Six years out and anemic again... keep up those vitamins people!

You beat me to this Julie, I was going to write the exact same thing to ChristyO as well. SMH

I really hate to tell you, but you are going to be for a rude awakening by not taking any vitamins.

I am almost a year further out than you and my labs were good the first two years, but now my iron has tanked and I have an appointment with a hemotoligist to go over options including infusions. My ferritin is 4.55 that is a very bad number and I have been taking my vitamins right along. I am using the Iron patch, but have added in an oral iron also since it appears I am not absorbing the iron.

You have to remember our bodies have stores of vitamins, but if we are not replenishing them then they get used up.

a friend of mine who had RNY about eight years ago did the same thing - never took vitamins. He spent a lot of time in the hospital this past year with numerous vitamin deficiencies. I think you're treading some dangerous waters.

These types of posts floor me.

What is the worst case scenario regarding taking vitamins? A bit of hassle and the cost (which doesn't have to be "huge." Many stores offer BOGO sales. I buy the huge Kirkland bottle of multis that seem to last forever.)

What is the worst case scenario to not take vitamins? Loss of teeth, broken bones, anemia, exhaustion, hospitalization, cardiac arrest, death...to name a few.

If you think vitamins are unnecessary, then you are completely clueless about your surgery. A portion of your intestines has been rerouted. This is the portion that absorbs the majority of vitamins and minerals. It does not matter if you "eat clean and healthy." The likelihood you will absorb enough vitamins and minerals through food is very low.

You are still using up some of your body's stored vitamins from before surgery. That isn't going to last forever.

Ding Ding Ding: Darwin Award Winner in the making!!

Please take them. Vitamins in "typical" people can be unnecessary if you eat a very varied diet but vitamins in someone with a malabsorptive procedure are imperative! Being active in the community for as long as I have I've seen some horror stories and every study I have read says you will have issues if you don't... you still may even if faithful take them (iron is notorious for this and stores/ferritin takes years to deplete) but at least you are helping vs. hurting.

Audrey, have you tried iron patches? I know several people that had big jumps in iron after using them.

I have not tried iron patches but I am considering all possibilities. I have ADD and way too many children... and as a result I tend to forget vitamins from time to time... patches may certainly help...

Audrey

I'm borderline anemic and my hematologist suggested combining the patches and oral supplements. Even if I'm not consistent with the patches, his approach is that it certainly couldn't hurt. Might be worth a try!