Question:
I need a final clarification on vitamins and minerals.
Ok, I know what my surgeon told me now I want to hear from you members. I have checked this site daily and have seen conflicting information about vitamin and mineral supplements and was wondering if someone could help clear it up. Exactly, what vitamins and minerals do we need to take every day to maintain our good health? Some people take Vitamin C, others don't, some say Calcium Carbonate, others Calcium Citrate. Right now I take Flinstones Multi-vitamin, Iron with Folic Acid, Calcium Carbonate, and Prevacid. Should I be taking anything else, and if so, in what amounts? Would really appreciate any suggestions! Thanks! Amy — purdue_1993 (posted on January 1, 2002)
January 1, 2002
Since each surgeon performs the surgeries a little different, I would stick
with your surgeon's recommendation. Hopefully, he/she has a long track
record of success. I had the open duodenal switch with Dr. Anthone at USC.
He perscribes a prenatal multivitamin and I take 3 viactiv. I'm 26 months
postop and his combination is working for me. All the best to you!
[WEBRING--http://b.webring.com/hub?ring=wlssring]
— [Deactivated Member]
January 1, 2002
Good Question! My Dr./Nutritionist advised immediately following surgery
to use a childrens chewable vit 2x daily. They suggested Pokemon with
iron. After about 6 weeks and only if I was able to swallow them, I was to
move up to a Prenatal Vitamin (the ones you take when your pregnant). I
found the Prenatal Vitamins over the counter at Walmart for a very
reasonable price. I'm 8 wks postop. Going forward, if there is any
bloodwork the Dr.'s might want to have done to determine if a person is
getting enough, will be the next direction. Everyone is different. Good
luck!
S.K. (44 lbs down)
— S. K.
January 1, 2002
Every surgeon is different in the way they prescribe vitamins. My surgeon
recommends Iron, chewable vitamin C, Vitamin A&D, calcium citrate, zinc
and a multi chewable vitamin (I have sugar free dinasours!! (smile) and
they taste great) I take them at different times throughout the day (as
I've learned that some of these do not absorb well together (iron and
calcium). If you are preop, then I also took a prenatal vitamin prior to
surgery to help boost my system, but stopped taking after surgery. I hope
this helps.
— trtorrey
January 1, 2002
My doctor seems to be different than many in that he stresses NOT to take a
children's chewable vitamin since we are adults! It makes good sense to me.
He requires one adult multivitamin twice a day. I take adult chewables
found at the Vitamin Shoppe. I also take 3 viactiv per day, although he
doesn't require them.
— Tracie B.
January 1, 2002
My dr. recommends 2 Flintstones Complete vitamins per day.
I have taken other vitamins, but the Flintstones seem to
boost my energy level and I feel better when I am taking
them. It doesn't matter to me if it's for kids or adults,
if it makes me feel better I'm going to do what's best for
me and gives me energy.
— [Anonymous]
January 1, 2002
Frankly I don't think there is a final answer on vitamins and supplements,
at least not yet. There aren't a lot of long time studies and different drs
and different websites all seem to have different ideas. Some say take
chelated vitamins, some say kids vitamins, some say don't touch kids
vitamins, some say chew tums, others say tums are no good take citrate and
so on and so on. The best thing to do is talk to your surgeon, research,
make sure to get your blood work done, keep up on the latest research. Good
luck
— Becky K.
January 1, 2002
Unfortunately, you will never get a "final" clarification. Each
individual is going to absorb at a different rate. The only way to be sure
you are doing what's right is to have regular bloodwork done and make
adjustments based solely on what *your* body needs. For me, 3 weeks
post-op I began taking 2 multi-vitamins a day, along with 1500 mg of
additional calcium citrate. My blood levels have remained steady for 18
months, but I will continue to have them checked every 6 months to keep an
eye on them. My zinc levels bobbled for a while, and I added zinc to bring
them back into balance (competition between copper and zinc, with copper
winning and preventing zinc absorption).
— kateseidel
January 1, 2002
Hi. My nutritionist recommends two chewable vitamins like Centrum Jr. (you
need the vitamin K, not many have it), iron (65 mgs.) if you're
premenopausal, calcium citrate (1200-1500 in 500 mg. doses) (I would really
recommend you switch off the calcium carbonate because we don't absorb it
hardly at all...), protein 45 grams supplemental. Good luck!
— Mary Ellen W.
January 1, 2002
My surgeon told me to take two multivitamins with iron a day (one
mid-morning and one mid-evening), a Vitamin B12 pill, a Vitamin A&D
pill, and chew a couple Tums every day. However, after reading here about
how calcium citrate is better, I switched to that. I asked the pharmacist
at CVS which is better, and he said it's hard to tell because calcium isn't
readily absorbed in anyone (especially us post-ops).
— Emily W.
January 2, 2002
My nutritionist said to take two Centrum Completes each day once I was able
to handle pills. I recently switched to Centrum Performance, which has
higher levels of B vitamins than regular Centrum and I can't tell you the
difference it has made. I have so much energy! I got my mother to switch,
too (she also had WLS) and she can definitely tell a difference. They are
cheapest at Costco, but you can also wait until they go on sale at CVS. I
take two Centrum Performance, 1500mg Calcium Citrate from the Vitalady, a
B-complex with Iron, and my regular meds every day.
— PT LawMom
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