Dear Flabby....

Same person I wasn't sure how to spell her name. Now that you know for sure that you're insurance won't cover the prescription (you did try to get it filled right?) ask your pharmacist if there is something similar that your insurance will cover. Then either you or your pharmacist can call and ask to have the prescription changed. You win both ways ~your insurance covers the new medicine, and you get the medicine that's right for you to get your levels up to where they should be instead of lingering on the low side. Kevin is good and he knows his stuff but he doesn't have a degree in medicine, therefore he really shouldn't be taking the place of a doctor. Take care. God bless, Annette

I already asked for a substitue, and the ones listed are not covered by my insurance.....which is Medicare Part D.

IU stands for International Unit, so it should be the same thing. Best wishes!

The program at Henry Ford recommends 2 (TWO) Flintstone vitamins a day. If you want to alter that, than I would recommend that you ask your primary care physician what he would recommend. Flintstones are cheap and easy to chew. I am not sure why you would want to change. If you use the off brand, you can get over a 3 month supply for under $10.00. You can get Vitamin D over the counter. I would strongly discourage getting your medical advice anywhere else but your physician.

At my three month check I told them I wanted to change to an adult chewable - the one that Kevin recommends, and they had no problem with it. Actually, it had a larger percentage of vitamins than the Flintstones. The P.A. want me to take Drisdol, 50,000 units once a week. None of the over-the-counter ones (Vitamin D) have any more than 1000.

I use those for the chelated aspect. They've done well with me. The D vites at that level is mega dosing. You'll just **** most of that out. The OTC stuff would be better than nothing. Double'm up if you have to. kp

Thanks Kevin. My Vitamin was at 21, but she wanted to get it up to 30, so that's why the high dose.

If we checked the vitamin D levels on everybody in Michigan, they would ALL have a low level of Vitamin D. That is typical of our state in the winter, secondary to the short days in the winter. This is not exclusive to WLS patients. Get outside and exercise during the day and get more sunliight, this will help, but not cure.

Rhonda I don't know if you (or anyone you know) has a Sam's Club membership, but they sell a pretty big bottle of Vitamin D for like $5. For the life of me I don't remember the amount of Vit D per pill (or quantity in the bottle), but I work tomorrow and if you would like I will look more closely at them for you. Also worst case scenario I can pick them up for you if they are the best price you have found. I am just at 18 mile and Ryan and my parents both live off of 22 mile near Schoenherr so I am sure we could meet up for the exchange. I TOTALLY understand your dilema of $ being the issue for the reason you are not filling the perscription! I agree with KP that at such a high dosing perscribed, you will just urinate out what you don't absorb, so maybe ask your local pharmacist if a daily OTC vitamin will do the same or better job than your mega dose perscription. Let me know if you want that info, I will write it down either way tomorrow and post it or message you if you want. Jennifer

Jennifer: I have a Sam's Club Membership, so I will check it out. I got calcium liquid gels there, so I wll check the Vitamin D. Thanks for the info!