vitamins & supplements

OK ladies, Let's talk vitamins & supplements. What are you taking? How do you take it? Where do you get it? As of right now, I am taking children's chewable vitamins twice a day; calcium citrate pill 500mg four times a day; prescription Zinc and Iron pills with vitamin C tabs. I am shopping around for the chewable vitamins I will need post-op, as well as the protein supplement. Come on let's chat.

I'm still taking my women's one a day until surgery. But after surgery, I've bought some children's chewables (2 x day), calcium citrate (500mg x 3 with vit D, magnesium, and zinc), iron (1/2 of a 65mg pill) and B12 (1000 mcg). I got all these at Costco. I couldn't find a smaller B12, my surgeon recommends 100-300 mcg per day, so I'm asking at the pre-op if I should just take one every 3-7 days since they are slow releasing pills. And also because they've told me 30mg of Iron a day if I can just 1/2 the 65mg pill I've bought. Did you buy chewable calcium citrate? I've got the pills, plan on crushing them adding them to yogart or SF pudding or something. Hope that doesn't taste too weird.

Hello. just want to weight in on this topic. I have done lots of research on this and I would like to share it with you. You can email me and I will send it to you. First like you, I started taking the B-12 time released. Here is part of an article I read: "In order to absorb vitamin B 12, a person needs the "intrinsic factor" in their stomach. This factor is made in the stomach, but if a person has part or all of their stomach removed, their ability to make intrinsic factor is reduced or eliminated. Basically, the intrinsic factor allows your body to absorb vitamin B 12 and without it, even if you eat foods rich in vitamin B 12, you can still develop a deficiency. But what I found out is that because of the RNY they do not stay in our system long enough to release. Buy the B-12 Dots, 500mcg place under your tongue and let disolve. It gets it right into your blood stream. You b-12 count should be between 800-1000 on your lab work. B-12 defiency can cause neurological damage long term so please be sure you are informed. The norm's in your lab work are for people who have a 'normal' stomach. The first labs came back with a 392, the last one came back at 590 in a months time. I do not want to take the shot so this works for me. _ Sorry if I gave TMI but I am really concerned about my intake of vit and Minerals. Lynn

Lynn, Where do you get the B12 dots?

Wally World... or Vitamin Cottage that I know of!!! GNC has ones that are 1000 mcg that are cherry flavored and honestly taste good... lol Krissy

I was told after surgery not to take pills. I have to have liquid, chewable, or crush them. For calcium I am going to get UpCal-D (dietitian recommends) It is a powder you can get in single doses. You can put it on or in anything. It comes in 4 different flavors; chocolate, strawberry sorbet, chicken broth, and unflavored. It runs about $16 for a 30 day supply. I figure it is worth a try. Are you going to do the protein as well?

Ya know what girl... I honestly... SWEAR BY the Bariatric Advantage Vitamins.. .they taste good and all of them are chewable or dissolvable. If i buy it in a 3 month supply it comes out to be 45 dollars a month... Multivitamin (orange chewable), Calcium (cinnamon lozenge), Iron (strawberry chewable), B-12 (Berry sublingual), and Thiamin and a B Complex... which are capsules... which i can break open and put into applesauce or whatever (put them in a protein shake and you can't taste them). They are made for Bariatric Surgery Patients... and Work great... lol. Well Anyways... I'm off to stare at the words "approved" on the tricare website again... LOVE IT! Krissy

Too funny! You know what "I printed mine out". I have a copy of my "APPROVAL" right here on my desk. You know I think I will frame it. Yes, that sounds good, doesn't it.

I have centrum chewable for my multi vitamin. They ae orange flavored and "doable" . I have to go shopping tomorrow for my other stuff. I called my PCM and he dais I can get a shot for B12 with him, so I am pleased with that.