Question:
Please if someone could give me a heads up on what to take
I am 4 weeks post op and down a total of 39 pounds, I'm still confused on the vitamin part of this and am not sure of what to take, (daily) and the time span between the pills, (calcuim and iron), please if you could help me that would be great. — tannedtigress (posted on June 23, 2002)
June 22, 2002
U can take 2 chewable flintstones vitamens for children along to get your
vitamens . Viactiv is a great chewable for calcium + D + K or 2 tums aday
will give u the calcium. U can get a B12 for under the tonque at most
health food stores . The rest U can get at any drug store. I usually
take mine first thing in the am to get it over with along with my morning
meds . U could take before any meal . I hope this helps
— sallie P.
June 22, 2002
As far as the calcium goes, DO NOT take TUMS or VIACTIV!! They are calcium
carbonate, which is not absorbed by us bypassers. If you take one of those
for your calcium, you will be setting yourself up for osteoporosis and
kidney stones! Calcium Citrate is the best alternative. Until you are
further out and can swallow pills, you can find both liquid and chewables
at your local health food store or online. Michelle Vitalady Curran sells
the best combination (Calcium, Magnesium, and Vit D) for the best price.
Or you can take Citrical (horse pills and high priced, but convenient).
Remember also to take only in 500 mg. increments b/c we only absorb that
amount at one time. Also, don't take your iron with any dairy, it hinders
absorption. Vit. C aids in iron absorption. As far as scheduling goes, I
take 500 calcium in the morning, multi and iron with my first meal (usually
mid-morn or lunch), then space out some calcium for later, multi and iron
at dinner, and break up the rest of my calcium in the evening and the last
right before bed. Calcium is more readily absorbed in the evening/night
for some reason.
— Cheri M.
June 23, 2002
Hi, if you're like me with limited $ to spend on supplements...go to
WalMart. Get the Centrum Chewables (new) or the children's complete
chewables, Spring Valley brand Sublingual B-12 (liquid) and a calcium
citrate supplement (I'm pre-op and using Citrical but they will be too
large post-op so I'll be looking at chewable calcium. Just remember 500mg
at a time is all the calcium we can absorb and we need a minimum of 1200mg
per day). My doctor's patient guidebook tells us to take our vitamins like
this: 1 chewable multivitamin w/breakfast; 1 vitamin B-12 w/morning fluids
(mid-morning); 1 calcium w/lunch; 1 calcium w/afternoon fluids
(mid-afternoon); 1 calcium w/supper; 1 chewable multivitamin w/evening
fluids. The mid-morning, min-afternoon and evening fluids can consist of a
protein supplement, Carnation Instant Breakfast, sugar free Hot Cocoa, milk
and/or water. If you need the calcium 4 times per day instead of 3, take
the 4th with the B-12 in the mid-morning. Also remember to look at the mcgs
of your B-12, you may not need it daily, only weekly. This is my current
plan, I hope it's workable once I put it into action! Any feedback from the
post-op experts is welcome! Lap RNY 7/3/02 God Bless - Anna
— Anna L.
June 23, 2002
One more thing -- I strongly suggest you get a daily pill organizer.
WalMart now has one available for pills taken 2/day AM and PM
compartments...a little better than the large contraption that has 4
compartments for each day, but enough to remind you of what you've had for
the day. When I didn't use an organizer I was forgetting my supplements all
the time...and this is pre-op...we can't afford to forget post-op!
— Anna L.
June 23, 2002
For calcium, Caltrate 600 Chewables are great.
— sheltie
June 23, 2002
Just a reminder that Caltrate is NOT citrate. It's carbonate, so a good
kidney stone builder. :-) Signed, Mr & Mrs Kidney Stone.
The basic rule is that iron (NOT ferrous SULFATE form, which is useless to
us) and C go together, not with milk or caffeine, nor with other meds or
vites, esp minerals, like calciu. Give them one hour alone. They're OK
with your non-milk rotein drink or toast, for example. THEN your multi,
calcium citrate, spaced thru the day. 2 multi, 500mg cal citrate (4 times).
Iron is fuzzy. Doesn't want to cooperate in any way. So, we have to play
by its rules.
— vitalady
June 23, 2002
Your doctor or dietician will know what is best for you. I was taking the
two Bugs Bunny chewables daily and started adding in the extra B12, iron,
and calcium. Both my doc and dietician had a fit, I was over doing it! I
was told that by taking -two- BB chewables it would cover any vits that
were malabsorbed. My blood work has come back fine in all areas :) Now
THAT was for ME, it may not be enough for you, but your doc or dietician
will know best.
— DonnaCarol
June 23, 2002
I forgot to add that I was also told to take two SF Tums daily for my
calcium, by my doc and dietician both. Hugs!
— DonnaCarol
June 23, 2002
Hi Dawn, Bet you are getting a million different answers to your
questions...so I'm going to chime in with 1 million and one...Post op, I
took 2 multi children chewables and one walmart brand prenatal vitamin and
1500 mg of calcium citrate with vitamin D. I had my year post op bloodwork
done last week and have elevated vitamin D, which is not good. I was
taking too much!! I was worried that maybe I wasnt' taking enough,
especially not taking any B12..but B12 levels were fine. So now, I am
taking only the prenatal vitamin and calcium citrate, I have dropped the
children's chewables, I will have follow up blood work soon. Good luck to
you hon (((hugs))) and smiles =)))
— DebPKansas
June 24, 2002
First off, your doctor or nutritionist would be good people to ask about
this. Here's my regimen: I take one Centrum Performance (multi w/extra B
vitamins) when I get up. Around 9am, I take two calcium citrate. At noon
with lunch I take my iron pill. At around 4pm, I take two more calcium
citrate. Then before I go to bed, I take my second Centrum Performance. I
get monthly B-12 injections.
— PT LawMom
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