Vitamin confusion

Hi all,
Ok so I had surgery on 12-9 and I am taking optisource vitamins. 2 tablets morning and night.
I was told that that was all I would need, however upon reading certain things about vitamins I have learned that our bodies after gastric surgery can only absorb calcium citrate and cannot absorb calcium carbonate that is in the optisource vitamins. Is this true and should I add another calcium source? If so which one? I'm so confused now. What vitamins is everyone else taking? Also I seem to be able to eat more this week than I have been. Should I be concerned? Have I stretched my pouch? this morning I had a half an egg, and this afternoon I was able to eat an entire cup of bean soup, is that too much? It's sitting nicely but I don't know. If I am able to eat more than a few teaspoons full I get nervous LOL..
Thanks.

Pam

325/286/150ish

 

Hi Pam,

Okay, so you're about five weeks post-op, right? I think I was able to eat about a cup of soup at that point too. It goes through the pouch more easily than the egg because of the liquid that's in it. No worries, k? This is why we are told to not drink with our meals, it makes our meal pass through us more quickly. And, we get hungry more quickly. You don't have to worry about actual hunger for a few months yet. You're doing just fine. No worries. If you are really concerned, call Dr. G.

Personally, I take Calcium Citrate (Bariatric Advantage and UpCal-D) because I've heard from so many people that Citrate is better. There is a lot of controversy about whether or not Carbonate is better than Citrate. I'm 7 months out and have had two blood work done with no problems. I also have Osteoporosis so I take 1,000 IU each day to help with the absorption of Calcium.

Also, as far as Calcium is concerned, I begin taking it at least two hours after taking my two Flinstones Complete w/ Iron. Iron and Calcium work against each other for absorption. And a body can only absorb up to 500 mg of Carcium at one time so I use the UpCal-D powder throug-out the day in my Crystal Light and have one Bariatric Advantage at bedtime.

I have the following daily regiment........other people may do something different that works for them. If in doubt ask YOUR surgeon, k?

MORNINGS

1 - B12 Sublingual - for energy and nerve regeneration (and metabolism)

1 - B Complex - for energy and cell regeneration

1 - Vitamin E (400 IU) helps skin healing

1 - Chewable Vitamin C (500 mg) helps absorption of Iron

1 - Vitamin D3 (1,000 IU)

2 - Flinstone Complete Chewable Vitamins with Iron

1 - Prevacid (prescribed by my surgeon)

THROUGHOUT THE DAY

Beginning 2 hours after morning vitamins

UpCal - D - bought online at www.colonialmedicine.com (I always have samples at the Living Life Support group too)

AT BED TIME

1 - Bariatric Advantage Calcium 'wafer'

That's it. I generally like to just keep it simple. Life is too complicated for me to do anything different. As long as my blood work keeps coming back as good as it is, I'll keep this schedule.

I hope this helped!

Jules

I am still preop but I have been researching the vitamins things and I wholeheartedly believe that we need more vitamins than we tend to have recommended to us... I know in my personal exp. the nut told me I could take 2 childrens chewables and call it a day. I have a PDF of a research study with the recomended doses for vits... if you pm me your email I will be more than glad to send it to you.

Here is what it recomends as far as vits go along with some additional things I have learned are important:

Multi vitamin - choose a complete formula containg 100%  of DV for at least 2/3 of nutrients -choose a complete formula with at least 18 mg iron, 400 ug folic acid, as well as selenium and zinc in each serving.

RNY patients -2 times daily value - so if the directions say take one per day then we take 2.

(Do not take multi at the same time as iron or calcium supp)

Chewables are recommended in the beginning - if you take childrens vites they will lack some of what adults vites have - you must take 2 times an adult dose of kids vitamins... not two times a childs dose.

Calcium - Calcium citrate - not carbonate or other forms - take 2 hrs apart from iron and multi vit. choose a brand with D3 or take D3 supp with calcium - split into 500-600 mg doses we cannot absorb more than that at a time. need an additional 1500-2000mg per day.

If need to add D3 - take 1600IU

Additional elemental iron - recommended for menstruating women or one at risk for anemia. Take with vitamin c for max absorption. take 2 hrs apart from calcium and multi vit. Take  additional 18-27 mg

If need Vit C take 250 mg w/iron

B-Complex- take B-50 dosage, 1 per day

B-12 sublingual - 500 mcg or 1000 ug per day

Magnesium Citrate - 200 mg per day