Okay, let's talk about vitamins

So here is what I would like to know. What exactly do you take. A regular multi vitamin. Also ADEK. And Calcium and Iron and and and..... Can you all set me straight please? Thanks. Jo

Hey Jo, With Dr. Anthone we are starting out taking Flintstones Complete childrens chewables.  At some point after surgery you are switched to pre-natal vitamins for the rest of your life.  Even the men have to take pre-natal vitamins.  That is the only thing I am aware of for sure.  Additionally the wife and I am sure I will have to as well is chewing a TUMS with calcium.  I think that is it however, I do not remember completely. Robb

Hi Jo, I take the following: 2 Centrum Silver (1 morning, 1 evening) 6 Calcium Citrate (total 1500 gm - 2 tablets 3 x's a day) 1  Zinc  (50 mg)                  1 Vit, C  (500 mg) 1 B Complex-50 3 Dry A&D (A-10,000 IU each  &  D-400 IU  each) Since I am post menopausal my surgeon doesn't want me to take Iron on a continual basis.  He says to take Iron and B-12, 2 weeks at a time, 4 times a year.   When I have my 1 year labs done he may make some changes but until then he says to just keep doing what I am doing.  (He just reviewed my 6 mo labs and said all was well.)  Faye

I take 3 ADEK Multi's a day (morning, noon and evening meals) 1600 Calcium Citrate (800 am and 800 pm) and an Iron Tablet at lunch. I also take Potasium supplements since surgery, but I don't think most DS'ers have a need for that.  Charlie

Jo, If you'll be using Dr S.'s nutritionists at Bayview they will want you to be taking: (daily) 1 multi-vitamin (i was using chewable centrum but then found out that CVS makes a generic that has same vitamin levels but just tastes a little different for much cheaper) 2 ADEKS (i take 1AM/1PM) 1200-1500 calcium citrate per day. They want the "+D" ones. (remember to read the label to see how many pills are in a serving to get the right dosage)  I was using the citrical caplets from Walmart but again found CVS generic for cheaper. So i take 2 pills to get a 630 mg dose twice daily for a total of 1260. Iron - On this they're flexible as long as you're getting 65mg elemental iron daily...but the regular iron binds  me up so i take Vitron-C form of Iron. It is ferrous fumerate and has 66mg elemental iron per pill.   I take my iron pill as soon as i wake up because you have to take it 1-2 hrs before or after a meal for best absorption.  i also take 1 5000mg pill of Biotin. (not sure if it helps my hair but my nails are growing like weeds). ~~K

Thanks everyone, I really appreciate the input. Jo

This is what I take: 3 centrum silver (generic version) and 4 iron (18mg ea) in AM 3 citracal petites (600mg total) 3x a day with 4 Twinlab Allergy A&D (A=40,000IU, D=1,600IU total) 3x a day I also eat a banana every day since my potassium was low and I'm taking a lot of D and soaking up the sun daily since my D was low. I take a good amount of iron because that was low too. I'll reevaluate everything in 3 months at my next set of labs.

Jo, What everyone takes is going to be different since they are adjusted to our labs.  Here is what I am on right now: 1 Rx Prenatal 1 Biotin (to help with hair and nails) 1 Dry vitamin A  (waiting for this in the mail) 1 or 2 Dry Vitamin D (waiting for this in the mail) 3 - 4 Calcium Citrate w/ D spaced throughout the day (Note we can not absorb some of the forms of calcium so it is very important to check which type you are taking) I am just 8 months out and will have my labs done again in August, then see what I need to adjust. For the first few weeks many of us are just on flinstones chewables then progress to the regular vitamins. Good luck!

As a pt of Dr. Schweitzer, that's it.  They give you a list of approved brands, mgs needed, etc and better still, where to get them!  I'm in it for the convenience so I'm planning on taking the Bariatric Advantage which has the ADEKs right in the multi-vite (chewable), the BA iron (also chewable) but NOT the BA calcium -- while chewable I can't stand the so-called flavors so I'm going to try the liquid tropical oasis.  I think the nut said to be careful of children's chewables as some don't have enough K (even if you're taking ADEKs) and other things that DSers need.  I take Flintstones now but plan to "switch" to the other once I'm switched!  I'll bring my packet of info to the support group meeting and show you what I got (and what you'll get when meet with Ashli or her partner).  HUGS!  Nancy

Nancy, thank you so much. As a matter of fact I got the liquid tropical oasis liquid multi vitamin and it is pretty good, and I think I will us their liquid calcium as well. I will check out thebotl of tropical plus and see if the ADEKs are in there. Looking forward to see you on the 12. Hugs to you too. Jo