Who supplies you vitamins and calcium?

I get mine at Lake Orion Health Foods. He's a local guy and has deal with Country Life. I use the adult chewable multis because they are chelated. That's what Schuhknecht and Wood gave me when I was cut.

I know some of you take Centrum. Are they chelated? How are you feeling with them?
kp

I take Intramax (http://www.ghchealth.com/liquid-vitamin-mineral-intramax.php) and have for a couple of years.  They are chelated and I think that is an important factor when you are looking for a vitamin.  It's a liquid and tastes pretty good, altho a bit pricey it's worth it to me cuz my body doesn't react to chemically based products.. most bodies don't know what to do with *fake* (chemically made) minerals and vitamins.

I'm not knocking what anyone takes, I just know what works for me.

I take prescribed pre-natals from my PCP.  I took them for years before my surgery and continued with them afterwards, but switched to chewables.   I haven't had any issues with bloodwork, so I'm assuming they are fine.

Ok I am going to show my ignorance.  How do I tell if my vitamins are chelated?  Exactly what is chelation?  Why is this so important. 
Now back to the original question.  I take One A Day vitamins for women.  The surgeon and nut didn't make a recommendation.  So is this ok.  Also take 1,000 i.u. of vitamin D as the blood work showed I am low.  Will find out next week how my vitamin situation is doing since surgery. 
Thanks in advance for any recommendations. 

Chelation is when they attach the vitamin to a mineral so you can absorb more of the vitamin. Certain parts of your intestine will not absorb some vitamins. When they are chelated you get the part you would normally lose because it is in a form your body will recognize.
I put a post up a month ago or so that showed where you absorb what.
Some take Flintstones which are better than nothing but you pee out most of it.
Look on the label and see if is says Magnesium Sulfate as Chelate or something else as chelate.
If not then they are plain vitamins.
kp

I'm surprised the nutritionist at MMPC didn't talk to you about vitamins......it's on all the paperwork I got from them. Either prescription prenatals or Flintstone's Complete are what they recommend. Check your paperwork.

I take Flintstones chewable!

Hey KP - I tried that Country Life brand you recommended.  I liked how it looked on paper and needed something that had a good reputation.  But that stuff is gross!  I literally had the dry heaves for 3 hours after chewing one of those.

So my second choice was Centrum.  I do the adult chewables.  I'm 9  months out and so far my labs have been good.  In fact, my iron is increasing with just the multi --- no extra iron supplement needed here.  I also feel it's very important that our supplements are USP approved.  And in the tests that have been conducted by Consumer Reports, Centrum always ranks at the top of the list for truth in labeling, absorbability, bioavailablity, etc.  So I trust the brand. 

As for calcium.  I use a variety of types because I get bored easily.  I definitely use calcium citrate like we all should be.  Here's the brands I use:

UpCalD -- www.colonialmedical.com -- since finding out this product is being mislabeled and is actually elemental calcium, not pure calcium salts I'm not using this as much as I used to.  So when this jar is gone, I probably won't reorder.

Bariatric Advantage Wild Cherry Lozenges -- directly from the BA website for cheapest shipping -- I've tried the chocolate and mint and don't like either.  It's cherry for me!

Citracal Creamy Bites -- discontinued --- I still have a small stash of these left and use them sparingly.  However, BA is picking up the brand and will be manufacturing them for release in the fall.

I'm kind of a fanatic about my vitamins being chewable rather than actual pills.  I want the digestive process to begin before it leaves my mouth.  I don't trust my shortened digestive tract and lack of gastric acid to deal with solid pills properly.  Who knows if there's science behind those thoughts... but it gives me peace of mind to do chewables.

Pam

It took me three or four to get used to it too but it was way better than the liquid I tried before.

kp

Pam, you don't know how happy you made me - - I'm so glad to hear that the Citracal Creamy Bites are coming back.  I loved them and I also am hoarding a small supply.  When I found out they had been discontinued I drove all around and bought up all I could find - - now I'm finally running out.  Whew!