Vitamins

Surgeons have patients take Flintstones vitamins for the same reason parents do -- because they seem like candy, and it's a way to trick people into taking them. But we aren't children, and shouldn't be fooled.

Compare the Flintstones with a complete adult multi. They are missing many things. There's just no reason to take something substandard.

Sooner or later, deficiencies will bite us on the ass if we aren't vigilant. Most people won't even know they are deficient until it's too late, because they either stop getting regular bloodwork, or get minimal labs drawn. A full vitamin and mineral panel is about 15 vials of blood. Most docs only draw 4. The missing 11 vials are for the things that Flintstones aren't giving you.

what research is on the patches for vitamins?

I haven't seen any scientific research on them. I don't believe there is any. But there has been a lot of research on transdermal absorption of various medications.

I used them for a couple of years when I got complacent with tablets. I recently started back on tablets when the patches started to become a chore. It's really hard to stay on a fixed regimen year after year after year.

I absorb patch as well. Especially the calcium. I did much better than with calcium citrate. But I know others that did not absorb vitamins as well with the patch.

I'm sorry if that's not a lot of help.

If you go the patch route, make sure you keep a close eye on your labs. My levels tanked using them, as I apparently don't absorb them well. It's much easier to maintain levels than it is to bring them back up.

Centrum also makes an adult chewable that is orange and tastes like the old Bayer kids aspirin. I take two of these a day with all my other vitamins and have been for 9 years. I take all chewable vitamins. My labs have been great. Other vitamins: passion fruit chewable iron from bariatric advantage, b12 sublingual from BA, chewable calcium from BA, and Nature Made D3 - gummies and chewable grape.

I take chewables simply because I prefer them. Mine are Optisouce Chewable Post Bariatric Formula Vitamins and Minerals. The important thing is that you take them.

My surgeons office didn't recommend the Flintstones vitamins, but I guess everyone is different. I had to take chewable vitamins too for the first month. I took the bariatric fusion chews which to me were horrible! They were so nasty and I literally gagged and threw up just about everytime I took one. I was so grateful when that month was up and I could finally take the pill form. I now take one bariatric fusion pills per day along with two calciums. So much easier for me.

I just look for the best value multivitamin.

Centrum is good

Swiss is better no need to take fancy brands.

Beware some companies false advertising