vitamins??????????

What brand of vitiamins& Caltrate plus iron does anyone recommend? The highest mg of the Caltrate plus I was able to find was 600. I bought Centrum chewable multivitamins. Should I start taking them before surgery? I see Dr. Pohl on the 31st of July when hopefully I'll get my surgery date. Thanks, Judy

I wouldn't recommend Caltrate at all. Despite the misleading name, Caltate is calcium carbonate, not calcium citrate. Calcium citrate is the better form of calcium, easier for our bodies to absorb. We have a harder time absorbing calcium carbonate and that can result in kidney stones - or is it gallstones? I get those two mixed up! I get my calcium citrate from www.vitalady.com. Calcium citrate is pricier than the carbonate, but I can buy in bulk there at a good price. My capsules are 500 mg each and I find the capsules much easier to swallow than the large Citracal caplets. The calcium I buy includes vitamin D and magnesium. You shouldn't take calcium at the same time as iron, as one impedes the absorption of the other. The rule of thumb for iron is to take it alone or with vitamin C only and to allow an hour at least before taking anything else. I believe I asked your vitamin question at my pre-admission appointment and was told that if I hadn't been taking vitamins regularly not to start before surgery. I don't recall a reason, if I was given one. Dr. Pohl should be able to help you with that one!