Vitamins

Sorry to those that have posted this stuff a thousand times -- but I'm wondering about vitamins. I'm 2 weeks out (can't believe it's already 2 weeks, seems like a lifetime) and my doc said he wants me on chelated vitamins.  I went to GNC, they didn't have chelated chewables, but they sold some liquid vitamins.  The first day I wondered if I'd be able to take them again and on the second day I knew that route WAS NOT going to happen.  So I'm back to the Flintstone thing, but knowing I've got to get other stuff.   2 questions, are any of you able to swallow a normal multi-vitamin (they seem awfully big for our pouches/stoma)?   What options do I have -- is there a chewable that is chelated?  I googled, but it comes up so garbled I really couldn't make sense of what I saw.  If there is a chewable do you get it online or at a local store.  I've got GNC and Vitamin World locally, but can make trips to metro Detroit for other vitamin stores. Thanks --Sax

I have been taking Optisource (brand name) Bariatric Multi-Vitamins in chewables.  They are available online at www.walgreens.com OR in the Walgreens store near the pharmacy department.  White and green bottle.  Perhaps a pharamcy tech can assist you in locating them. Taste a bit like orange tang.  I take 4 of them per day per my WLS surgeon.   So far my labs have all been great. As far as chelated, I'm not sure where to find those. Good luck in your search!

Country Life has an Adult Chewable Multivitamin (tastes like the little orange baby asprin) that my doctor recommended and it is chelated.  I am not sure where you are located, but if you go to their website: country-life.com there is an option at the bottom to locate a store that carries it in your area. Good Luck! Mary

At my 3 month visit the Dr told me to take centrum regular multivites and we can swallow them no problem but you might want to wait... not sure if now is the right time for you. but good luck

I am over 3 years post op, and have taken the Flintstones chewable 2 times a day since that time, and have not had any deficiency problems, so if that helps.  I will take Flintstones for the rest of my life, so if they work for you, then it is not a problem.  At some point you will be able to swallow a normal vitamin tablet.   Carol

There is a vitamin called ADEK by Scandifarm.  It comes in both chewable form and pill form.  It is designed specifically for gastric bypass patients.  However, I think it's only available online.  Now I think if you went to your local pharmacist they may be able to order the vitamins for you so that you didn't have to order them online. 

I am two weeks out too and take the optisource, but I was only taking one daily. I am now wondering if I should be taking 4 ? I see Dr. tomorrow and will ask.

Flinstones are garbage.  Centrum has a chewable vitamin (available at most stores) and it works great for me.  I don't even remember to take it every day and all my blood work comes back fine. As a matter of fact we were suspicious of my nutritional levels a few weeks back due to exhaustion (turns out i have mono!) and they took TEN vials of blood and ran it through all the nutrient tests and everything was fine. I also suggest a B-12 sublingual and once you can swallow capsules (give it a few months) a B-50.   Oh and calcium.  there's a calcium citrate chocolate chewy thing. I forget what it's called but they're pretty good. I drink a lot of milk and have never had a calcium problem.  I'm lucky i guess but i had only 80cm bypassed so i must still absorb a lot of nutrients from my food directly.

Jay what is b-50?   I've never heard of it.   Mono is hard to get out of your system,  take extra good care of yourself and don't overdo it.    Linda

B-50 and B-100 are multi b complexes.  they have all the different b's in em.  i'm trying with the mono but it's so hard to "take it easy" when our wedding is a week and a half away, four hours from here and WE'RE the ones throwing it.  Every little freaking detail is making me miserable.  I am STILL working on the music as i'm doing it myself with my computer and a P.A. system and Mel and i are very very picky about music.