vitamin supplements.

Hey everyone, I had boot camp, final pre-op visit, and dietician visit today and preparation for my surgery on the 17th.  We talked a lot about vitamins, and I'm still using my old one-a-day and calcium citrate pills that I won't be able to take post-op.  The dietician had a few recommendations, but they're really expensive.  Anyone use any of these?  Optisource is the one I'm looking into.  They sell it online for like 26-30 dollars a month, but it has the calcium in it, so that's one less pill to take.  I've seen that a lot of people just take centrum chewables, etc.  My dad was told to take flinstones vitamins, but my dietician is adamant that those are not sufficient.  Anybody?  Thanks for any help.

You should check out Building Blocks vitamins.  Their website is www.bbvitamins.com.  They will send you samples. 

Every doc and nut is different - but here's what I'm taking: Wake up:  Synthroid 75mcg (I have a thyroid problem) One hour later:  1 centrum chewable, Pepcid 40mg (as ordered by doc for 3 mos after surgery), breakfast One hour after breakfast:  b1 (100mg tablet), b12 sublingual (1000mcg under tongue) Evening:  1 centrum chewable, 1 GNC hair and nails (biotin as reccommended by other post ops and approved by my doc to hopefully prevent hair loss) Night:  Citracal Creamy bite, 500mg calcium citrate (I was told we can't have calcium carbonate, ONLY citrate) In one week I also start taking another prescription, Urso, for prevention of gallstones.  The pepcid will be for a total of I believe 5 months, the urso I believe for 3 months. My levels will also be checked I believe at 3 months to see if things need to be changed or if I will need to start taking iron if my iron levels drop after surgery. I was also told that although the calcium can be taken with a meal, it cannot be taken within 2 hours of any other meds or supplements, which is why I choose to take it at night - it's just easier for me. Good luck! Pam

Hi Pam,   Your supplement regimen looks good!  And yes, every Dr. is so different and they all have their own way with post op compliancies.     On your next blood work up, have them add the test for your thyroid level as well.  At least make sure they have a base line level to go by. I was uncontrolled diabetic and with hormonal related issues, they may affect your levels as time progresses and the pounds start to come down more. Calcium citrate ( I take 2 tablets of 500 mg Citracal) is what I use (no carbonate) and I take it along with my multi vitamin (they can be taken together). I let them "honeymoon" on an empty tummy for at least an hour before I eat a meal. The meal I choose after calcium (to allow it to continue working for me) will be non citrus foods (like dairy, deli meat, vegetable, cheese, yogurt).  I also took Urso but for 6 months, daily B-12 sublingual, I did take biotin and now use "Dry" Vit. E formula during winter (for skin/hair).  Supplements that contain oil will not work for our "plumbing" anymore.           If it is necessary for you to start Iron, let me know. I'm sure your Dr. will tell you they absorb and work best with Vit. C and not to mix with any foods for an hr too.        Finally, don't forget to drink, drink, drink H2O! Gotta hydrate like heck!  Now that I'm typing this, I'm off for a drink myself!

Hi Kat,  My hubby's "boot camp" will be on 1/30/08 so we'll see what the dietician recommends now for newly post-ops.  When I did it with them (5 yrs ago), I used those chewables and my levels were fine but I also took a nasty vitamin drink (from the Vitamin shoppe) that had veggie nutrition in it.  I couldn't wait till I was able to get cleared to start swallowing multi vitamins again.  I just did a search on the Optisource for the ingredients they contain. I see you must take 4 tablets a day (tastes like orange sherbet) and many post ops are taking this brand (they are 26.99 at Walgreens.com).  However, I notice with the calcium, it's carbonate and stearate (not citrate) and that it contains Vitamin C too.  If you are having RNY (not Lap banding), I was told we need calcium citrate and if you are taking Vit C at the same time, they actually cancel each other out! It's like you didn't take it at all to benefit your body.    I will be going to the boot camp with my hubby in Jan and will see what they recommend.  Times have changed and maybe through their observations, they are fine for post ops based on the blood work up levels from so many years doing this. I can't believe after 5 years, it's my husband's turn!  Good luck to you and talk to you soon.

i'm the type that just takes my pills by the handful every morning and chase them down with a bit of iced tea  i take 2 pre-natal viatmins 1 b-12 1 levothyroxine 2 stool softeners  i also should be taking  1 iron  1 calcium citrate ross takes 2 walgreen childrens chewables in the morning and 2 at night 2 stool softeners 1 B-12 (this will be eliminated when the bottle is gone and he can take 1 B-Complex) 1 B-1 (this will be eliminated when the bottle is gone and he can take 1 B-Complex) 1 Folic Acid  1 calcium citrate but every doc is different -- we have a list of choices we can make -- because i take the pre-natals i don't have to take the folic acid and the b-1 -- and ross prefers the chewables -- and both of us have great blookwork -- ross is 18 months out and i'm a yr out -- we'll continue to do what we are doing :)  take care roberta