Vitamins

I know that after the surgery I am going to have to do Vitamin B-12, Calcium, Protein, Biotin. How much do I need to take daily according to St. V's?  Or is on an individual person how much they have to take daily?  I am just trying to research prices of all these and there are differnt strengths.  Any help would be appreciated. Jenny

I use Liquid calcium form CVS.com http://www.cvs.com/CVSApp/cvs/gateway/detail?prodid=405249&p reviousURI=/CVSApp/cvs/gateway/search?ActiveCat=499^Query=li quid+calcium 19.99 and it last about 1 month.  I order 2 at a time and reorder when one is gone.  Sometimes there is a wait because hey may be out. I use medical quality protein form www.unjury.com I get the unflavored so I can add it to anything I also buy the chicken flavored to make the instant potato and broth soups. it is 18.95 for the first and 17.95 for the second I believe.  B12 sublingual is easy I just nut the cvs brand and it las forever with me because I need just 2 once a week,  CVS also has a chewable multivitamin that works for me and I order it when needed with the calcium.

I absolutely love Citracal Creamy bites for calcium. I take 3 a day. Surprisingly enough for this chocoholic that is not even my favorite flavor-the caramel is! You can order them from CVS, but I buy them at Kroger and sometimes they are even on sale there. It is like my candy treat for the day. (recommended 1200-1500 mg.? /da I really like the flintstones chewables which I buy in big bottles at costco. I understand centrum makes a good chewable as well. (3 per day) For B12 I get the shots at my doctor's office. Certainly more expensive but my insurance pays for part of the cost and for me they are more effective! (1000 units a week, I think) I also buy a vitamin at the vitamin Shoppe which is especially for hair, skin, and nails that has a lot of biotin in it. I have never had nails this good and my complexion looks great despite the massive drop in calories! Regarding protein I shop at Walmart-myoplex lite, the Vitamin Shoppe-Micellar and World somethingorother in a can, GNC. Immediately after surgery I did the protein drink recommended by the Carmel bariatric Center and loved it. You make it up with 2% milk, dry powdered milk, and a packet of sugar free Instant Breakfast. (first six weeks post op. you need 75 g of protein a day, after that 65 grams of protein a day but i still shoot for 75) I had my surgery on 6/6/07 and am doing so well. No problems at all and steadily losing!

Jenny, I use the Kroger (or other store-brand) chewable multi-vitamin. 3 per day...they are cheaper than Flintstone's and have the same nutrient  contents. (~$10 for a bottle of 500) I use 1000 mcg biotin tablets per day (~$3 for a bottle of 100). I use B-12 sublinguals. If you have a Trader Joe's near you, theirs dissolve the best but I use other's too. I think St. V's say to do 1-2 per week. (~$3 for a bottle of 50). I do 2 Citrical per day. I think St. V's recommend 3. The important thing is to be sure it isn't calcium carbonate, but the other one (brain fart with the name..but the name is something like calcium citrate). Also, be sure to take your calcium at least 4 hours after the vitamins so that it doesn't counter their effectiveness. (~$7 for a box of ~40) Also, once a week, take one B1 (100 mg). (~$3 for a bottle of 100). Before you stray too far from what the nuts instruct you to take, be sure you ask them if it would be ok. I had asked them about some liquid multi-vitamin and liquid calcium and was told 'no'. St. V's has their own protein mix that they like their patients to start with. I'd recommend your waiting until you are post-op to try it out (it's common for your taste buds change post-op)...and when you do buy the ingredients, buy small just in case you don't like it. I couldn't stand the CIB as flavoring but liked the lemon or lime jello mix. When you get to the stage of getting away from it, my best advise is to get the most protein you can for the calories and to buy only 1 of each kind, try it, and if you like it, buy a few more. Our taste buds are so varied that it wouldn't matter how many people may love a certain one, you may hate it. Myself, I can't stand Isopure and the thought of trying to swallow that jel-crap of Bullets is enough to gag me. So..try different ones out to see what makes your taste buds the happiest..but stick to St. V's recipe as long as you can. You'll find it is the most economical one. Sherri

I was the opposite of Sherri. . . the only time I had problems with diarrhea was when I used jello in my protein drink. Don't buy a lot until you try and see if you like and tolerate. At St. v's they will bring you "shakes" consisting of basically their protein drink with the Instant breakfast. I really liked the vanilla. Sherri is correct about the calcium. They said that calcium citrate is absorbed better. When I get the Citracal bites on sale at Kroger i hjave paid as low as $5 for the box of 40. I buy a number of boxes at that price. Ditto on Isopure-yuck! I will only drink the bullets if I have to but they are a lot of protein and easy to take for travel. And I do exactly what Sherri says. i buy only one at a time or smallest amount at a time to try out. Don't do that before surgery. Your tastes and tolerances can change after surgery. Another protein possiblity is Slimfast for Low Carb diets.

Thanks everyone this helps.  I was just kind of trying to get an idea of how much of what I needed to get in per day.