Question:
Is there a list somewhere of vitimans we should take

I see that some take this and some take that, and I just wondered how I could learn all of the ones I will need and if you could be taking too many? 5 day countdown :) Thanks Nikki    — Losing I. (posted on May 31, 2004)

May 31, 2004
Nikki, each doctor has their own list of vitamins and minerals that they want their patients to take. But, just for your reference, I take a daily multi, B-complex in the morning with breakfast and calcium citrate at lunch and dinner. Some doctors have their patients take B-12 instead of B-complex. Get in touch with your surgeon's office and ask what vitamins and minerals you should be on after your surgery. You should get it ahead of time because some doctors want their patients on liquid vitamins or chewables for a certain amount of time PO. Good luck.
   — ChristineB

May 31, 2004
Right after surgery, my surgeon had me take the flintstone children's chewable, ugh, they were awful, and to sweet for me, and they did not have enough folic acid or iron for me, so I started using Centrum adult chewables (orange), they are not great, but taste is bareable. The most important thing is that my surgeon is okay with them, and my blood test have been good. They have 100% iron and they have the folic acid that us women need. I also take two Calcium Citrate with Vit D, and a B-12 sublingual complex of folic acid and B-6, on Mon, Wed and Friday. I was taking the B-12 daily, but on my last blood test my B-12 level was high, so the surgeon changed me to 3 times a week. When the vitiams I have now are gone, I will change from the chewable to the caplet, but stay with the Centrum brand. You may have to do some research to find the best vits, calcium and B-12 for you.
   — cindy

May 31, 2004
Nikki, I am gonna be brutally honest, b/c I don't know how to be anything other, why is it that you don't know what vitamins you need post-op when you are 5 days from surgery? Do you also know what foods you need to eat after surgery? It really upsets me when i read posts and Q&A like this? Are you sure you know what you are getting yourself in for?
   — heathercross

June 1, 2004
wow I am also very surprised that you don't have this information beforehand. My surgeon and his nutritionists and his bariatric MD went over everything before I had the surgery. They had a whole booklet prepared for everything you could think of. the first month I took the flintstones chewables. After that I get my vitamins through my surgeons office (1. because they are the cheapest I could find and 2. they are expressly for bariatric patients) Any way here is what I take: (2) a day of Vita-Sure multiple vitamin/mineral trace element supplement plus iron. (2) a day of Calcium Citrate-Malate (1) a week of sublingual B12 I am also post menopausal so I don't know if you would need more iron or not. Do NOT take things like TUMS for your calcium we do not absorb it... it must be Calcium citrate and the calcium citrate-alate is the best absorbed by us. I am floored that your surgeon did not discuss this with you.
   — Janet M.

June 1, 2004
I am 2 days pre-op. I had a 4 hour pre-op surgery class/discussion and was given a booklet outlining diet, vitamin, excercise, etc, what drugs and herbs to avoid before and after surgery and changes that will need to be made pre-op and post-op. I was told to take a good multivitamin like bariactricadvantage, vista vitamins, centrum chewables, etc starting 10 days post op. You should do your research or ask your doctor/surgeon about the minimum IU, mg, mcgs (RDA) needed as a good supplement for bariatric patients. We are to take a sublingual B-12 vitamin daily starting 10 days post op. We are also advised to take calcium citrate and iron (ferrous fumerate only)starting 4 weeks post op. Each surgeons post op routine is different so you should definately contact your surgeons office asap to inquire about your expected regimen.
   — ToriJ

June 1, 2004
I understand why you would ask this question. My doctor says to take TUMS for calcium. I've read here a dozen or more times that our bodies don't absorb it. I want to know what works for the majority.
   — Roberta M.