Question:
Exactly what Vitamins am I suppose to be taking after RNY?
I have heard so many different things about vitamins.I understand the importance of them, but I have no idea exactly which ones I need. Do they need to be chewable for after surgery?Do people just use Centrum, or several different ones for each type of vitamin??Any help you can give would be great! Thank you. — [Deactivated Member] (posted on December 12, 2007)
December 11, 2007
My surgeon told me to take 2 (daily) Flintstone chewables. AFter nearly 4
years post op I still take them. Best wishes and happy holidays.........
— MCraig3
December 11, 2007
It depends on your surgeon. I took a liquid b-12 (sublingual) and a
chewable Centrum directly after surgery. At about 4 months out, I switched
back to my regular Centrum and a b-12 pill. I have had several blood tests
and they all came back fine, so my body is having no problem absorbing
everything. Most people however are not as fortunate. About 1-2 weeks
after you switch if you do, have a full and complete blood panel done to
check all your levels to see how well you are absorbing the vitamins etc.
Good luck and God bless!
— crystalsno
December 11, 2007
my surgeon told me that chewables are not necessary. i take one
multivitamin, 3 calcium, 1 fish oil, 1-2 biotin, 2-3 silica, 4 stool
softners, and birth control pill every day. i think it all depends on your
doctor and their protocol. things may change once you have blood work,
because if your blood levels are off they will make adjustments. i go for
my 3 mo checkup in jan and that will be my first blood work-postop. good
luck and i hope this helps...Holly
— RNlvnCARSON
December 11, 2007
It doesn't matter what type of vitamins, just that you take a minimum of
twice the RDA recommended dose. E, D, B, A, C, folic acid, Biotin, etc. al
all needed. Read the labels closely to make sure. Some people have
difficulty using tablets, as swollowing may be difficult, and the pills
occupy room in your "pouch" for a couple of hours until the pills
fully dissolve. Liquid vitiamins avoid this problem. I use a liquid vitamin
product called GBG, and a review is written on my membership area. Either
look up ragdolldude (user name) or Dave Chambers to find further
informaiton. The liquid vitamin I use has multiple times the RDA values:
16 times the B12, 10 times the B1 & B2, 2 times vitamin A, 12 times the
Vitamin C, etc.
— Dave Chambers
December 12, 2007
indianapolis dr said to take : 1) 3 flintstone chewable vitamins with
Iron, per day, 2) 3 chewable calcium per day (walmart, spring valley),
3) 1cc B-12 liquid (walmart) per wk, 4) 1/2 B-1 per wk (again walmart).
5) on my own i take Biotin for hair and nails. its been 20 months for me
and blood testings are very good.
— shalmar
December 12, 2007
Lisa,
As a doc, I have to tell you to that nutritional supplementation after
bariatric surgery is a very serious matter and you need to follow the
instructions of your own surgeon....now, that said, I will provide you with
the information that we provide our patients:
Nutritional Screening and Supplementation Guidelines for patients after
Gastric Bypass
Although there is little consensus on specific recommendations, nutritional
screening and supplementation protocols can be established for each
bariatric procedure based on expected risks and should be followed to avoid
nutritional complications. This protocol for RYGBP provides an example of a
reasonable approach.
Recommended nutritional evaluations (obtained at 6 months, then annually)
Screening interview to ascertain level of compliance with prescribed
supplements
Complete blood cell count with differential
Serum iron and ferritin
Serum vitamin B12
Folate (in women of child-bearing age) - consider plasma homocysteine
Parathyroid hormone (annually only)
- if abnormal, obtain calcium, phosphorus, vitamin 25-OH D
Liver function tests (includes alkaline phosphatase, albumin and total
protein)
Consider Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) to assess bone mineral
density/content, lean mass, fat free mass annually.
Recommended vitamin supplementation after gastric bypass
Standard oral high potency chewable multivitamin daily (contains folic
acid)
Calcium citrate oral 1500mg/day, with added vitamin D (see footnote 1)
Vitamin B12 1000 mcg i.m. injection monthly or crystalline 500 mcg oral
daily2
Elemental iron 65 mg oral daily in menstruating females (see footnotes 2,
3)
Vitamin B1 50mg oral daily (stopped after first 6 months)
Recommended additional supplementation during pregnancy
Prenatal vitamin in place of multivitamin and iron (contains additional
iron, folate) (See footnote 4) +/- additional calcium citrate (with vitamin
D)
Footnotes:
1 Consider additional vitamin D supplementation (800 to 1200 IU/daily).
Calcium citrate is more soluble in the absence of stomach acid.
