand post-WLS systems. Good luck, I hope you can take the chewble iron.