My Vitamin Intake and Other Info...

I purchased several seven day pill containers. I spread my vitamins out throughout the day and it works for me.

Compartment One: One Super B-Complex, Two Multivitamin, Two Calcium Citrate with D, Dry D

Compartment Two: Dry D, Prevacid Solutab

Compartment Three: Sublingual B-12, Two Calcium Citrate with D, Dry D

Compartment Four: Biotin, One Super B Complex

Compartment Five: Two Multivitamins, Calcium Citrate, Dry D

Compartment Six: Sucralfate

Compartment Seven: Two Calcium Citrate, Dry D

Here are the numbers for my vitamins....

Calcium: 2 Tablets. Amount Per Serving: Vitamin D-3 (Cholecalciferol) 400IU, Calcium (Ultradense Calcium Citrate) 400mg.

B-12: One tablet. Amount Per Serving: 500mcg

Dry D - One Tablet, 400IU

Biotin: One Tablet, Sublingual @ 1000mcg

Yep, I take ALL of these in ONE day. 

 

Here are some helpful compilations from fellow OH users….

 

Andrea U has a cool blog that deals with vitamin supplementation:

 

B1 or Thiamin

 - irreversible neuromuscular disorders

 - permanent defects in learning and short-term memory

 - coma  (aww.. this isn't so bad..)

 - death  (Nothing worth worrying about, right?)

 

B9 or Folate (Folic Acid)

 - forgetfulness

 - irritiability

 - hostility

 - paranoid behaviors

 

B12 or Cobalamine

 - neurologic sumptoms

 - numbness and tingling of extremeties

 - difficulty walking

 - memory loss

 - disorientation

 - megalobalstic anemia

 - permanent neural impairment

 - extreme delusions

 - hallucinations

 - overt psychois

+ Permanent damage can occur if treatment doesn't start soon enough!

 

Calcium

 - chronic low intake creates metabolic bone disease presenting as

  - osteoporosis

  - osteomalacia

  - hypoparathyroidism

  - combo of above

 - muscle cramping

 - hypotension

 - bone pain

 

Vitamin D

 - rachitic tetany

 - mucle pain and spasms

 - weakness

 - bone pain

 - decrease in daily calcium absorption

 - rickets (osteomalacia)

 - osteoporosis

 - concentrations in blood greater than or equal to 80nmol/L, there was a 50% reduction in colorectal cancer rates

 - concentrations in blood greater than or equal to 50nmol/L, there was a 50% reduced risk of prostate cancer

 - risk for type 1 diabetes increased dramatically in vitamin D deficient children

 - higher circulating levels of vitamin D linked to a significantly lower Multiple Schlrosis risk

 

Iron 

 - anemia

 - fatigue

 - hair loss

 - feeling cold

 - pagophagia (constant desire to eat ice -- pica)

 - decreased immune function

 

Zinc

 - decreased sense of smell

 - altered taste

 - poor wound healing

 - poor appetite

 - hair loss

 - low libido

 - lethargy

 

Vitamin A

 - problems with skin and mucous membranes

 - dry hair

 - broken nails

 - increased risk of infections

 - linked to anemia and iron absorption

 - ophthalmologic consequences such as night blindness

 

Taken from nurse Sharyn S:

 

Signs & Symptoms of Vitamin Deficiencies

 

Vitamin B1 (aka thiamine) deficiency can lead to an enlarged heart, cardiac failure, muscular weakness, poor short-term memory, confusion, and irritability.

 

Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) deficiency can lead to inflammation of the membranes of the mouth, skin, eyes, and GI tract.  

 

Vitamin B3 (niacin) deficiency can lead to diarrhea, abdominal pain, vomiting, an inflamed & swollen tongue that is bright red, depression, fatigue, loss of memory, headache, and rash on exposure of sunlight.

 

Biotin deficiency can lead to depression, drowsiness, hallucinations, numbness/tingling in the arms & legs, red, scaly rash around the eyes, nose, and mouth, and hair loss.