2 Multi-vitamin supplementation alone does not prevent vitamin B12 or iron
deficiency.
3 Co-administration of vitamin C with iron promotes absorption of iron,
while calcium may interfere. Ferrous form is more easily absorbed.
4 Prenatal vitamin contains 29 to 65 mg elemental iron. Estimated
additional total iron cost of pregnancy is 480 to 1150 mg.
Warmest regards,
Tom Inge, MD
— Tom Inge, MD
December 12, 2007
this is a question for your surgeon -- each surgeon has their own regimene
--i take 2 pre-natals, 1 b-12, 2 stool softeners -- my husband takes 2
childrens chewables, 1 folic acid, 1 b-12, 1 b-1, and 1 calcium -- ask your
surgeon -- and sometimes it depends on how far out you are post op --
surgeon just changed my husband from b-12 and b-1 to b-complex after 18
months -- so please do not take 'what everyone else takes' --you bloodwork
may show you need something else -- and you need to know how much of each
vitamin to take -- good luck
— RCassety
December 12, 2007
I will be 1 year post op on saturday (-100 lbs and at goal, whooo hooo) I
take 2 centrum chewables, 2 1000mcg vit B12 and 4 tums a day for the
calcium. I have never had bad blood work come back so I guess I am doing
fine on this regiment. Ask your doctor, everyone is different with what
they like their patients to take. My sister takes less than I do and she is
2 years post op, so just ask. Best of luck to you.
— noboat4u
December 13, 2007
my dr. said to take one source prenatal and caltrate. He tells men and
women to take these because there is not enough absorbtion of the vit. you
can get these over the counter. Go to Wal-mart.
— JohnK334
December 13, 2007
As Dr. Inge said, follow the instructions of your bariatric surgeon and
his/her staff. If those instructions were unclear, contact them
immediately to get clarification. Vitamins and supplements are extremely
important to the success for your recovery and lifestyle change.
— Jerry Ervin
December 13, 2007
You should be taking a chewable vitamin for 3 months after surgery and then
can switch to the pill form. These should be taken twice a day and
Flintstones are good. If you get another kind like Bugs Bunny make sure
they are sugar free. You should also be taking a vitamin B-12 every other
day, sublingual. I got mine directly from my doctor. You should also be
taking calcium citrate twice a day (chewable). I also got these from my
doctor. The should be taken in the chewable form for 3 months and then can
switch to pill. Make sure they are calcium citrate and NOT calcium
carbonate. You should be taking Prevacid Solutabs to dissolve on your
tongue once a day to prevent ulcers. I wonder about some of these doctors
who do this surgery and don't have any sort of followup on their patient's.
They just leave them hanging on what to do. Good Luck.
— kszczesny
December 13, 2007
My nutritionist suggested Flinstones Gummies - they are better than the
chewable ones...Can't stand the chalk aftertaste. I also take B-12
sublingual and it makes a big difference - I feel more energized. Calcium
Chews chocolate kind are a nice treat.
Thanks to everyone on this site, I've gotten a ton of information and it's
been a lot easier to make this major life altering decision.
— sadpuppyeyes
December 13, 2007
hi,
i am almost 2 yrs after surgery.(dec. 28th ) i am still taking vitamins and
will the rest of my life,,its very imprtant. your surgeon should have list
of vitamins for you,, i know i started with flinstone chewable,, after 1
month, i was taking one a day weigt smart, vitamin c, b-12, iron, &
calcium,,,and i still am,,and i added a few others...lol.. let me also tell
you, having this surgery is not an easy way to lose weight,i worked for my
120lb. weght loss,,,exercise is very important,,,without it,,you wont reach
your weight loss goal and keep the weight off,, i think if people only want
to lose 50 lbs.,,gastric bypass is not for them,,,just my opinion,,please
dont take offense. good luck to you...
karen
— karen fryman
December 13, 2007
You've gotten a lot of great general answers but it is very important to go
over this with your surgeon. He or She will know much better what you need
based on the specific anatomical alterations you've had and your lab work.
Too much vitamin can be just as dangerous as too little.
Best wishes.
— mrsidknee
Click Here to Return