RNYers...?? about vitamins

I just wanted input from RNYers who are further out regarding the lifetime vitamin supplements that are necessary. I came into this thinking it would be no big deal since I already take supplements  twice a day and have for several years.

Is taking the vitamins the hard part or is it that you have to have labs checked twice a year and then do your vitamins have to be tweaked because of dificiencies? Or do you find keeping up with labs and vits no problem?

Is it a burden to you or no biggie? Is it difficult to keep your lab levels in a normal range?

I also don't understand why we lose the ability to malabsorb food over time but that we malabsorb vits and nutients for life? Anyone know why this is?

Thanks for helping a newbie!!

Hopefully someone can answer your questions, I find it hard to remember to take my viatmins but am getting better at it
Just had my levels taken so I do not know about maintaining them yet. My Dr does his labs every 3 months, I go in for lab first then hit the appt, but that is Military and not sure how other Drs do their schedules.
I am still understanding the malabsorb thing, so I am not going to even try to explain it.
Way to go on the Cruise, sounds like you had a great time!

I can't speak to the lab part cause I'm not there yet but I find the vitamins no problem.  I took meds before, now I take vits.  I keep the stuff I have to do during the day on my computer, dole them out in a cup in the morning and work on them during the day.  I won't say I never forget any of them but the morning and evening are in my pill box and the day ones are on the computer and all get gone most every day.
Malabsorption is also a mystery to me so hopfully you will get someone smarter to answer that also.

I never remember to take pills before I had surgery and I find some days I forget still!  My surgeon draws labs once a year.  I don't have them draw all the labs that many people suggest because I truely trust my surgeon and his follow up plans.  I did have a deficiency in Vit D and my B12 was low.....but that's cuz I literally was NOT taking my vits.....I've found my energy levels are up since I've been taking them almost daily.....

As far as malabsorbtion goes we lose the ability to absorb many vits because we are bypassing the duodenum and part of the jejunem.  This is where most of a persons absorption happens.  However, the small intestine has the ability to adjust itself over time to start absorpbing the "bad things" again.  The vit and mineral digestion will still be pretty much nonexistant because of the breakdown process involved in getting them out of our food.  We can't get that back since they are broken down and absorbed through different sections of the small intestine which we no longer use.......I am not an expert by all means but what I do know about the digestive system this is my take on it.....
This PDF explains things very well!
www.tricitywls.com/Digestion.pdf

Heather

I never took a single vitamin before WLS so it was a little difficult for me at the beginning.  I bought 2 - 1week pill containers and that keeps me organized and I only have to refill every other week. ( I would love to have a month one).  I have gotten into a routine of heading for the scales and then taking my pills when I crawl out of bed.  Rarely do I forget but the pill containers help me keep ontrack.

I copied VitaLady's lab paper (Gina is our Vitamin expert and she helped me with this) and told my PCP that these were the labs that were recommended to me and he just put his signature on them. I have one series done at 6 months and additional ones done at a year.

I had trouble with my Vit A being low so I ordered special ones from Vitalady and nowit is in the normal range.   I'm due for my 1 year ones and I'm anxious to see how I'm doing.

I don't use expensive vitamins, just basics from Rite Aide, 2 Citracal Petites, 4 Calcium Chews that I buy from Vitalady (chocolate fix in the afternoon), 1 25,000 IU capsule of Dry Vit. A, and 1 sublingual Vit B (GNC...yum).

Sorry, I didn't get back on line last night.

I took alot of medicne before surgery and taking it is not a problem.  The problem was getting the scheduling right for optimum benefit.
I take my iron first thing when I get out of bed on an empty stomach and not with anything else.
I drink my protein decaf and then shower
Next is BA Vitamin, D3, B complex, Fish Egg Chewable, B12 sublingual, allergy pill
2 hours later 2 calcium chews
2 hours later 2 calcium chews
2 hours later 2 calcium chews
Night time before bed another BA Vitamin

I put all my vitamins in a weekly pill box on Sunday afternoon so they are ready for the week except the calcium chews.  I put 6 in  snack baggies to grab and take with me for the day.
All this is out on my counter so I don't forget them.

I do some labs every 3 months.  A1C, Cholesterol, Liver Enzymes, Microalbuium - just the things my PCP requires.

I want to do the big labs twice a year but am going to do them atleast annual with my surgeon.  If something is off then tweaking is done.  I added B complex.  I post mine here and MajorMom and others will look at them and offer advise.

Linda

I take One a Day Centrium and all other supplements like Biotin, iron 325mg, magnesium 250 mg. calcium, flaxseed oil, I put them in a (3)  one ounce cups  the night before then take them in the morning, noon, or night depending on what they are.  I don't have any problem taking them and my labs are all great.  My Dr. likes to take my labs  every 3 or 4 months because I was Diabetic.  He tells me all is great and over the counter suppliments are fine.  I buy them at Wal-Mart or Walgreen's when then have 2 for 1 sales.  I do make sure my Calcuim is Citrate 600 mg and take 2 a day.  Lunch and Bedtime.

It really isn't hard to manage if you dole them out the night before.  Then they are sitting on the counter in the morning and I don't have to think about it.  If you get into the practice of doleing them out into cups then it doesn't become over whelming.

Good luck.

Susan G.

Thanks for the answers Ladies!!

This makes me feel alot better seeing that it looks pretty simple to keep track of what we need. I have heard alot of people say they would not want to deal with the vitamins required for RNY but it didn't seem like a big deal to me. So now I know it isn't....and it's great to know we have some vitamin gurus!!

I started supplements over a year ago and when my labs were drawn for pre-op, they looked great! Glad to be off to a good start. I think I need a larger pill box though...the calcium lozenges are HUGE :)