7 yrs out and not taking ANY vitamins???

At 4 years I was only taking the vitamins I liked and the rest only when I remembered.  I skipped labs one year after good labs and I found myself in a bad way with anemia and a magnesium deficiency and many of my vitamins stores were very low in the normal ranges...

I've since (last 6 months been working on raising all my levels)  My guy friend had his surgery 7 years ago and takes NOTHING like your cousin...He's gained a little weight, but nothing major.  He just just had his labs and they were fine...

I was truly believed I was getting enough nutrition in my food after all this time...That's just not the case. I am taking all my vits and ALL KINDS OF EXTRAS to get things right again and I hope to be able to cut back eventaully to my chewable adult multivitamin, B 12 sublinual (500-1000g) daily....Calcium Citrate 2-3 times a day for a total of 1000-1500 mg with Vit D3 and magnesium and as long as a woman is menstruating, she needs iron with Vit C  (Never take ferrous sulfate or iron salts)...(I personally will probably have to take more than the average woman since I have been anemic and tend to be at other times in my life...

Personally, I also take a B-100 Complex weekly for skin, hair and nails, etc and Extra Dry Vit's A, D,E and Zinc because I was low. I take CoQ-10 to aid in magnesium aborption, Copper to aid in Iron absorption, and Omega 3's...

What a pain in patootie! I have most definitely added vits as time went on...But I don't know how much of it was my fault for stopping my regular routin somewhere after the 2nd year...I just slacked off and took them when I remembered...I never completely stopped...I just wasn't daily...Maybe weekly or biweekly if I was being good!

Don't do what your cousin is doing...TAKE your vitamins! Forever.  DAILY!  :)

I'm over 8 years out and still take all my vitamins on a daily basis AND I still get labs.  Even with taking iron daily and eating everything (and well - loads of green leafys) I am anemic (just slightly). 
My labs have always come back normal (except for the anemia) but that just makes me think what I'm doing is right.  It seems silly to me to not to do something that can only help us.  It only takes a couple minutes a day so I've made it routine.
Good luck with your results!
Jessica

The only place I've actually heard you need to take vitamins after WLS is here. My DR never told me. Actually what I was told, and what I know medically from things I read, Your body WILL adapt. You will not be malabsorbing after 2 yrs, 3 yrs? No one seems to agree on how long it takes, and of course everyone's body is different. HOWEVER, ANYONE, in general, probably should be taking a multi-vitamin, just my opinion, and what I KNOW is that EVERY woman after age 30, should be taking 1-2 calcium suppliments a day (I was told 2 by my reg. DR) because of the risk of osteoporosis. These of course are only my opinions based on things from my DR, and what I've read. I'd tell people to at least take those 2, and I know I feel better taking b-12 too! :-)

I used to think that our bodies would get back to normal after a few years out, like this woman posted.  However, I know that when I take any type of pill, or drink alcohol, etc., I get immediate effects from what I took, which tells me that my body is NOT back to the way it was before surgery.  We still absorb things very quickly and then our body gets rid of it quickly, which would indicate the NEED for vitamins for the rest of our lives.  JMHO.....

I hear what you're saying.  I was always told that while the further "out" a person is that their bodies do adapt somewhat but malabsorption would always be an issue and that supplements would be needed for the rest of a person's life.  ???

I am 3 years post-op ( I have gained 25 pounds over the last 6 months, but thats another post). I have taken my pills but not my injections(monthly) every single day since surgery. It was taught in class before and after surgery.  When you say  you've had your labs done, does the lab know you have had surgery? YOU need to make sure. There are a lot of certain levels they look at, not just key markers, for us. My sister almost died from lack of folic acid, magnisum, and sever anemia. Her surgeron (different surgeon than I had, never told her she need to take vitamins for the rest of her life, never told her about b12 defiency or mal-absorbtion of protiens and calcium) She now listens to her big sis and she is healthy again. I do know of people who have had a stroke due to vitamin deficencey. This is very serious! Labs should still be done at minum once a year, my surgeon prefers twice a year (depends on my insurance, but I go at least once a year unless something is wrong).

I take:
AM 1 multi-vitamin
      2 Liguid filled Calcium 1200mg. PlusD
      1 Vitamin B12 Sublingual 2500 MCG.
      2 Biotin 300Mg

PM  1 multi-vitamin
        2 Liguid filled Calcium 1200mg. PlusD
        2 Biotin 300Mg


I like the sublingual B12, but I am supposed to self-inject once a month B12 1CC.  My insurance gives me a hard time about the monthly amounts, long story short the B12 can come in 1cc vials which the insurance wants me to pick up very month OR there is a 11CC vial which would last me 11 months (duh, one trip to the pharmacy less money to pay out of pocket). So I am getting a new GP doctor (because I have moved) and new insurance.

Take care!

Heather
7/17/05
325/138/160

Absolutely we should take our vitamins!  I'm seven years out and I still take mine.  I take chewable Bariatric Advantage bcause I need them, I like them, and I believe anyone that has bariatric surgery makes the commitment to their health thus a high quality vitamin regimen.  I have been very compliant with my vitamins and am glad that I have. 

There are varying opinions about vitamins, what types, kinds, if we need them, etc.  All I can about is my health is good and I have been compliant with my vitamins.  When your labs reflect a problem, you are forced to react to the results.  I want to be proactive and avoid any problems and take vitamin supplements.  Why not?  My health is worth the added insurance of taking vitamins.

Cathy

 

Hello there!

I'm 4.5 years out...and have always taken my vitamins religiously.  I have great labs.   I take Bariatric Advantage Multivitamins, Calcium and Iron.  I stopped B12 sublingual because my B12 levels were always way high even when I only took it 1 x week.  I also take a vitamin D tablet and a baby aspirin daily per my gyno and heart doc.   I will be 50 in November and have been peri menopausal for the past 3 years.

I'm SHOCKED at someone not taking vitamins.  BUt here again...we are all different.  Just as each of us can and can not tolerate some foods....I believe that some of us can absorb more than others etc.

It may not even have to do with diet...but *****ally knows? NO ONE!

For me...I eat a healthy well balanced diet of protien, vegetables, fruits, & grains.  I excercise almost daily even if its just some walking and I drink lots of water.

I think it all works hand in hand to stay healthy and fit!!

GOOD LUCK TO ALL!~

Julie  =)

Vitamin supplemention is LifeLong after WLS and he's playing with fire. I know it gets boring and becomes a big pain, but its something that has to be done if you want to stay healthy. It seems so many people lose the weight and feel so good that they start to let things slide down the line. I try to stay on top of it b/c honestly I feel better when I stay on my routine vits and food plan. Anyway, good luck to you and keep taking those vits!!!!!!!!!

Just a note. I'm a woman. I'm 3+ years out. I don't take supplements either. My labs are fine. But, I don'****ch what I eat. I eat as much as the next person and normal foods. There isn't one thing that I can't eat. (I don't overeat, but I don't diet either.) So, maybe that's why his labs are fine?... I know alot of people still eat really small portions pretty far out. I don't. I just exercise and eat normally and that's it.