Question:
Does this seem like a WHOLE lot to anyone?

I am one week post-op and my surgeon has me on the vitamin regiment he expects me to stay on permanently. I am supposed to take 12 (not, not 2, 12) Flinstones Chewables a day 4500 mg calcium citrate and he wants to start with B-12 injections and not consider sublingual. Also, in addition, we are supposed to do FIVE protein shakes with 30 grams each. Every day. I know we should follow surgical recommendations and so far, I'm being really good but they're making me awfully sick and it's more than double what I have seen anyone else take. Just for the record I had a MEDIAL gastric bypass, but this is more than I've seen even distal patients be expected to take. Please help. I am scared of developing a vitamin deficiency, but my common sense is telling me something is odd about this....    — alitria (posted on July 11, 2007)

July 11, 2007
Hi, I am 5 weeks post -op and I think you may want to recheck your vitiamns. I am taking 2 flinstones a day 1 B-12 1500mg calcium and 1 pervacid(for 3 months) . Double check your doses.
   — Alvernlaw

July 11, 2007
I have double checked my dosage with the surgeon's office. Then I double checked with the nutritionist there. These are definitely the correct amounts I was given.
   — alitria

July 11, 2007
hello, my Dr said 2 chewable vits with iron a day (or 4 flintstones a day) 2 calcium with d a day and 1 sublingual b12 500-5000 mill
   — donna957

July 11, 2007
I would check with your doctor again. Im post op 6 months and since I went to solid foods I take 1 multi vit., B12 shot once a week, Fish oil, folic acid. But when I had the surgery done in the begginning I took 2 flinstone vit. chewable, B-12 sudlingial, folic acid, and fish oil. Good luck :)
   — IzzyW

July 11, 2007
What were yr levels before surgery? Everything seems high to me, but definately check with your nutritionist. I am only 3 months post op, and I take one multi vitamin, b-12 liquid (soon to switch to pills), and 1000mg chewable calcium each day. My iron is a little low, but I can't take iron pills so my nutritionist and I are working on that. Good luck!
   — crystalsno

July 11, 2007
To those who have suggested I check again with my surgeon, I have checked and he's started to act like I should quit questioning this since he's made it clear that these ARE his recommendations. That was my reason for asking here, I'm trying to get a feel for if I am being reasonable in my concerns. As for my levels before surgery, everything was good.
   — alitria

July 11, 2007
I have the same surgeon that you do and I am taking the same amounts of vitamins including the vitamin b shot once a week for 2 months. If you have any questions about what he is telling you regarding your vitamins there is a place up on south hill puyallup called vitalady. They are very well informed about the vitamins and what is normal. I felt awesome after my first Vitamin B shot and I'm looking forward to my next one. It gave me a lot of energy. How did you surgery go?
   — princess311

July 11, 2007
This IS his program. The no-subs on the B12 is news to me, but I'm a fan of shots personally, anyway. It's much easier to tweak your vites DOWN than UP and he is a frequent tester. My DIL has been on his program since 2004. I was done by Dr Fox, so I still use the original component system, which I prefer, but nope, you're not crazy. Fox, Srikanth and Oh have the most comprehensive supplement programs in the country, as far as I can tell. What looks like over kill to you, is actually being thorough. You do not want to be reporting some irreversible deficiency in 3 yrs. Much easier to add vit D, subtract a little zinc and so on.
   — vitalady

July 11, 2007
They do seem awful high. But your surgeon must be doing this for a reason. I say stick with what he says. As far as calcium, I am not sure but I thought we could only absorb 500 mg at a time, so make sure you space that out.
   — KathigME

July 11, 2007
i am 5 yrs out of open rny.all my levels are where they should be. i take 2 flintstone complete,3 calcium total 1500mg,2 zinc, and 2 trinsicon.i have been doing this daily.hope this helps.
   — deb44m

July 11, 2007
hi there the calcium is too high -- it will constipate you and cause problems -- i would suggest going to your own PCP and see what they say -- and 12 vitamins a day sounds really really high also -- my husband takes 4 a day and he's a yr out but that has been his regimin for the past year -- personally i take 2 prenatals a day instead of the chewables -- good luck to you -- but if you doubt your surgeon then go see your PCP Roberta
   — RCassety

