Vitamins

Got a question, I know after surgery we are supposed to be taking calcium and B12 on daily basis and the nutritionists recommend we take the Bariatric Advantage.  But today when I was walking through our employee store here at work I noticed and off brand of Calcium +D and another of B12 vitamins and probably 3/4 of the cost of BA.  The calcium was $4.69 for 60 pills and the B12 was $2.69 for 100 pills.  I'm thinking this is a SIGNIFICANT cost savings, not to mention we don't pay tax here either.  Does it really matter what brand we take or is just that we take some kind?

You have to be careful with your calcium. You need to make sure it is Calcium CITRATE and not calcium CARBONATE. Calcium citrate is more easily broken down and digestible by the body. Calcium carbonate needs stomatch acids in order to be digested and when you're first out, you don't have much of that acid. As far as the B12 goes, I got two bottles of B12 DOTS (250 per bottle) that will last FOREVER LOL What about a multivitamin? I use Flintstones complete Chewables.

It just says Calcium +D Liquid gels on the bottle, but when I read the fine print it does say carbonate, so I guess they are out.  They had multivitamins, but I didn't really look at those, I was just focused ont he Calcium and B12.

I  know our nutritionist said absolutely not to the Flintstones chewables. 

yeah I find CHEWABLE calcium citrate very hard to come by (at least where I live) so I order it online.

Thanks to all that responded.  Yes, I've heard every Dr. has their own ways and what they want you to take.  Guess I'm just going to have to feel my way through it when the time comes.

Thanks for your reponses.

Im 4+ years out been taking since day one2 flinstone chewables..2 rite ade brand calcium citrate and 2 rite aid multi vitamin they have the same exact ingrediates as those top dollar brands just cost alot less. All of my blood work has come back fine being on those. And I Do agree you need calcium citrate..very important. B12 I dont know I get shots.

I have Dr. Averbach also and was told the same about the chewable vitamin.  I have been using the Centrum Chewable and found the B12 sublingual.  I was taking the B12 dots like Aaron but thought I would switch it up and try something different.  As for the calcium, I haven't taken any extra in quite a while.  Will see what he has to say about that when I go the end of the month.  I buy the vitamins at Walmart.

In almost 4 1/2 years I've used 2 flintstone chewables daily, except for when I've had to stop all vitamins/supplements prior to a medical procedure.   My doctor said tums for the calcium which everyone will jump all over because that is carbonate not citrate, but each doctor has his own ideas.   I periodically take a b-complex and a b-12 pill but to be honest I have never had a problem with energy so to me the b-12 is not needed.

Best wishes as your wls journey continues.

Hugs, Mo

I been there done them all! Liquid vitamins - Chewable Bariatric Vitamins - Currently using flintstone gummies two a day- switching to another chewable - nutritionist told me not use the flintstones.  I used Tum's 750 mg -two a day for awhile- now am switching to citradel petites easier to swallow.  Hope all this info you have received is helpful. Nice to hear from the ones that have been more than 2years out say they made out ok with a variety.

Terri