 

Vitamin B6 deficiency can lead to scaly dermatitis; anemia; depression, confusion, abnormal brain wave pattern, and convulsions.

 

Vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to anemia, fatigue, degeneration of the peripheral nerves with progression to paralysis. 

 

Folate deficiency can lead to anemia, mental confusion, weakness, fatigue, irritability, and headache.

 

Vitamin C deficiency can lead to scurvy ~ bleeding gums, pinpoint hemorrhages, abnormal bone growth and pain.

 

Vitamin A deficiency can lead to night blindness, softening of the cornea, corneal degeneration and blindness, and impaired immunity.

 

Vitamin D deficiency can lead to osteomalacia ~ loss of calcium, resulting in soft, flexible, brittle bones, and deformed bones; progressive weakness; pain in pelvis, lower back, and legs.  Osteomalacia can lead to osteoporosis.

 

Vitamin E deficiency can lead to red blood cell damage and liver damage.

 

Vitamin K deficiency can lead to hemorrhage.

 

Sodium deficiency can lead to muscle cramps, mental apathy, and loss of appetite.

 

Potassium deficiency can lead to muscular weakness, paralysis, and confusion.

 

Calcium deficiency can lead to osteoporosis.

 

Phosphorus can lead to muscular weakness and bone pain.

 

Magnesium deficiency can lead to weakness; confusion; convulsions, bizarre muscle movements, hallucinations, and difficulty in swallowing.

 

Iron deficiency can lead to anemia; weakness, fatigue, headaches, impaired cognitive functioning; impaired immunity; pale skin, nail beds, mucous membranes, and palm creases; concave nails; inability to regulate body temperature.

 

ETA:  The heart is a muscle, people!!!

 

I switch up my multivitamins. I've take Bariatric Advantage, Bariatric Fusion and now I'm taking Carlson's mini multi. I'm waiting for my 50,000IUs of Dry D from VitaLady. I plan on taking two/day to rev up my levels.

Look ay you paying it foward!  Mama's so proud.

((((MY BEAUTIFUL ANGEL))))

My list is primarily for RNYers, but ALL should use it as a base. Just my way of giving a gentle nudge, ya know. One of Mike's coworkers had the band done and wasn't taking any vitamins. Since I BEG for samples of anything, I had a brand new bottle of Bariatric Advantage vitamins for LapBanders that I passed along to her. 

On BAF, we get the occasional posts about deficiencies, but when you look on the main board you know that it's an everyday occurrence over there. I try to stay current with my trends and any info out there. Andrea U gives great advice and I changed my intake to mirror Sharyn S. I know life can get in the way, but getting labs done is a MUST....regardless of whatever surgery you've had done. 

I'll admit, I'm not a good pill taker-one of the top 3 reasons I went with the Band.  Most vits make me nauseous, plus they're huge and I worry about them getting stuck. I believe Centrum makes a chewable adult vit (not gummi) but I can't find it anywhere near me.

I will make it my PERSONAL mission to find you some. When I was employed  and traveling, I forgot my vitamins. I ended up at a WalMart in Arkansas and purchased the Cent Chews...pretty good.

Alright, vits down...now you wanna share your workout routine with me?  I've finally given up hope I'll ever be a runner, and I'm playing with yoga.

We might have to flip flop the angel/angelette role.

 Wow Thanks again! I need to schedule a consult with my surgeons office. To make sure what I'm taking is up to par.

Be prepared...they could take more than NINE vials of blood from you. 

Take a look at Pam T's blog. Here you will find the necessary tests and dx codes. There's also a lab tracker that you can use. You will have to join Scribd, but they won't spam you and the tool is EXTRA useful:

http://pamtremble.blogspot.com/2008/10/labwork-recommendatio ns-after-wls.html

We all need the vit reminder every now and then.  My doc has a good regimine with Building Blocks brand, but I just hate to have to order my vits.  I don't absorb OTC vits well so I need the bariatric formulas.