vitamins.."do I really have to?"

*This post is in response to someone who asked me is I wouldnt mind posting about what I have went through because I didnt take my vitamins like I should. I am happy to tell me story if it helps even one person from not having to go through what I did.

I was really good about my vitamins the first couple of years. Then what happened? Life I guess. I figured that I was a few years out that it didnt matter too much anymore. Yeah I was wrong. I started to feel off at about 3 1/2 years post-op. So those that are a year or so out saying "My labs are great and all I take is a multi once in a while" are living life on a chance. It started with being really tired. Then it progressed to not being able to walk up my stairs. I went to a doctor (key word here "a" not my surgeon) and he checked my B12 and yep I was low. Gave me daily shots for a week. Thought I was all good. Im not sure how long after that it was til I collapsed. I still dont really know what day I did collapse. Im not even sure about the month. I do know though that it happened in front of my children. I was laying on the floor basically dieing in front of them. I was saved because my sister called and figured out something was wrong. From what I have been told my system was shutting down and my family was told that I may not live.

Well obviously I did but not without a lot of physical and mental problems. I was in the hospital for a while and basically because of the lack of B1 and B12 it caused me to have a few mental health isssues, to say the least. Hallucinations are a blast. With this and the small problem of not being able to feel my arms and legs and being completly bed bound my family had to make the hard choice to place me in a long-term care facility. I was there for a few months and was given daily PT to help me learn to get myself in and out of a wheelchair. I left there in a wheelchair with alot of other medical equipment. Just a little perspective on just how low I was...it took DAILY shots of both B1 and B12 for about 4 months then to weekly for a few months and now monthly, plus I take it daily in supplementation, to have OK levles.


I also left with the memory problems. Not your run off the mill.."where are my keys?" But the "what keys?" I dont remember day to day stuff. I dont remember Bdays, christmas or conversations. My family has to take care of all my health and personal needs. They transport me and pay my bills. I will never work again. I most likely will never drive again. It is not known if I will ever get better. I may not be able to remember the day my children graduate or walk down the isle. As for the here and now I wont remember my baby turning 10 tomorrow.

I could go on with what I have lost because of my stupidity. Yes I have learned a lot of valuable lessons. It is too bad that it had to come at the expense of so much. So for those of you reading this and have questioned just how important can vitamins be (cause you feel so great right?) ask yourself just how important is it for you to feel your legs? How important is it for you to remember today? Ask yourself just how important is your life.

Tanya, so sorry you had to go through this.  I am taking my vitamins pretty regularly but like you at almost 3 years out I found myself skipping them occassionally.  I still am not doing them regularly like I did for 3 years but I'm doing much better and working to make it a daily thing without missing any.

Thanks for sharing your story, if it helps one person then it's good.

Thank you for the reminder.

In your opinion which vitamins / amounts would you recommend?

Ruth

You would think that I would be a vitamin expert by now. But I am not. I know that others have some great vitamin regimes. I think if you search for posts dealing with vitamins you can find out what to take. Andrea U's posts come to mind and Vitalady's. This is what I take now:

Daily:
2 multi's(1 am and 1 pm) just a Costco brand
vit E
Vit B1
Vit B12
Iron (Rx)
*I need some calcium though added so you should also take that.

Weekly:
folic acid(Rx)

Monthly:
B1 and B12 injected right in my tush by my lovely older brother (what a brother..I think he has a secret enjoyment of it as payback..LOL)

 Thank you for your honesty.  Whenever I read posts about folks "feeling fine" but not taking vitamins I am reminded of the cancer patient's with whom I work telling me "it came out of the blue, I had no idea this was going on inside me until..."  Why in the world would anyone go through such a life-changing procedure (not a moment) and then not do the follow-up program?!  Like you pointed out, the effects will not only hurt you, but your family and loved ones as well.  I am so sorry you had to go through this.

I'm also bookmarking. Thanks for this post!

Tanya,

I am so sorry you had to go through the that.  I'm a lurker but read everyday and just by chance I am having breakfast with a couple surgery friends tomorrow and one of them is not good on taking her vitamins.  I have printed out your post to give to her (and she's a mom also).  Thank you for sharing your story and my thoughts and prayers are with you. 

Kathy

Please share with your friend. That is the purpose behind my posts. If it helps to save just one person I am willing to air the dirty laundry.

Hugs!

I was heading down this road myself last year and while I was lucky that I caught my problems before they got as bad as yours, I cannot express enough how important taking vitamins are and HOW REAL malabsorption is!  I must sound like a broken record to the regulars on this board about taking vits and my close scare with malnutrition....

I can certainly appreciate your post and I wish you the best...Thank you for this!  I hope people do not think this is a random type complication and that it won't happen to them, because if they are not taking their vitamins as close to daily as possible...they will experience deficiencies sooner or later.  The one thing we all have in common with gastric bypass IS malabsorption.   

Be blessed! 

Anita

Wow........you are so brave to be able to tell your story to us and I sure thank you for it.  Me personally, I really studied up on this whole thing before going under the knife and I knew that taking the vitamins would never be an optional thing for me.  I knew it was everyday period.  But I know a couple of folks in our local group who seem to think it is.  I hope you don't mind if I print your story and share it with them.  Here is what I take each time split up into two doses every day...

Centrum Silver x 2
B12 5000 mcg once a week now due to very high blood levels
calcium citrate 2400 mgs
Vit C 2000 mgs
B complex 100 mg
Zinc 50 mg ( I developed a defincieny a few months ago, afternoon brain fog and losing hair)

I have my labs done twice a year now and besides the low zinc I had a couple of months ago, my labs have been great. 

Again, I hope that as your body finds it's balance that some of your quality of life will return to you....will keep you in my prayers.