Newbie Question

Michele -

Please know that the calcium contained in Optisource is calcium carbonate - the wrong kind of calcium.  So you can't count any of it toward your daily goal of 1500-2000mg calcium.  We need to take Calcium Citrate. 

Pam

Vitamin water isn't going to do you much good---spent that money on vitamins. And vitamins are more important than protein shakes---you CAN eat enough protein, eventually, but you will NEVER be able to absorb enough vitamins from food.

First of all, may God be with you and your surgeon during your surgery..

And now to the vitamins.. YES you must take them everyday.. I have a friend that experienced memory loss and all sorts of other issues.. I, myself just got out of the hospital, from a near drowning, due to my B12 levels being so low.. I fainted and fell into the ocean due to lack of B12.. I had to have give myself b12 shots for a week and now once a week for a month and then monthly.. So if you ask me YES vitamins are a must FOR LIFE.. Not just for two years and then we think we are on top of world..

Please make an effort to come to the OH conference on the 26th..

I am sure that by now you know you must take your vitamins.  One thing to keep in mind is some vitamins/supplements can't be taken with others and thhe body can only absorb so much at a time.

calcium need vitamin d to aid in absorbtion.  Most calcium tablets also contain d.  If not you will need to take d along with calcium.  You and only absorb about 400mg of calcium at a time so you will need to space out your doses.  Allow a couple of hours between doses.

Iron need vitamin C to be absorbed so again if you iron does not have c in it take it separately at the same time.

Calcium will bind to iron and you will not absorb the iron.  Be sure to take your calcium and iron at least 2 hours apart or you won't get the iron.

B12 deficiency can cause irreversable dementia type issues.  Although the lab sheet says as low as 200 is normal it also says a level of under 400 can contribute to mental problems.  For us 400 is way low.  Your want your numbers in the 1000-1200 range.  Higher is ok as B12 is water soluable and not toxic.

Vitamin D is low in a lot of people not just WLS patients due to the use of sunscreen.  If your D is low it could lead to osteoporosis. 

We can't break down gel caps so take uncoated or dry vitamins.  

I get Calcium petittes and sublingual B12 from Walmart.  I take 4 calium a day plus what is in my multi-vitamin.  I take 2 500mg B12 dots twice a day.  These are reasonalbly priced at walmart.

I get my multi and my iron from bariatric eating.com but centrium senior chewables are okay.  When I took these I doubled the recommended amount.  I am sure you can find iron cheaper as well.

Each day I take:

first thing in the morning.....Multi and 2 sublingual B12's

two hours later                      2 calcium petittes

two hours later (noonish)   iron  as recommended by doctor

mid afternoon                        2 calcium petittes

evening                                   multi-vitamin and 2 sublingual B12's

It is hard to remember to take them so on the days I am really successful It is bedcause I set the alarm on my cell phone to remind me to take my vitamins

This is truly very important.

Take care

OOPS  I forgot.  I take vitamin D3 dry 50,000 IU's  twice a week.  On Monday's and Thursday's

That's not very much calcium...

No, that's not much calcium at all.  The Calcium Petites only have 200 mg of calcium each, so you're getting 800  mg of calcium a day.  We need 1500 - 2000 mg a day.

Kelly

The amt of money you spend on food NOW and in the past will make up more than enough for the "supplements"..   I too was (single parent at the time) was worried about having the $$ for vits, suppliement...........now..................

IT IS A STAPLE INT HE HOUSE.............PROTEIN SHAKES, SNACKS.....................

instead of JUNK FOOD....................WEIGH OUT THE OPTIONS....AS DAVE RAMSEY WOULD SAY !!  LOL       

Another words -  since I don't eat out too much any more.   I'm saving tons of $$ on that....so I just buy healthier stuff now instead of that...................

It will be fine.........................PLEASE DO YOUR SURGERY TYPE RESEARCH THO.....

I do bariatric advt tabs.........90 days supply..........$36.98........  that is what I was spending almost in 2 days on eating out....................if not 1x a day PRIOR TO SURGERY............think aobut that.

Actually Phyllis - I spend MORE now on food and vitamins than I ever did before surgery.  I'm buying higher quality foods, so they cost more. 

fayleen i had a long post written and got disconnected.... long story short which is what everyone has told you...vitamins are for life if you have this surgery.....

i dont post on the main board cause of the drama i dont need strangers telling me what to do i know what to do its a matter of doing it....

there is a conference in dallas next weekend...will you please come as my guest.... i will sit with you and you can ask me any question you want regarding surgery.....

but please research this surgery we HAVE to take vitamins for life......

you can email me at [email protected]


Debra