Vitamin Regimen

Hi you guys!

I as well haven't been the most wonderful about taking my vitamins.  I have gotten back on a multi-vitamin within the last two weeks.  However,  I am curious at what everyone's vitamin regimen is that they do.  Looking forward to see what everyone takes :)

Here's mine Jamie


My labs dictate what I take and how much, I'm one of those I guess required to take allot.

2 Centruim Multi-vitamins
6 calcium citrate  w/Vit D and Magnesium (3000 mg calcium citrate)
Iron (Polysaccharide-150mg Elemental)
B-12 sublingual (1000 mcg)
2 Super B Complex
1 Magnesium Citrate (140 mg elemental)
2 Chewable Vitamin C (1000 mg)
1 Vitamin A (25000 iu)
4 Vitamin D3 (total 20000 iu)
1 Potassium
2 Vitamin E (800 iu)
1 Folic Acid
1 Zinc (Chelated 50 mg)

dana I just responded to Shyan pls read  and respond

My Vitamin Regimen:

B Complex sublingual (1.7 mg riboflavin, 20 mg niacin, 2 mg B6, 1200 mcg B12, 30 mg pantothenic acid)
1/2 multivitamin
400 mg calcium citrate w/400 IU vitamin D
2000 IU vitamin dry D

1/2 multivitamin
400 mg calcium citrate w/400 IU vitamin D
2000 IU vitamin dry D

1/2 multivitamin
400 mg calcium citrate w/400 IU vitamin D
2000 IU vitamin dry D

1/2 multivitamin
400 mg calcium citrate w/400 IU vitamin D
2000 IU vitamin dry D

1/2 multivitamin
400 mg calcium citrate w/400 IU vitamin D
2000 IU vitamin dry D

130 mg iron
1000 mg vitamin C

I wait at least 2 hours in between each dosing.  I also have a bit of OCD and that's why I only take a half of a multivitamin at a time.  I keep my daily vitamins in one of those 7 day pill containers.  This makes each container have an equal number of pill in it, except the one with my iron and vitamin C and Tylenol.  It's a sickness, I know. 

After RNY, B12 MUST be taken in injection, sublingual, or nasal inhalant form.  It requires binding to an enzyme called intrinsic factor (IF) in order to be absorbed.  IF is secreted in the part of the stomach that was bypassed.  Therefore it is inaccessible to the RNY patient.

DO NOT take calcium and iron within 2 hours of each other.  They are both absorbed using the same cellular receptor sites.  The receptor sites like calcium better, therefore the calcium will be absorbed and the iron will be excreted in the feces.

DO NOT eat or drink any of the following within 2 hours of taking iron: dairy, eggs, fiber, tea, coffee, red wine, grapes, or spinach.  They each contain substances that bind with the iron.  The iron will then be excreted in the feces.

DO take vitamin C with iron.  It enhances the absorption of iron.  If iron upsets you pouch, take it with a meat snack.  This will buffer the pouch and and enhance the absorption of the iron.

Calcium should be taken in divided doses NOT to exceed 500 mg at a time.  The body just cannot absorb more than that at a time. 

Calcium CARBONATE is not readily absorbed by ANYONE, no matter their WLS status.  As someone who has had WLS, we really should be taking calcium CITRATE.  It is better absorbed.

ok so till this weekend (reading all the posts on vits) I was feeling ok with mine - however I do have a new doc who not only will run labs when I beg (last doc) but insits on doing them every 4 months till he is sure all is well and then every 6 months after that with things under concern done more often - going in to check b12 next month after adding sublquals to my shots

so questions
where do you get the b complex subliqual?
can I buy the iron from the store or must I order it ?
dry D ? please explain the why and where to get it

currently I take 2 prenates a day, 2-4 cal**** and b12 subliquals - I am not animic but from something I read the other day I am not sure that the correct iron was run on me

I am throwing myself on your and dana's mercy - tell me what to do b/c I have to have my brain workign and I can tell with stressful times (like NOW) that I am lacking in something  - as soon as I get over stressed I start with varouse pains that have no physical method of injury - ie the joints in tops of my feet feel like they are pulled all around in a ball and hurt when I walk or even just sit -

ok that is where I am - help please
danni

where do you get the b complex subliqual?

I buy mine from Walmart or the grocery store.  It is Spring Valley brand.

can I buy the iron from the store or must I order it ?

I buy my iron from Walmart or the grocery store.  There are several different formulas available ~ ferrous sulfate, ferrous gluconate.  Get the ones that are 65 mg of elemental iron.  If you are still mentruating, I would take at least 2, maybe even 3.  Take each one with 500 mg of vitamin C.

dry D ? please explain the why and where to get it

Vitamin D is fat soluble.  That means it MUST be in an oil base before it can be absorbed.  We malabsorb fats, therefore we will malabsorb the fat soluble vitamins ~ A, D, E, and K.  Dry D is specially formulated so that it can be absorbed in water.  Once again, I buy mine at Walmart or the grocery store.  Just make sure that it is a tablet (dry) rather than a gel cap (oil).

As far as the calcium, you should be taking 1500-2000 mg/day.

The iron labs you need drawn are:

Serum iron ~ how much iron is circulating in your blood
Ferritin ~ how much iron is stored in the mucosal lining of your GI tract
TIBC ~ total iron binding capacity ~ how much of the special protein that carries the iron around in your blood

Hope this helps, Danni.

where do you get the b complex subliqual?  I use Nature's Bounty or whatever Kroger's or CVS usually has on sale, buy one get one free or 1/2 price.  I do buy the Super B Complex or High Potentency B Complex
can I buy the iron from the store or must I order it ?  Danni, I usually get my iron from Vitalady, but it isn't absolutely necessary if you find something else that works well.  I know a few post-ops that take Vitron C and have excellent results from it.  Here is some iron info to read 
http://dietary-supplements.info.nih.gov/factsheets/iron.asp# h8

Instead of trying to explain vitamin D because I'm sure I'll not speak everything correctly as to my understanding here is the Vitamin D Council site.  Vitamin D deficiency is becoming more prevalent in society as a whole not just WLS patients.  http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/

Oops sorry I didn't go into detail on dry Vit D, Sharyn elaborated on the dry and why for us.

Check out Bariatric Advantage Sublingual Iron.  A 90 day supply is $21.95 and it tastes so good.  It is Orange Chocolate.  That is where my nutritionist advised me to buy my supplements. 

In the morning:

MultiVitamin
Calcium Citrate with added Vitamin D
Fiber
Sublingual Vitamin B12

In the evening:
Potasium
Zinc
Niacin
Iron

Other than the Niacin and Zinc, which I added in the last year, this is the regime I have been on since my surgery.

There have been a couple of time when I haven't been able to afford my vitamins and I really noticed the difference. So now, I make sure I purchase my vitamins before anything else. I have come to understand that this is the MOST important piece of our aftercare. DO NOT MESS WITH YOUR VITAMINS. You don't have to spend a fortune. I get all mine at Walmart.