Question:
EXACTLY how much (mg) & what vitamins are supposed to take post-op?

Hi, I'm always hearing different things on this subject. Can someone tell me EXACTLY what vitamins we need to take on a daily basis post-op? I've already gotten B-complex Sublingual Liquid by Spring Valley @ Walmart, it has 1200 mcg of B12 in it, among other things. I also got OneSource Active Kids Complete Chewable Multivitamins. What else should I be getting? I'm assuming everything has to be in liquid, sublingual or chewable form, right? I've been worrying about the malabsorption thing lately. Thanks guys!!! =0) Jamie, Surgery date: 10/09/02    — j-bird333 (posted on September 18, 2002)

September 18, 2002
Jamie, your surgeon/nutritionist should really give you a list of what to take. Mine recommended chewables,liquid, or sublingual forms for at least 3 months to give the stoma time to heal before trying tablets. I was told to take 4 Flintstones Complete a day initially (later dropped to 2); 1500-2000 mg Calcium Citrate with Vitamin D (I used wafers); and B-12 500-1000 mcg sublingual. My surgeon didn't add supplemental iron until after my 3 month post-op labs. Then I added chewable chelated Iron with Vitamin C, 54 mg a day. Make sure you take your vitamins one hour before or 2 hour after the calcium for best absorbtion. Good luck on your journey!
   — LLinderman

September 18, 2002
I think you'll get lots of different answers to this question, as all surgeons vary. Mine had me taking 2 chewable Flintstones for the first 2 months. Then I found a small tablet at Walgeens. It's smaller than an M & M and has iron it it, too. I started with calcium citrate within 2 weeks, not the chewable kind. I used Citrical until I found Vitalady's capsules instead, 1500 mg. per day. I take b-12 sublingual a few times a week, 1000mg. per pill. Vitamin C caplet (500mg.) with my Iron, 2 pills for 100 mg. Oh, and prescription Pepcid for the first 6 months post op. I'm almost 4 1/2 months post op, started at 245 and I'm 173 now. Good luck! =)
   — KelBurt

September 18, 2002
My surgeon/nutritionist recommend: an average of 250mg of B-12 per day - the ones I get are 1000mg, so I take them Mon, Wed, Fri. 1500mg calcium citrate every day, spread thoughout the day because you can only absorb 500-600mg at a time. I use Citrical with D tablets and break them in half. And a multi vitamin plus iron supplement OR a prenatal vitamin which has extra iron and folate. That's what I take - also broken in half- every day. I started these 1 month out. During the first month, I had children's chewables multi twice a day.
   — jen41766