July 11, 2007
12 Flintstone is not very much - these are for little kids remember. If you check with a good knowledgabel Health Food store owner they could give you all kinds of info about how the FDA force medical staff to reduce the dosage of all vitamins, when we really need a great deal more than is listed on the bottle. Taking 12 Flinstone is like taking two Adult multi vitiamins. Your surgeon is being progressive rather than being held back by the FDA recommendations...it sounds like your in good hands...Enjoy the vitamin 12 shots, they do give you a better amount of energy because they go straight into your blood stream verse losing part of the dose to the GI track. Relax, and check on the number of your surgeon sucess stories...Best of Luck and best of Health. Did I see your in Alaska? If so I would ask for a large dose of vitamin D because of the lack of sunlight exposure being so far north, especially after the winter begins. My local surgeon in central Ohio gave me a huge dose of vitiamin D because I am so fair skinned and I don't spent my time outside in the direct sun to get enough vitamin D. The just recently changed the approved dosage to 2000 mg a day from just a few hundred per the FDA. Do some research, and don't believe everything the FDA places on vitamins. Sami Sue
   — Sami U.

July 12, 2007
I do adult centrum chewables, calicum, and sublingual B-12. I was told by NUT to get 80 mg of protein daily, and 64 onces of water. Good Luck, Judy R
   — ozlady1000

July 12, 2007
"Taking 12 Flintstones is like taking 2 adult multivitamins"--not true. The "adult" dosage for Flintstones (age four and over) is twice the dosage for those under age four, according to Bayer's website on Flintstones vitamins. That's a dosage for non-WLS'ers, of course, but I still didn't feel right letting that responder's casual comment pass; there is such a thing as toxic dosages of vitamins, particularly when they contain iron, as many multivitamins do, including Flintstones, and children have died from overdoses of them. I don't feel comfortable passing on the original poster's question, because a post-op's nutrient levels can require apparently outlandish supplementation, but let's not in the meantime make reckless statements about vitamin dosages; vitamins are not candy and shouldn't be popped by anyone as if they were.
   — Virginia N.

July 12, 2007
You have a surgeon for a reason, I am sure he took your blood panel before surger and made the decision as to what you need. If you read these posts, everyone is slightly different.. Do what your doctor reccoments, these are things that will keep your nutrition up while you can't eat and keep your skin normal and your hair from falling out as much. Remember you have virtually no nutrition other then protien.
   — bderuiter

July 12, 2007
If your doctor is reputable than give it a try at his dosage levels, but be aware that too much of certain vitamins can have bad repercussions. Too many of the "B" vitamins can mess with your nervous system. Perhaps you should feel out your family doctor for his take on this. I am 28yrs old and started have tremors in my arms and hands. The problem was traced back to my levels of B-6. Best of luck!
   — tazthewiz23

July 12, 2007
I read you question, and immediately thought..wow, what doc is that, because he has to be pretty UP on nutrition, which is uncommon for docs, since they don't get any nutrition training in med school. Then I realized, you were probably talking about my doc. Yup....I've been on his regime for over 7 years now, and have had success, with no complications. Be prepared for tests, and adjustments. Lack of B vites can be a very serious thing...so do the vitamins and protein...and make sure you are tested regularly. All of the patients that I personally know are doing fine. When I first started out...it was chewable kiddie vites and tums. Fortunately, it was early on when they recognized that "we" are so prone to osteoporosis..and thus we need the most absorbable calcium (citrate) and in doses much larger than a normie. Stick with it. The docs in this case, know their business! Regards~
   — Statuesque

July 12, 2007
If something doesn't seem right to you, get a second opinion. Always trust your intuition. sweet suzy
   — [Deactivated Member]

July 13, 2007
I'd go by what the surgery says especially since he has made it clear that this is not a mistake being made. I am gonna guess that several months down the road when others are experiencing hair loss, you will not be. It sounds like your doctor is being extremely proactive--which is a good thing. Best wishes.
   — mrsidknee

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