Question:
can i take all my vitamins at once

Had RNY back in nov and i must take 2 flinstones 1 calcium and 2 fiber chewable tablets everyday just wondering if anyone else takes them all at once cause if i don't i tend to forget 1 or 2 of them ,another thing i've been having alot of pain in my pelvis do to not going to the bathroom is there anything i can do or take for relief?thanks Lyne    — lyne R. (posted on January 24, 2008)

January 24, 2008
Lynne, You cannot take all of them at once. It is widely accepted that you do not take iron at the same time as calcium. The flintstones multi has iron, no? So youd want to take those a few hours apart. Personally I would take the fiber at some other interval but I have no confirmation one way or the other on that. Also, how long will you use flintstones? When does your surgeon recommend you break out the "big guns" (centrum or other adult multi)? Sounds like maybe you need something to take for constipation. What does your surgeon recommend? Kaopectate? Colace? enema? Remember not to take any NSAIDs, they'renot pouch-friendly. Feel better.
   — SameButDifferent

January 24, 2008
I leave all of my vitamins on my desk and just eat them throughout the day. It is hard to forget them when they are sitting in front of me. Definately do not take them all at once. Definate recipe for a tummy ache.
   — Carlyn M.

January 24, 2008
Only way to take your vitamins all at once is with a liquid. It avoids the digestion process. YOU also have to take your calcium citrate at a different time. There is a liquid vitamin on my bio section that I use.
   — Dave Chambers

January 24, 2008
I too had RNY back in late Nov. I couldn't take everything at once if I wanted to, too filling. I also take two flintstones each day...and will indefinately. My surgeon and nutritionist recommend the Flintstones Complete stating that they have everything needed...going to Centrum or others is not necessary at all. I try to take my vitamin at the end of a meal or 20-30 minutes later because many of the nutrients in the vitamin need to bond with stuff (fats/proteins) in your food for maximum absorbtion. Your calcium should be taken at other intravals than the others.
   — LuvNSummer

January 24, 2008
I don't take mine all at once either. I take some in the morning and some at night after dinner. A fitness friend of mine recommend taking some of them at night because your body is at rest and that allows the vitamin to do it's thing. For example, one of the vitamins I take at night is Vitamin D and/or another dose of multivitamin (doc told me to increase that). You should only be taking iron pills if your surgeon has found an iron deficiency otherwise -- don't take one unless necessary. I usually take my calcium in the morning with a multi-vitamin and sometimes I forget -- leave home because I'm running late and don't take anything until the evening. I also have liquid B-12 which I probably do every other day or two but not everyday. Your vitamin D is something you want to be sure and take. Since it's in the multi-vitamin depending on how I feel, I might take one or two stand alone vitamin D pills in the evening. I heard it helps keep you from falling and my Mom told me my Dad has to take like 1100 a day or something like that. So it's okay not to take all vitamins at once.
   — the7thdean

January 24, 2008
I take all of mine at once, and have never had a problem. However I am not on seperate iron pills either. I take 1 centrum complete, 2 biotin, 1 b-12, 1 atenolol, all together in one swallow (I am almost 10 months out), and then I take my chewable calcium. It all depends on the person however, if you were taking a seperate iron pill you should not ever take those with calcium. Good luck, God bless and welcome to the losing side!
   — crystalsno

January 24, 2008
hi --you can take your regular vitamin and b vitamins and iron at the same time -- do not take iron and calcium at the same time -- take 1 a few hours after the other -- iron and calcium do not bind and you will lose the effect of both -- i take my vitamins by the handful every morning -- surgeon and pcp both said this was fine -- 2 prenatals, b complex, 2 stool softeners, thyroid med -- for the constipation, try the walmart brand stool softener -- always ask your doctor -- pcp or surgeon -- but this has been a daily regime since 3 days after surgery for us -- good luck
   — RCassety

January 24, 2008
I take all my morning pills at the same time (10 pills) and my night pills at the same time (8 pills) and then take my iron mid day without any calcium or milk products because the calcuim and iron bind together and neither absorb. I have had no problems and my surgeon says it is fine to do that way. Good Luck. Joanna
   — machre

January 24, 2008
I DO.HAVE BEEN FOR THE LAST 5 1/2 YRS AND MY LEVELS ARE FINE.
   — deb44m

January 24, 2008
I have a little cup that I transfer my pills for the day from my sorting dispenser to the cup each morning. I take them one at a time when I drink water. After a hours they are gone. The exception is Iron. Do not take it with anything ewlse. I take it with lunch by its self. Then in the afternoon I fill the cub with the second haft of the days pills and take them with water. It is a lot easier to get one down at a time. Before surgery, I could just gulp a handfull, but those days are gone.
   — William (Bill) wmil

January 24, 2008
You've been told this already I think, but I was told to never take my multi-vitamin with my calcium, and to only take the calcium's one at a time. The reason being is that you can only absorb so much calcium at once. So you're really not benefitting yourself by taking them all together. Spread them out throughout the day. Yes, it's a difficult thing in a way, with remembering, as I battle with that too. I find that if I keep them organized in a pill container for each day, that I manage to get them all in. I also think if you make up a chart, to check off what you've taken each day, helps too. I do this on my food journal that I keep. (I'm 3 mos. post-op) so I'm still keeping track of my water/protein/calorie intake. I just make boxes at the bottom of the page for my vitamins, calcium, b12, and I am also still on the ursiodiol(sp) for my gall bladder. As for the bathroom issue, I'd talk to the doctor about what is safe for you to take. Such as colace....etc. Good luck. Hugs....Cheryl
   — Cheryl K.

January 25, 2008
lyne your not suppose to all your pills together, if your just out from surgery my nutritionist suggest 15 minutes between pills. Until your body gets use to them. Now I take my two flintstones chewables together, and spread the rest throughout the day. I also take the Ben a fiber chewable tablets but I was only take the one dose a day and had to up the to two to get my self regular and a more softer consistency.
   — iwilllose

January 25, 2008
I suppose there are interactions to be concerned about. Other than that, I take my meds three times a day. One of those doses consists of no less than fifteen pills/tablets/ capsules and they all go down the hatch together. As to the pain, I recommend you ask your doctor/surgeon to recommend a laxitive that is suitable for YOU.
   — [Deactivated Member]

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