Question:
Which is the best brand of vitamins and calcium to take after gastric bypass surgery

I had the rny gastric bypass 6 weeks ago and i can't find any vitamins that i can stand to take longer than a week. They get old real quick, i can't swallow pills well either but most chewables are nasty. Please help.....    — mriles (posted on June 29, 2009)

June 29, 2009
Have you tried liquid vitamins yet? You can cut up your vitamins into small pieces with a pill cutter. I use Centrum A-Z and they work very well. You will need two of course. And as for the calcium, try the Viactiv (choc, carmel, ?) they are like a caramel candy, very tasty and they are what bypass patients can take. Just be sure to chew it until it is liquid. But Centrum A-Z and Viactiv both can be purchased at a Walmart.
   — Kristy

June 29, 2009
Nutrilite by Amway is one of the best vitamins I have ever seen in my life. They don't go to waste in your system you get the full benefit of the vitamin. Most vitamins are not soluble and you only get about 505 OF WHAT IT SAYS YOU DO.
   — texasred

June 29, 2009
Hi! Congrats on the surgery! I used the flinestones at first now I use centrum chewables..if you can tolerate them for a few weeks, rotate what you have...atleast use them up so you aren't wasting the money paid. I used a liquid vitamin from sams too.. Pomagranite flavor..I tried it then hated it after half gone, but now my daughter had the surgery so I will get her to try..lol best of luck to you! hugs,Kim
   — gpcmist

June 30, 2009
Viactive chews are not the correct calcium to be taken after gastric bypass. It is calcium carbonate and is not absorbed post op. You need to take calcium CITRATE. I tried pills and couldn't swallow them. Now I'm using a liquid orangy flavor I got at vitacost.com. For vitamins, I take 2 Centrum chewables-orange flavor.
   — babs71958

June 30, 2009
I love the Bariatric Advantage multi-vitamins available from their website. They come in good flavors like citrus, berry, lemon, and others. For my calcium, I go to Max Muscle, and buy theirs - they are citrus chewables, and taste really good at first, but they WILL have an after-taste, so I always take my Multi-Vitamins after I've taken the calcium. You can also try the Celebrate Bariatric Multi-Vitamins, available at bariatriceating.com. I don't know anything about them except that other people on that WLS board say that they are good.
   — Erica Alikchihoo

June 30, 2009
Calcium is very tricky. We need at least 1500 mg a day but cannot take more than 500mg at a time and must take doses 2 hours apart. Also calcium carbonate..such as viactiv...such for us and is just a waste of money (and there not cheap). You say you cannot swallow pills, neither can I. So for my calcium I use tropical oasis calcium. The bottle says take 1 tbsp but you have to take 2 because the elemental iron is only 252mg in 1. And it taste great honestly. You can get a bottle from vitacost.com for about 13 bucks and it last almost a month taking 2 tbsp 3x a day. For a multivitamin many say centrum is super good and I agree. Good thing, Centrum makes a multi in liquid form. Cost like 9 bucks in rite aid or wallgreens and the bottle lasts about 3 weeks. So those are 2 suggestions for liquid vitamins, neither taste bad, and while they aren't the cheapest...liquids always cost more than pills.
   — uNiQuE, iTs wHaT i Am!

July 1, 2009
I love the Trader Joe's chewable - it taste great and Mr. Doctor said it was fine.
   — ericahamel