Question:
Vitamins for New Post-Ops?

Chewable vitamins unfortunately make me gag. Anyone have a suggestion for a brand new post-op of what to take other than chewables? I am waiting for information on Isotonix (which is suppose to be a liquid that absorbs fast) From the posts I have seen many people take vita4life or vista vitamins which seem great, but how long after surgery are you able to take the capsules since the chewables will not work for me. Thanks for any help.    — Joanie J. (posted on June 29, 2002)

June 29, 2002
I am two weeks post op and I have been able to swallow my vitamins no problems. I take centrium multivitamin, sublingual b-12 and four citrical a day. I know that most people can't swallow pills this soon, but I haven't had any problems
   — gloria M.

June 29, 2002
I take 2 One a Day Essentials, ( very small red pills) comes in a white bottle with a green label, I also take 1 sublingual B12 and 1 Viactiv chew, for calcium.
   — bikerchic

June 29, 2002
Just a note to Valita, the last poster, if you had RNY, you do not absorb calcium carbonate, which is what you are getting with viactiv, its useless to us. Take calcium citrate. Viactiv is a good candy but not any good to us post ops. Please check this info with Vitalady at Vitalady.com, she will back me up on this one, big time!!
   — donnalawbabe

June 29, 2002
As a new post op i couldn't swallow anything so I was told to take flintstone chewables vitamins at least two a day and the b12 sublingal. i was also told to take tums for calcium. I did this the the first 6 months.
   — Sharon T.

June 29, 2002
Well, I am 4 weeks post op and i take a tablespoon of centrum liquid vitamin and mix it with about a little less than 1/4 glass orange juice. When you open the bottle the smell is horrendous, but once you mix it with the juice, you can barely smell it..or taste it for that matter!! Hope this helps!
   — Tamara F.

June 29, 2002
Vista Vitamins now come in chewable wafers. Here's the address: http://www.vistavitamins.com/products_chewablewellness.htm. Although I think it may still be too early for you to take these (consult your surgeon's office). My surgeon's office had me take regular chewables for my second month because I was having nausea and occasional vomiting problems.
   — Jennifer A.

June 30, 2002
I too gag on the chewables. I now take two of the same flavor Bugs Bunny One-a-Day chewables and suck on them. It takes about half an hour for them to completely dissolve and they don't taste too bad.
   — LynneSteinmetz

December 17, 2003

   — Julia Z.