Multivitamin Info -- Detailed info on Flintstones, Optisource, and Centrum EDITED

 And you are only looking at chewables or bariatric vitamins?
I'm pretty happy with Nutrilite's Double X. (Amway/Quixtar) In fact I took those vitamins when I was pregnant because they're all natural and no pesticides, etc. The doc said it was fine just to take it twice a day instead of three to keep the Vitamin A down.

let me know if you want the numbers and I can find them and post 'em.

Haven't had surgery but have been diagnosed with diabetes and when I take these vitamins my sugars are better controlled and I don't feel so naseous all the time...

Thanks for the info.
I would caution wikipedia as an excellent source because it's a wiki and people can edit it. Most any people. So the peeps writing it can be wrong. 

Worrying about malabsorbtion and deficiencies is one of the reasons I've not decided if I want to have the surgery or not. But there is such a wealth of info on these boards! :)
Thanks,

Hi i have surgery oct 7 th and i pretty much take exaclty what you take natures plus is digusting but im getting use to it,i take 1 chewable calcium 2x a day,liquid d3 and liquid b12 and chewable iron w/vit c...if that doent look good and i need more, let me know.cathy

Great job Andrea.  And, let's not forget my personal favorite:  THIAMINE.
this is also known as Vit B1
Please make sure that you are taking a B1 supplement.  There are many case studies resulting from post ops being Thiamine deficient within 90 days of surgery and developing a life threatening condition - Werneke-Korsakoff syndrome.  Do a google search. 
Thiamine deficiency can cause neurologic damage that can be reversed if caught early on, but can also result in life long neuro. damage.

Research, research and research more.  There's way too much we don't know yet.

Cindy

Hey thats one of my favorites too!!!! Umm yeah not really. I have been trying to get that info out there since it almost killed me. Take my word for it, the life long nuero damage is so much fun!!! And just when I thought I was out of the woods it has decided that it wants to remind me that it is a constant battle.

Wow Tanya, sorry to hear about your thiamine problem.  How far post op did you develop the symptoms, and then how long did it take before you were diagnosed?  (If you don't mind)
Thanks,
Cindy

I dont mind..if my story saves or helps even 1 person I will tell it over and over again. I started getting symptoms probably about 3.5 yrs post op, but they were suttle. Then a little before my 4 yr mark ( a few months before) is when it smacked me down..literaly. From what I have been told, cause I dont remember much about my hospitalization (well exept for the crazy mariachi men trying to kill me.. hey did you know that lack of B1 and B12 can cause mental changes? thats a polite way of saying "makes you go crazy") anyways..I have been told that the doc's in the hospital didnt know what was wrong with me.. at first they of course "knew" that I was dying.. but didnt know why. Once I was stabalized and they ran a LOT of tests. Just FYI it really isnt smart to put someone with hallucinations in a MRI..that **** was scary. I had that and CAT scans and spinal taps and god knows what else. My sister by the way was pushing them to call my surgeon and after a while they finally did. He knew right away what it was and treatment was started. In total I spent a total of 3-4 months in the hospital and a physical rehab facility. I was sent home still in a wheelchair. I can now walk on my own, just a little funny and not too far. Memory is still shot though. Unfortunatly it seems that my thiamine problem is rearing its ugly little head again, even with shots. So trying to get it before it gets bad again.

Tanya, thanks for sharing your story.  As you said, if it helps just one person.
I would like to add, that since we now absorb alcohol in a more pure form (due to the absorption in the jejunum and no chemical changes to the alcohol in the stomach), thiamine is depleted by alcohol and even moderate drinking will put you at risk.  Same goes for pancreatitis, there is another post about pancreatitis tonight.
Cindy

Tanya, thanks for sharing your story.  I'm so sorry you are experiencing B vit deficiency, of all deficiencies, I am most afraid of B-1, B-6 and B-12.    I've seen how it affects peoples lives and I will fight all I can not to get there.

I wish you the best on getting this situation under control.

I would just like to add that many vitamins go hand in hand for optimal levels, storage and usage.  Example....vitamin C is a big helper vitamin to others regarding absorption.  Vitamin D helps with the calcium.  The B vitamins are known for contributing to  the metabolism of certain foods, for circulation, cardiac health......the education is endless and difficult to keep up with.  The reality is, most info out there does not factor in the malabsorption issue either.  We kinda have to do that on our own by piecing info together to create a good clear picture.

Andrea.....excellent info and thanks for sharing.  NO ONE has to have a 4 year college degree to read labels, go to the library research some nutritional books, research and info is also available online......one just has to be proactive and not believe that any doctor, any nutritionist knows all when it comes to Nutrition.  It is called continuing education credits......all health professionals should be taking them, as the learning never ever ends.  Sadly, unless the state your licensed in or the hospital that you have priviledges at requires you to get them, they are generally not gotten.

Andrea hit the nail on the head.....most doctors DO NOT take the time to really look over our labs.....a quick breeze over, the only thing that is catching their attention is the highlighted or bold typed abnormal results.  How many people can say that they have seen their surgeons really look over the lab results and then compare them side by side to previous levels to see if there are levels that may be slowly dropping?   And rather than wait until the "little something" now, becomes a great big something later......make suggestions to head off the problem???

I for one would certainly like to prevent osteoporosis, pernicious anemia and many other preventable problems directly related to viatmin and mineral deficiency  instead of treat them.

Because of our rerouted plumbing and malabsorption....we should be at the high end of normal if not a bit above normal in many many levels.

Be your own advocate......research....seek knowledge, knowledge is power. 

Missy

Id just like to add that even with yearly labs, like most do once you are a little further out, problems can sneak up and really bite you in the ass. I get my labs done frequently since I have had so many vitamins issues and yet it is suspected that I am dropping in my levels again. My last appointment my levels were great (finally) and that was only a few months ago. So it really does not take long once you have used up what your body has stored.