Question:
suggested vitamen regiment

Can some one give me some suggestions as to what and how to take my vitamens. I have purchases a chewable multi vit (no iron) from vitalady. I also got from a local drug store, vit b12, ferrous glocanate, and calcium citrate. But I keep hearing things like don't take this with that blah blah HELP me I am a vitamen illiterate!!!    — Beth B. (posted on October 3, 2003)

October 3, 2003
You did not say how far post-op that you are. I am two months post-op and it sounds like you are doing okay to me, except you need a vitiam with 100% of the daily iron, or start taking a iron supplement. I take Centrum chewable multivitiam that has 100% of the daily iron needed, a B-12,B-6 and folic acid sublingual that I take daily, and 1200 mg of Calcium Citrate. My surgeon has not taken my two month blood test, I have a appt with him on Monday, I am feeling great, so we will have to see if I need more or less of something.
   — cindy

October 3, 2003
Check the vitalady.com site ... it summarizes a lot of the rules, such as not taking calcium within two hours of iron, taking Vitamin C with iron (to increase absorption), etc. It will probably also tell you what type of iron to take.
   — Suzy C.

October 3, 2003
I am 29 months post op... the vitamin thing can drive us all nuts. I am a medical microbiologist and hematologist and I researched the vitamin and supplement issue and came to the conclusion that VistaVitamins are the way to go. They are formulated just for bariatric patients... and they contain everything we need in easy to swallow capsules (or chewables for early post ops) You dont have to buy and take separate B-12 pills for under your tongue and giant calcium horse pills... you dont have to worry about what vitamin you cant take with what mineral. Just open a packet and take the 4 small capsules in the morning and the same at night and you are done. The minerals are chelated which means that they are coated in amino acids or protein so that the intestine is tricked in absorbing the protein coated molecules throughout its entire length. Protein is readily absorbed and so are the protein coated vitamin and mineral molecules. This process is patented by Albion laboratories and is proven to work. Read more about them at www.BariatricEating.com and give them a try... you wont believe how much easier they make your life... they are simple to take and you know they are being absorbed. Since I have been taking them, my nails have grown so fast I cant believe it and my hair has finally stopped coming out during shampoos. ciao, Susan Maria
   — SusanMaria

October 3, 2003
I build your program to fit your surgery & your lifestyle,
   — vitalady

October 4, 2003
I'm just going to tell you what I do so you'll get the general idea: First thing in the morning I take my carboneal iron with vitamin C (no calcium containing foods for an hour) and a glass of water. I pop my B-12 under my tongue and do my exercises before breakfast. An hour before lunch I take my chewable multivitamin (it contains iron but not enough) with another vit C and a zinc tablet. Mid afternoon I take 500 Mg of Calcium Citrate. Before dinner (at least 2 hours after the calcium) I take another multivitamin with vit C and a vitamin E capsule. An hour after dinner I take another 500 Mg of Calcium Citrate. My last 500 Mg dose of Calcium Citrate is taken with a vit A/D capsule at bedtime (at least 2 hours after the last dose). So far it's worked for me. My labs are great and my bone density scan says I have the bones of a 38 year old! (I'm 54). Hope this helps.
   — LLinderman

October 8, 2003
I'm not sure what surgery you had, but noticed someone stated B12 was included in their vitamin supplements and they did not have to take B12 under their tongue. My understanding is that B12 absorbed in a portion of the stomach that has been bypassed thus it would not be absorbed in the stomach of those who have had RNY gastric bypass. Therefore it is taken sublingually as it is absorbed by mucous membranes. I can give you my vitamin regiment, but have so many problems trying to follow it. My latest attempt is to take one vitron iron (200 mg iron, 125 vit. C) when I first wake up. Then a second about two hours later and a third one two hours after that. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, I'll take a sublingual B12. At night, I'll take 600 mg. calcium citrate and then another 600mg.'s an hour later along with my multi-vitamins. I have all of my vitamins in a pill box with the days marked on them, but have a hard time taking them. My schedule has me in and out all day and I don't have a set office that I work in, so usually wait until I get home to take my vitamins. I know this is an area I need to work on.
   — Lisa N M.