Question:
For those of you who developed anemias or other vit.deficiencies -

Were you started on Iron supplementation upon d/c? My surgeon and nutritionist's routine rx. post op is Iron daily, vit.b-12 sublingual 1x per week, daily multivite and 5 ex-strength tums every day - all basically for the rest of you life.    — Red66 (posted on June 14, 2009)

June 14, 2009
I've had low iron since the beginning. At about 6 months my surgeon put me on Repleva, which is a daily iron supplement available by prescription. At my one year, she switched me to one e/o day. My daily routine is 2 multi's- 1200g calcium 2x day and then B-12 sublingual weekly. During winter I had to supplement some vit d.
   — doreenh

June 14, 2009
My d/c plan called for tums as well but it is simply outdated. You need to change from Tums x-strength because that is calcium carbonate which we RNY patients can't absorb. You need calcium citrate with vit D. And dosing is 1800-2000mg. My regimen includes multi-vites twice a day. Check out Andrea or Pam T. blogs, they are two of the resident vitamin gurus here on the boards and have done extensive research. There is a certain kind of iron to take also but I am menopausal and don't have to take extra right now. I think it is Ferritin iron?
   — Arkin10

June 14, 2009
I get my blood levels checked every 3 months and right now I am only taking a multi vitamin 2x a day and 1 calcium. My levels are all good. In the beginning I was taking iron also. My B levels have been fine since day 1. I am 1 year out on the 19th. Met goal in 10 months. Good luck to one and all. hugs, Kim
   — gpcmist

June 15, 2009
I am taking Bariatric Advantage Multi Vitamins morning and evening, B-12 sub-lingual 1000 mcg, Calcium Citrate Chewables from Max Muscle 1500 mg per day, Vitamin K 100 mcg, Vitamin D 4,000 IU until it comes back up to normal, and Coromega (liquid, flavored omega-3 fish oil stuff, which is really pretty good - I'm using the orange-chocolate flavor).
   — Erica Alikchihoo

June 15, 2009
You surgeon does not list any experience on his page...Anyway, There are clinical studies that show calcium citrate to be the preferred calcium for RNY for absorption because calcium carbonate is NOT absorbed well in the RNY anatomy. Tums are calcium carbonate and extra strength is NOT going to make it suddenly more absorbable because of HOW and WHERE the RNY absorbs calcium after surgery! Before RNY there is only little difference between citrate and carbonate...HOWEVER, AFTER RNY surgery you have little if any stomach acid which calcium carbonate MUST have to be bioavailable...Then after it is broken down by stomach acid it is absorbed mainly in the duodenum which after RNY is BYPASSED! The carbonate is famous for causing gallstones as well! NO THANKS!!!! So your chances of absorbing calcium carbonate,is basically slim to none and your risks of gallstones grow according the the research I have done...Calcium citrate is absorbed without stomach acid regardless of the bypassed small intestines! Here is a study if you want to start you own research and cut your chances of having calcium deficiencies later (which by the way cause irreversible damage to your bones with breaks and loss and broken teeth) Here is just one study even though it's a few years older..."Calcium Citrate Shown to Have Superior Bioavailability and Protects Against Bone Loss" found here: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/412220 I take B-12 sublingual daily...not weekly and prefer it be high even if it's higher than the normal range, but that's me and my PCP agrees...Plus I take carbonyl iron and NOT iron salts which are absorbed exactly like calcium carbonate (need the stomach acid and duodenum which we do not have!) and the another reason these two vits should NOT be taken together...When taken together they fight for the absorption and calcium over powers iron by binding to it and negating any supplementation of the iron...They should be taken at least 2 hours apart... You should avoid iron salts such as ferrous sulfate(which most docs are familiar with and it's "in the books" as iron therapy. However in the RNY body it is NOT bioavailable just like the calcium carbonate...There are better forms of iron for the RNYer...I swear by carbonyl iron and it is the ONLY iron I will take because it is not toxic like other iron (even safe for children)...I hope you will switch from calcium carbonate to calcium citrate soon! If not PLEASE PLEASE stay up to date on your lbas and get make sur they are checking ALL YOU VITAMINS YEARLY (at the very least) Good luck
   — .Anita R.

June 16, 2009
Correction: I wrote in the last sentence "PLEASE PLEASE stay up to date on your *lbas and get make sur they are checking ALL YOU VITAMINS YEARLY (at the very least) Good luck" ( I meant to type labs, not lbas!) Hope you were able to read thru my other minor typos as well! LOL Sorry!
   — .Anita R.

June 20, 2009
In having my yearly labs done at my Rheumatologist and my WLS surgeon a few weeks ago and last week. It showed that I had a very low level (19.1) of Vitamin D3. I was put on Vitamin D3 meds 1 time a day. My symptoms include blurred vision, very dry skin, urination very cloudy, very painful muscle aches and no energy. Eyes were red from being so dry. I thought that I was taking enough calcium citrate and vitamins daily, but evidently not.
   — mspisces

June 21, 2009
Thank you all so much for your help!!! I am going to donate by HUGE bottle of ex tums to my husband!! :) - going to purchase the cal.citrate with vitmin d and the Carbonyl. I am also going to review this info with my surgeon on thursday which is my final preop. visit. Thanks again! -Sonja (RNY scheduled for 6/30)
   — Red66