Question:
Question about MVI and Calcium Citrate

I am pre-op and having some issues trying to get my MVI (Flintstones Complete), and Calcium Citrate in and wonder if anyone can give me some advice. I know the MVI and Calcium are supposed to be 2hrs apart (that's what my Nut told me), and that in itself is tricky, but when I add in all the Rx meds I take, I'm confused as to when to take what. I've spoken with my doctor, but still confused. Is there a place online that can tell me what meds are absorbed by the MVI and/or Calcium? Thanks, yall are great!!    — Clumsybarbie (posted on March 17, 2009)

March 16, 2009
Flintstones are one of the poorest choices of vitamins--kiddie vitamins. Take adult vitamins, at least twice a day. DO NOT take any iron supplement (15% RDA or more) with your calcium citrate. Calcium citrate is the ONLY type of calcium you should take. I use a liquid vitamin for my daily vitamin supplement, which solves the larger number of pills post ops need to take as supplements daily. I'm sure you'll get several responses on Flinstones here. If you'd like more info on liquid vitamins and their advantages, my profile story has more details. The one I take has a pleasant flavor too--like apple cider. DAVE
   — Dave Chambers

March 17, 2009
Ihad the same problem and my Dr. had me take my RX pills in the A.M. like I always did and then start taking the vitamins and calcium every 2 hours, and what I did was I bought me a timer and sat it for every 2 hours that way I know I was taking everything I was suppose to, other wise I would get busy and forget them and then I would be trying to play catch up. There are some vitamins and calcium that you can buy on line from a bariactric site I can't remember it off hand but I know I read it in the book before and after weight lose surgery
   — humper

March 17, 2009
Just take the vitamin before lunch and the calcium before lunch. Many doctors recommend the Flintstone vitamins since they are easy to digest. I used them for the first four months then began taking just regular vitamins since swallowing them was no longer a problem. I do have a hard time with the calcium now that I have to take six a day.
   — trible

March 17, 2009
Here is a list of common vitamin/medication conflicts...But you should always ask the pharmacist for a complete list of information for the meds you are taking! Always ask them any questions or concerns you have as that's what they are there for! :) Keeps them on their toes too! http://www.uspharmacist.com/content/t/complementary_and_alternative_medicine/c/10439/ I take 2 Bariatric Advantage multivitamin chews daily that I order online thru Vitalady (since I like to do all my odering in one place if possible to save on shipping)...They are expensive but after all my research and run in's with mal-nutrition,vit defs... This multi-vitamin gives me peace of mind ...Can't pay too high a price for that! ...We need a high potency multivitamin to prevent vit defs. I would use liquids like Dave does, but they are so harsh on my pouch (stings and burns and sometrimes causes my pouch to spasm...ouch) Plus I am always on the go...in and out of the house and I need something that travels well (like in my pocket in a baggie) And a big bottle of liquid vitamins doesn't quite travel well! I am on a schedule for taking vits and if I miss a dose...I am playing catch up the rest of the dang day...At the end of the day I just take whatever I can and start over in the morning...It's a pain, but you have to do it! It's a part of WLS Journey that involves health and longevity that continues long after you lose your weight...The first year, most are just thinking about losing weight...Well, when that is over, you have your health to take care of...and that includes diet, exercise and popping vitamins all day long! Vitamins become a chore! I HATE the routine...I am soooooo sick of the same flavors all day long...But I do it because I know the consequences intimately and taking a vitamin that is not a complete adult vitamin makes NO sense to me what so ever...but then again...I was sick for 6 mos of being anemic and malnourished so I KNOW how yucky that feels and how LUCKY I didn't have permanent neurological damage like some do from vitamin deficiencies! I did this surgery to be healthy above all else...Most people will say they did too, but then insist that Children's vits are working just fine (when they aren't even a year out yet!) UGH! HEALTH...LONGEVITY! People ask all the time, how long do we have to live after surgery? Longevity depends on HOW HEALTHY and well you take care of yourself (and an angel on your shoulder on the highway! right?!) If you take a childrens vitamin as an adult with malabsorptive issues...that's not exactly being health conscious...Getting yearly labs and keeping an eye on your levels and knowing that vit def show up around 3-5 years post op IS being responsible for your health. Be prepared to move onto something more adult as well...Studies show 75% of RNYers experience some or many defiencienies by year 5...and that included those following the vitamin regimen exactly as doc ordered! 75%!!! HELLO!!! That's most of us people! Those that don't experience it are probably on an excellent vit regimen...or are super lucky...I'm not that special...Why take a chance? You have surgery to get healthy...they WHY wouldn't you want to STAY healthy? I will say this though...Flintstones uses better forms of the fat soluble vitamins than say Centrum chewables! But Trader Joes makes an AWESOME High Potency Adult Chewable that is almost comparable to the Baratric Advantage for half the price...Differences are in the B vits...where TJ's has less than BA ( B vits are water soluble and most are easy for us to absorb in foods Not including B-12 as you know!) TJ's is missing Vit K...which drives me insane! I wish I knew why! LOL But I have not had any trouble with Vit K...although I do prefer it be in my multivit! I still decided to use the TJ as an alternative flavor. Plus it has a small dose of carbonyl iron that BA doesn't have! Otherwise it is very comparable...
   — .Anita R.

March 17, 2009
I did have a problem trying to space out my flinstones and calcium, so my NP prescribed a prenatal vitamin for me that I only take once a day. It's made it a lot easier to get that second dose of calcium in. Hope this helps. Tammy
   — runningagain

March 18, 2009
first off let me start by saying LISTEN TO YOUR OWN DR -- take what YOUR dr wants you to take -- secondly, you can take all of your meds to your pharmacist and they will help you out on what interacts with another and when to take what -- they are best qualified for these types of questions -- good luck :) btw my surgeon has flintstones on his list of vitamins to take along with pre-natal vitamins -- it all depends on YOU -- everyone takes something different but only YOUR dr and YOU know YOU :) good luck
   — RCassety

March 19, 2009
I take Tropical Oasis liquid multi-vitamin in morning and Liquid calcium mag at night. I take my vit b around lunch. You can get them all at whole foods. Don't taste bad.
   — SharonZ

March 19, 2009
I've been told by my NUT and the bariatric counselor that Flintstones doesn't offer all the "goodies" we need. It is the trace mnerals and stuff we need from a multi. I use Centrun Silver CHEWABLE. I take my multi and calcium citrate in the morning and extra Vit D. Before bed I take my bari Iron and chewable vit C. That leaves lunch or mid afternoon for everythingelse.
   — JODI_13