Question:
WHAT VITAMINS DO YOU TAKE 6 MONTHS AFTER SURGERY

   — amy G. (posted on June 20, 2004)

June 20, 2004
I'm at 18 months and still taking my chewable Flintstones twice a day. I recent saw a report on GMA and they said Flintstones were the most absorbable (sorry can't spell.
   — jocelyn

June 20, 2004
9 months out - I take calcium with vitamin D, biotin for hair and nails, one pre-natal vitamin (I was advised that this was the best all around, most complete vitamin on the market), zinc, potassium supplement, and B-12.
   — scbabe

June 20, 2004
I too am six months out, and I have switched from the chewable to a powder mixed in a small glass of orange juice. I mix half in the morning and half before bed. "Swanson" all day complete.(1-800-437-4148)or www.swansonvitamins.com.. I have found that this is not bad tasting and has a well balanced amount of vitiams, I only add calicum in the evening with this as it has everything I needed in it, plus has 7gms of protein as well. Might be worth checking out !.. Best of luck.. God Bless.
   — Kalli R.

June 20, 2004
I am 6 1/2 months post-op. I take an adult chewable vitamin twice a day (Nature Made brand), calcium only if I don't get my milk in, and biotin. I get a B-12 shot every 3 months at my check ups. Thats all....
   — Kathy *.

June 21, 2004
I take a number of things and my labs are looking very good. My only issues to date are with mineral deficiencies that evidently existed pre-surger (magnesium and iron). Okay what I am taking is: Glacial Milk (liquid) as part of my multi regimen, Centrum chewables (2), Calcium citrate with magnesium and D (3 or 4 a day for 1500-2000 mg), Dry E (1), biotin, zinc, sublingual B12, Stress B complex (2), and potassium. I am also receiving magnesium injections and am taking magnesium citrate tablets (400-800 mg) and have just begun to do iron supplements and am still looking for a compatible one. I have an excel spreadsheet where I lay out all of my supplements side-by-side and the ingredients. This allows me to compare apples to apples so that I know I am not over-doing a specific supplement. I have purchased some decent books about supplements and use them as a guide along with my lab work. I also track my lab work in an excel sheet to see what my trends are because this is the best way to stop a problem before it becomes serious. My surgeon does a very complete set of labs every three months. Know what you body is doing. Again as I mentioned in my answer to your protein question, please feel free to email me if you would like more detail. Sandra
   — Arizona_Sun

June 21, 2004
Hi! I am 7 months out, but take Vista vitamins Am & Pm. I take 4 calcium citrate with D daily 2 at noon and 2 at night, and I take B complex sublingual every other day. Just had the results of my 6 month bloodwork and all is excellent. The Vista Vitamins are more expensive, but I think due to the formulation, they absorb better than most. Anyway for me they work. Good LUck! LeeAnn 10/14/03 300/196/150
   — doglover

June 21, 2004
I take the following vitamins every day (and have followed the same routine since two months out when I added the calcium citrate): <li>1 multi-vitamin - this used to be the Centrum Chewable, but I've graduated in the last month or two to a CVS Essential Vitamin (Green Label - 365 pills per bottle) that is about the size of a M&M and is easily swallowed. <li>Twinlab Chewable Calcium Citrate wafer - this tastes like a Sweet Tart. I take 4 of these a day - two in the morning and two in the afternoon or evening. One of the previous posters said that they don't take their calcium when they drink enough milk. I want to respond to that. I was told by my nutritionist that we cannot take in enough calcium in our diet post-op - especially considering that the duodenum and at least the first 25 cm of the jejenum are bypassed in all RNY's. This is the area where the calcium absorption is the greatest. She told me to supplement the full amount of what is needed (at least 1000mg in men, women should be 1500-2000mg daily) and whatever might happen to be absorbed by the food is gravy (so to speak *G*). <li>In addition to the vitamins/minerals, I take 4 Fiber Choice chewable wafers (sugar-free variety) to keep me regular. <p> Hope that helps...JR
   — John Rushton