post op nutritional supplements ???confused on which ones to buy

Right now I am using a generic multi, the store brand at Meijer which is pretty much the same as Centrum.  I take two a day.

For calcium I do a mixture of Upcal D, Calcet creamy bites and Bariatric Advantage caramel chews, but the customer service at BA is so poor that I don't like ordering from them so I might not anymore.

I use Sundown Perfect Iron, generic vitamin C, B12 shots, and vitalady D3, A, zinc and magnesium oxide.

And the brands I use are not necessarily best, they are what's best for me, but there are other brands that are just as good.

First off...I am soo freakin' excited for you!!!!

Okay well I agree, Centrum Chewable is a great multivitamin.  You can get it at Wal-mart.  You can get two bottles for $17
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Centrum-Multivitamin-Multimineral- Supplement-Orange-Flavored-Centrum-Chewables-100-Ea-2pk-Valu e-Bundle/12338246

I love the protein at Walmart too.  I have tried all the GNC ones and they are good but very expensive and the taste is not even that good.  So the body fortress one is cheap and good.  The trick is to do one scoop per 8 oz instead of 6 oz.  I like it in strawberry or chocolate peanut butter.  It is only $39 for 3 containers and it lasts me for about a month and a half to two months.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Body-Fortress-Whey-Protein-Powder- Value-Bundle/14574788

I get the B-12 from Swansons vitamin, it is a dropper and it goes under your tongue and not bad tasting at all. And only $5.99
http://www.swansonvitamins.com/SW1221/ItemDetail

Now Biotin is a little expensive but it is sublingual and works wonders.  I don't like to mess around when it comes to the hair department.  I have tried many but this one works.  It is $11.24 from Swanson's Vitamins
http://www.swansonvitamins.com/SUS012/ItemDetail

I would not recomment my calcium because after I was taking them for 3 months I was told I was not supposed to take Caltrate but my doctor said I can stay with it because all my vitamin levels were great so I didn't need to change anything.  So this is what I take
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Caltrate-Calcium-Plus-D-Chewable-S upplement-155ct/12081136

Hope this helps...congrats and keep us all posted  :)
Darlene

I can guarantee you are not absorbing the Caltrate.  Your labs were good because three months with no calcium won't show up on labs.  You won't see the problem until you get your bone density scan at one year out.  And make sure you do get the scan, because you will start losing bone with no calcium.  As long as you have teeth and bones to suck calcium from, though, the calcium level in your blood will be fine.  Was your PTH high on your last labs, though?

yeah my nutritionist said you pretty much have to sample them yourself for taste... that what people like and don't like is soo wide a range that you just can't say what someone else will like...

(I can't answer your other questions, because I just went in and bought exactly what she told me too from the hospital pharmacy after finding the flavors I liked).. but I don't know enought about them to have it sorted out in my own mind yet even...

I already had a chewable D3 and a sublingual B12 at home.. so didn't need those..

but OY.. it is overwhelming at first for sure!!

http://www.meltingmama.net/wls/2010/07/protein-vitamin-samples-and-freebies.html

Kelly,   I use OPurity Bypass optimized multi vitamin.   It has 200% of most ingredients.  If you are familiar with what it has and doesn't have, I would certainly like to know.  I am not an expert at all with the requirements and these are recommended by my bariactric center.  Please give us your opinion.  

I don't have the label in front of me right now, but I believe it has NO vitamin K, potassium, magnesium, mangenese, I think some other minerals.  They used to have no copper, but they have added it.  Compare the label to that of Celebrate multis and you'll see all that it is missing and short on.

Thank you everyone for the input and advice it was a great help I will keep you posted can't wait to be on the losers bench

Kelly, ill keep that in mind at my year visit. I didd labs about three weeks ago and I was at 9.2, normail range is 8.5-10.5, but ill definetely ask about that at my next visit...thanks