Question:
I am wanting feedback from others using Centrum, Citrical, etc.

I am almost out of my Bugs Bunny chewables and went to Wal-Mart today to buy vitamins. I ended up with the following: Centrum, Citrical Plus D, Sublingual B-12 Liquid and Biotin 800mcg. Should I take only 1 Centrum per day? How many Citrical and how many Biotin? Should I take additional iron? (I am quite tired) I appreciate any feedback from the long-term posties (vitalady?). I plan to ask my doc's nurse at the next support group meeting, next week. But you know us WLS'ers...impatient folk :) Thanks much, Anna LAP RNY 7/3/02 -58lbs.    — Anna L. (posted on September 1, 2002)

September 1, 2002
Anna, I use the Centrum with lutein- once a day and take GNC biotin 2500 mcg- once a day. I just had my 6 mo. lab work done and everything was fine. The biotin didn't really help with hair loss, mine started at 4 1/2 mo. and just ended last week. I think even if you take supps, if you were meant to lose it, you will. Good luck!
   — Valerie M.

September 1, 2002
hiya sounds like you had fun shopping! don't ya just love reading all those labels?? lol i take 1 chewable orange flavored centrum, 2 citrical (i have a friend who takes 4 tho...), 1 b-12 sublingual, and for iron my doc prescribes trinsicon...not sure if you can get enough iron without a supplement and i'm not sure if there is an over the counter iron that will meet our needs. i never did biotin, lost hair but it came back. good luck! kate open rny 6-14-01 pre op: 268lbs goal weight: 135lbs current weight: 130lbs
   — jkb

September 1, 2002
Hi Anna... I wanted to post so that you won't make the same mistake I did... Funny, just turned 3 years post op and still learning... I purchased some Citrical calcium citrate because I had read here that calcium nitrate doesn't work well for us absorbtion-wise... At the same time I found out that I was borderline anemic and needed to take an iron supplement... 325mg of ferrous sulfate was prescribed for me... Well, the combination constipated me SO bad!! Whew!! I went to my doc with the info... and he prescribed Niferex tablets for iron instead and I don't have that problem anymore... I take a prenatal vitamin... calcium citrate and niferex iron supplements... but I take it during the course of the day with LOTS of water... Be careful :-) and take good care of you..
   — California J.

September 1, 2002
CORRECTION: Calcium Carbonate is the one that doesn't absorb well for us... I'm feeling like I missed that day in class :-)
   — California J.

September 1, 2002
2 Centrum, yes. If the Citracal are the 2 tabs = 630mg, you'd need 8 per day (4 pairs) to reach 2000mg. I tend to say yes, iron now to hold steady, rather than waiting. Never ferrous sulfate, but preferably the Niferex (someone mentioned below) or carbonyl forms are the best I've seen. When do you get your next labs? And have you already started collecting copies of your labs from pre-op?
   — vitalady

September 2, 2002
California Jo & Michelle - thank you both for your input, it is greatly appreciated. One more question I have is, if we are supposed to take the vits with food in our tummies, how can we accomplish this while also drinking lots of water? I have been waiting 30-45 minutes after eating, then taking the supplements with plenty of water (my surgeon's nurse told me my water intake was one of the best she's seen so far and I go anywhere from 60-80oz. per day and don't include herbal tea in that total). Thanks again for your help! I'll be glad when I get a job and have my own cash, don't have to explain to the man why I need this or that! Someone hire me soon, please! LOL
   — Anna L.

September 2, 2002
Anna I take Flintstones chewable complete for my vitamins, get those anywhere an I found that I get them at Sams a big bottle that will last me a year. Also take Calcium carbonate (cherry flavor) chewables x2 a day since your body cant consume more then 600 mg at a time, B-12 also chewable cherry flavored 1/2 tablet per day, both at GNC. Hope this helps an good luck on your weight loss.
   — Wendy G.

September 4, 2002
My test for vitamins was to take one and drop it in a glass of water and see how long it takes to dissolve. There are no FDA requirements or restrictions on vitamins so slot of them are coated with shellac, yes, shellac! They never even break down in your system. the only ones I have found so far is Amway vitamins, they passed the test, others came back out in my feces (sorree) Find a distributor, (or call me) and order them, they are well worth the price, they are the real thing! Check out their website at Quixtar.cam and read up on the vitamins. I will give them to you at my cost, I am not in it to build a business, just get my products, I have used their makeup for the past 15 years adn I will use no other. Good luck! Be careful though.
   — Jane C.