new vitamin

my doctor started recommending Bariatric Fusion to his patients.  what is everyone else taking? Suzie

Suzie:
Vitamins & supplements go on labs
You will probably hear MANY different responses because each bariatric program has different guidelines, as well vit/minerals postop are individual based on a persons response to surgery and their pre-existing needs as well. This is why follow-up and labs are crucial...

Most need at least a Centrum type complete multivitamin, Calcium in the form of citrate for Rnyers to best absorb amount depends on labs/dexascan/comorbid conditions, and Sublingual B12. With that said some need more supplements like;
VIT A, D, E, K, ZINC, SELENIUM, COPPER, IRON *USUALLY FEROUS GLUCONATE OR FERROUS FUMARATE OR POLYSACCHARIDE IRON, IRON CHELTE OR CARBONYL IRON, KEEP FROM FERROUS SULFATE IT CAN BE MOST HARSH ON POUCH AND NOT AS READILY ABSORBED. (oops sorry cap loc****xtra magnesium, thiamin (B1), B6, folate, potassium etc.
Preop have your levels been drawn? They are finding many Morbidly obese deficient preop now interestingly in things like Vit D especially.

TYPICAL LABS every 3-6-12 months postop depending on needs at least yearly for life after RNY!

IMHO FWIW there is no need to buy expensive vitamins UNLESS You find you do not absorb others, there is no 'bariatric vitamin' there can not be because we all respond differently to a bypass, yes we know certain typical deficiencies happen but our labs all differ slightly to greatly, so no manufacturer can formulate one for all patients, so save the cash do your on research on what works best for your body and pocketbook! Beware of gimmicks or providers pushing a product for they MAY be getting financial incentives to do so also....

http://www.bariatricfusion.com/products.html$24.99 a month pre S&H!

http://www.bariatricfusion.com/NutritionalFacts.html

vs

http://www.centrum.com/product_detail.aspx?productid=CENTRUM &panel=tablets

So for me as far as using a "bariatricvitamin or other high profile/ESPEN$iVE VITAMIN" that is a choice but IMHO not necessary to pay for a name! There is NO way to make a bariatric vitamin because an INDIVIDUAL’S needs cannot be determined and labs for life are needed to f/up. We are not one size fits all so anyone who says take this and that is all you need is perhaps not totally correct.

For 5 yrs this was my regimen...

I buy a bottle of 300 multis (Centrum like Wal-Mart brand about $10 for a years worth! I need only 1 a day!) My iron is 300mg I do 1 day (ferrous gluconate) 100 tabs $6 Wal-Mart, upcalD 227 servings *added after plastics didn't need extra iron prior*

http://www.colonialmedical.com/product.php?productid=20018&cat=526&page=2 $13.95 each + S&H lasts almost 4 months as I use 2 servings a day or citrical 180 tabs 500mg each for $9, 4 tabs = 2 doses day lasts me 45 days, vit C 500mg 500 tabs (lasts 1.5 yrs as I do one a day is $5!), b12 sublingual $6 bottle of 60 doses again Wal-Mart’s spring valley brand. Those are MY vits on my labs that I get q6 months.  Multi less than $1/monthB12 $3/monthCalcium *I do a combo:UpcalD 2 doses a day (1,000mg total)+60 doses=1/4 can= $4/monthCitrical 4 pills a day (1,00mg total)=120 tabs=(~ 2 bottles for 3 months)=$6/moIron 1 tab day=30 month (3+mo in bottle)=$2/monthVit C 500mg tabs 1 day=30 month=30 cents or so/mo!!!______________________________________

$16.30 /mo in vits x 12 months= $195.60 yearly

Now I am on VIt D (this happened at 5 yrs out, bought 1 bottle 100 ct Vit D 50,000 IU from Vitalady at $23 bottle will last me 100 weeks or 2 years as I do one dose WEEKLY so can add and extra $12 to my now yearly vit total of $206.60

Much cheaper than a bariatric vit at $288 FOR just THE MULTIVIT, still would need extra B12, Iron, Calcium and Vit D on top of this! For me needs change over time and so does my regimen, my centrum multis are a good base to start from! Early on it was chewable flinstones complete....

happy decision making to you! :-)
Jamie

 

The surgeon who did my surgery is the doctor who developed this new line of vitamins.   They had been in the works for quiet a while now.   My daughter and I bought them as soon as they came out.  They have all the "right" stuff that we as bariatric patients are suppose to have.   The taste of the Berry flavored ones are a little bit nasty but if you just drink some water as soon as you chew them you can get them down.   I go to his office to buy them but I see you can order them on line also.  I have not tried the orange cream flavored ones yet.    Sally