Multi vitamin??

No periods here either and I'm currently seeing a hematologist and will probably get iron infusions next year. BTW I also heard that theory.

We may not need as MUCH but we still need it. For most normies, you can get sufficient iron post menopausal just from food. WE CAN NOT since we no longer absorb most vitamins esp if they are typically absorbed in the small intestines.

this nurse really doesn't understand malabsorption at all.  in a NORMAL female this generality is mostly true, but not for a dser.  I was chemically sterilized over 10 years ago, so I have not menstruated in about a decade,  and I was severly anemic 3 years ago....

you have to understand malabsorption...that means what you put in doesn't all get absorbed, even it you are not losing it as in menses, you will still not absorb about half of what you do consume....go by your blood work and how you feel...

Don't buy that for a second!

Becausw we malabsorb, we don't get enough of anything, and that is why we need such high doses of everything...including iron.

Aunt Flo was gone for good by the time I was 45, and I just had to get iron infusions last summer, because I was anemic.

It was the first time in my life I had ever been anemic, even though I had very heavy periods before menopause came callling.

Take your iron supplement and watch your labs!

 

what are your iron and ferritin levels like? The iron is what you are absorbing.  The ferritin is the stores you have available in your system.  If your levels are low pre-op, then immediately start taking iron to get the levels up before your malabsorption kicks in.  Post op, you may be able to get by without supplementing if you have high levels.

for my first four years post op (and post hysterectomy), my iron and ferritin were both fine.  Then in year five, my ferritin suddenly tanked when I wasn't really watching it.  For the past year I have been seriously supplementing with iron and have picked up my ferritin levels, but the iron absorption is still off.  

 

My recommendation - monitor your levels closely and be prepared to act if levels start to decline.  And be prepared to consider iron infusions if it turns out your system has difficulty absorbing iron, as seems to happen with many DSers.

Thank you for all the information. There is still a lot I need to learn.

Seriously, there is no "Complete" vitamin for DSers.  Designer bariatric brands will try to sell you on the idea and charge you 2 or 3 times the price, but I've yet to encounter anyone who had good labs with them.  My multi is a generic version of Centrum, and I piece together the rest after watching my labs tank on the Vita4Life multi's at the DS dosage of 12 pills a day.  I now take 14 pills piecing my own regimen together.

Hi Barbie!

My surgeon's office and dietician recommended the following regimen:

Morning:

Chewable Multivitamin+ADEK  (I'm taking Celebrate brand now, but I've also used Bariatric Advantage)

Chewable Calcium - Bariatric Advantage

Chewable CoQ10  - any brand you like

 

PM

Chewable Multivitamin+ADEK  (I'm taking Celebrate brand now, but I've also used Bariatric Advantage)

Chewable Iron - Bariatric Advantage

Chewable CoQ10  - any brand you like

Sublingual B12 - Bariatric Advantage

 

I've ordered everything through Amazon and started them a month early because I want to have all my vites up before the surgery.

I ordered Vitalady's DS package for immediate post op use, and found less expensive sources to replace components as they ran out.

Lucky Vitamin, amazon and even eBay are my go-to sources for vites.  As for the multis and the calcium citrate, I started out with "Equate", the Wal-Mart Store brand. of each. Get the regular "compare to "Centrum" label..not  the "for Women" "For Men" or "Silver" formulations. You want  Centrum Complete.  I quarter mine with a pill cutter, so the stomach acid doesn't have to mess around getting through the coating to the business part of the tablet. 

I seem to have a problem absorbing the dry Calcium, so I've switched, for the time being, to Lifetime liquid Cal/Mag.

The stuff will run you dang near $20.00 a bottle out of a health food store, so you want to go online for it.  It comes is several different flavors..including Pina Colada (not one of my favorites...not enough coconut flavor).  I like the Blueberry flavor the best.  Anyway...I'm just throwing this out here for you...hope it helps.

BTW- that regimen will probably help pre-op...but you're going to need more than that post op.  ijs.  I'll bet your surgeon sells Bariatric Advantage in his/her office, right? ;-)

 

No - my surgeon's office doesn't sell Bariatric Advantage - or any vitamins at all.  I've been kind of surprised to see how many of the bariatric offices DO carry vitamins!  I guess that is a great product tie-in for them! :)

I'm thinking that they perhaps push the standard "Bariatric Advantage Plan" because it's easier for their patients to wrap their minds around in the beginning.  But, from what I've been reading from all the vets, I think I may invest in a Vitalady pre-packaged monthly pack when the vites I have on hand are finished.  Then, I can tailor from there....