Question:
How long after lap bypass can you swallow vitamins?

I have not had surgery yet, but I am trying to buy all the necessary vitamins and protein supplements now so I have them handy. I recently read that people take GNC hair and nail vitamins to help with hair loss. How long after surgery can we start swallowing these pills because they are fairly large? Also, do they work well if we crush them and add it to our drinks? Thank you for all your input, I have learned so much from all of you. Good Luck!!    — Shani A. (posted on April 10, 2004)

April 10, 2004
I took the GNC hair and nail vits. They are firly large, but torpedo shaped so they should turn themselves around properly. However, the pills did not work for me. No pill I take in whole form does and I am almost a year out. I guess you could crush them, but they tasted so nasty whole I couldn't tolerate the thought of crushing them.
   — Heather M.

April 10, 2004
I am a distributer vor a very loaded luiquid vitamin called vitality plus it has every thing you need in one tabel spoon a day if interested email me Dave Bonine [email protected]
   — dave B.

April 10, 2004
I just wanted add that I'm a huge baby when it comes to taking crushed up pills, and I've found a way to take them without tasting them at all-- I use Gerber's Dutch Apple Dessert (step 2-- #1 is too runny, #3 is too chunky). Put a layer on the bottom of a tablespoon, sprinkle the crushed pill on top, then gently add a layer of the Apple stuff over the top (don't mix them!). Swallow with a chaser, and you won't taste the pills at all. Promise. :)
   — Stephanie M.

April 10, 2004
Five of us in our family have had lap RNY surgery. Our surgeon told us to take a children's chewable vitamin with iron daily for six weeks, then we could switch to any multivitamin with iron of our choice. We take Centrum, or the generic equivalent and have had no problems. It's a fairly large tablet, but our surgeon does not advise liquid meds or crushing meds at all after the first six weeks post-op. We are all 18 months - 4 years post-op, and all labs are normal and we are healthier than we have been at any other point in our adult lives. Best wishes!
   — Diana T.

April 10, 2004
I had some problems with swallowing at first, so my doctor just said to take it easy, and recommended trying one vitamin at a time until I began to tolerate them. I started with the chewable multi and B12 (sublinqual-"under the tongue"). Then I moved on to the calcium, Vit C and iron. I still use adult chewables for the multi, and chewable C as well. My calcium citrate is in capsule form, which I buy from vitalady.com, and they dissolve very quickly. They're large, but I've never had any problems at all with them. The iron I use is also very small (carbonyl) and I have no problems taking it either. I also take biotin (1000 mcg daily) for the hair loss, and 2 stool softeners to help with constipation (100 mg ea). Just ease yourself into it, and you'll be fine. Lap RNY 9/11/03, 270/175/???
   — Carlita

April 11, 2004
I don't know how expensive the GNC products are, but as a rule, they cost a lot if they are from GNC. I have been using 3 products since 6 weeks before surgery. They are Biotin shampoo and conditioner from Mill creek Botanicals and biotin losenges. I take the losenges at the same time in the am with my chewable Vitamin C-I suck on them both. I am 4 months out and have not experienced any hair loss yet and hope not to since my hair is so thin, it's almost transparent to start with. In fact, they have helped slow down my normal hair loss. That's not to say I am sure it will not happen. Only time will tell, but I'm very happy with the products thusfar. I get the biotin products from herbaladvisor.com. Oh, I also make sure that I get a lot of protein in every day. I've been told that hair and nails are discarded protein from the body. I have a Pro Complex shake for breakfast everyday (55 grams). I also make sure to have at least 40-50 more grams every day. I find that the more protein I consume, the better my weight loss and general health. Hope this helps. Linda
   — lbwales

April 11, 2004
ok , the thing on the vitiams is get chewables , like the flinestones ones for kinds .my surgeron said they would work find . but i have to crush my med for 6 wks after surgery . and i have to take the vitiams , plus my other meds too , i have sezuries on top of all this . but i really think it depends on the docotor what u can do . but crushing ur meds does work . u get the same thing just in powder . i found use either apple sauce or the drinkable yogurt . and the meds go down easier . i just had my surgery on march 29 and i am doing good with crushing everything .
   — lizzie72

April 13, 2004
Hi..I'm 2.5 years post op and use the Centrum Adult chewable vitamins, (1) in the morning and (1) at night. I've been using these for going on 18 months (used Flintstone vitamins before these) and my labs are great. I have to swallow my iron pill, but it's a regular capsule. I started taking those at 6 weeks postop. Good luck! Denise 316/158
   — lily1968