Question:
HELP! Am I taking the right vitamins?

There are so many different vitamins/calcium out there, I would like to ask the long termers if what I am taking sound ok. I take 1 Centrum and 4 Citrical (Calcium Citrate) every day. My doctor does blood work every 3 months and my labs all come back normal. I do not take any b12 shots. I asked my Dr. about it, but he said as long as the labs are ok,then I don't need it. I am also on Synthroid, one a day. I have lost 110 lbs so far (13months), but I still need to loose about 30-40 more. I am really having a hard time with the grazing in the late afternoon/evening, Thanks for your input!    — Kay W. (posted on April 17, 2003)

April 17, 2003
Sounds like the right vitamins to me. I would take the B-12 shot or the sublinguals though. If your doctor won't give you the shot, then you may have to go with the sublingual B-12...JR
   — John Rushton

April 17, 2003
From what I understand, if your B-12 levels remain steady, then you don't need to supplement that vitamin. But even if your levels are in the normal range, you will need to compare each time you have your labs done and note the trend. If you B-12 levels go down, yet are still in the norm. range, you will need to supplement. I also take 2 multivitamins daily along with iron (mine is low if I don't), and vitamin C and E, and of course the citrate.
   — Cheri M.

April 17, 2003
I have learned so much from other longer term post-ops. Most of the great info comes from Michelle "Vitalady" Curran. She offers support and information to us even if we do not shop with her! And as far as I'm concerned, since she is one of the longest post-ops out there, her information is more reliable than most surgeons' offices. That does not mean I am advocating ignoring your doctor!!! I am now on the regime Michelle has recommended all along, even before I recently became a customer of hers. (I found it easier and cheaper to order my things from her as I can get it all in one place, don't have to run all over town searching for something.) I am now taking: early am- 2 Carbonyl Iron & 1 Ester C; mid morning- 500mg calcium citrate; lunchtime- 1 multivitamin & 1 dry vitamin e; dinnertime- 500mg calcium citrate, 1 dry vitamin a & d and 1 chelated zinc; bedtime- 500mg calcium citrate and 1 multivitamin. I was taking everything fairly soon post-op, with the exception of the dry a & d, dry e and the zinc. Since I have added those items I feel so much better. My skin is amazingly better (and I have rosacea, so that is saying alot!). Michelle's website will offer you information on the nutrients we do and don't absorb post-op. You can get the info in other locations as well, doing online research. But she puts it in layman's terms. And as I said, she will share her wisdom with you regardless. As for grazing issues, I know that upping my water helps tremendously, or even drinking a cup of peppermint tea. Also, I have become a firm believer that the additional protein from a shake or a bar really does help us fight the afternoon/evening munchies. Best of luck to you! - Anna LAP RNY 7/3/02 -123lbs.
   — Anna L.

April 17, 2003
Oops, forgot to add that I also take a sublingual B-12 500mcg, every other day.
   — Anna L.