Vitamins - DO NOT TAKE

I have to admit that I do not take my vitamins any to be exact. I tried in the beginning but it was a failure. My labs have always been good, just curious if anyone else doesn't take and has anyone had any vitamin deficiency due to the VSG?

Are you having full bariatric labs? Someone else posted this and I bookmarked it:

http://pamtremble.blogspot.com/2008/10/labwork-recommendatio ns-after-wls.html

If you're not having all those done you're playing with fire. Also, there's not really a good way to know your calcium level without a bone scan/DXA scan if you haven't had one.

In addition to what Erin said, a lot of times "good labs" aren't. You need to know what the values are yourself and track them yourself so you can see any negatives trends and correct them before they become detrimental. You definitely CAN have vitamin deficiency issues after VSG.

It's still early, but I predict this will be a finalist for worst advice of 2018.

I've seen a lot of VSGers end up with serious vitamin deficiencies a few years after surgery. I've known of one who died.

As others said, complete labs are about 15 vials of blood, and a bone densityscan. And "good" results are in the top third of the range, not near the bottom, where most doctors say they are "fine."

Now im curious - what was last years worst advice?!

I vote for "drinking wine during the weight loss phase is totally acceptable, and anybody who disagrees is a quack and a killjoy. A 3.5 oz pour every night never hurt anybody."

My favorite was that eating something crappy helps with weight loss. One in particular claimed that Three Musketeers could brwak a stall and enhance weight loss. My body would be two-dimensional now if that were true.

Anything that begins with the words "starvation mode" is a good candidate for worst advice ever.

You are seriously risking your health. People have DIED from nutritional deficiencies after WLS, this is no joke.

Why did you fail at taking vitamins? Couldn't swallow them? Hated the taste of chewables? Stomach trouble? There are plenty of options, including various pills and even vitamin patches. Getting on track could literally save your life.

I tried in the beginning I think it was the liquid orange calcium citrate that did me in along with throwing up after taking them. Ive never really had an issue with pills at this point its probably more mental than anything. My labs have always been in the mid range not on the low side. never had a bone test. What vits / brands do you take?

Just because your labs seem OK now, doesn't mean they'll always be OK! It's important to get back on track ASAP to keep yourself healthy :)

If you have a mental block with taking pills, check out PatchMD, they're little paper patches that you stick to your skin and the vitamins get absorbed that way. Some people have great luck with them, others not so much so, but you can try them out and see how your blood work looks in 6 months.

I have no difficulty swallowing regular pills. Here's what I take, all from Walgreen's. They're having a "buy one get one free" sale on vitamins, so it's a good time to stock up!

• Multivitamin, twice daily
• Calcium citrate, in the morning
• Iron, twice daily
• B12, at night