Question:
What did your doctor recommend for Vitamin supps post op and how many mgs?

I am finding that what my doctor recommended for vitamin supps post op may not be enough. Would like to hear what other people have been told to take and in what dosage. My doctor said to take Iron 150mg per day, B12 200mcg once a week, 1000mg Calcium citrate, and one multi vite . I've been told that actually we need 1500-2000 mg of calcium, and 2 multi vites, not one. Would like to hear from other people as to what they were told to take.    — Kim B. (posted on November 2, 2001)

November 1, 2001
At almost 4 years post-op, my routine hasn't varied and I haven't had any nutritional problems. Iron 150mg, a otc multivitamin, 2 Tumes twice a day for the calcium. He said we make adjustments if I needed it.. but...my labs continue to be 100% normal.
   — [Anonymous]

November 1, 2001
I think you should discuss your concerns with your doc but this is what he has me on: A prescription iron supplement that contains certain b vitamins as well 2x day( called chromagen forte), Citrical 1200 to 1500 mg in divided dose, people can absorb only 500mg calcium at a time, 2 multivitamin supplements daily, Vit A as beta carotene 25,000u daily, I added biotin 1800 mg and zinc 50 mg two times a day based on recommendation of our nutritionist to prevent hair loss. I thought I would try it ..it couldnt hurt..But zinc killed my empty stomach so I take 1 50 mg pill with a meal. Hope this helps.
   — Sue T.

November 2, 2001
My nutritionist recommends: 1) Multivitamin with Iron. The multi-vit. should contain the minimum of the following: Vit. A = 10,000 IU (comprised of both Palmitate and Beta Carotene), Vit. C = 60 mg., Vit. E = 100 IU, Selenium = 12.5 mcg., B-Complex (mixture of B6, B2, B1 & B12), Iron = 650 mg. of Ferrous Gluconate ( you WON'T find this high a dose in a multi so you'll need a separate iron supplement to bring your daily total intake to 650 mg./day), Zinc = 25 mg. (dosage should not exceed 50 mg. daily), Folic Acid = 400 mcg. Note: For an Iron supplement my doc. recommends "Fergon"; Also, this much iron can cause constipation so he told me to take 2 "Colace" per day. But check with your doc. about this! I've been having problems swallowing pills so for those of you with similar problems, I found a product that looks great. It's a powder you mix in water, juice, or whatever. I seem to have misplaced the info on it but I'll post again with the website. Puritan's Pride also has a similar product called Nutricom. Just wanted to inform you all of these other vitamin options. 2) Vit. B12 = sublingual 1,000 mcg. once a week -OR- injections as per your physicians instructions. 3) Calcium - Citrate form = 1,200 - 1,500 mg. daily. I finally found a chewable in the CITRATE form! Try Twinlab Calcium Citrate Chewable Wafers - citrus flavor; 4 wafers = 1,000 mg. calcium, 10 calories. There're not bad. If you can't find them anywhere, try VitaminShoppe.com. As for protein, my nutritionist said that distals like me need 120 mg./day. I think it's 60 mg./day for proximal bypass. Not sure about the requirements for the other wls procedures. Getting that protein in is not easy. Alot of them are really yucky! Just keep trying samples of different ones until you find one that you like and stick with it! I slacked off lately & now my hair is thinning out. (Boohoohoo!) Well, I hope this helped some. Double-check with your doc. or a nutritionist before you make any changes with your vitamins, just to be safe. Good luck!
   — lalasmommy

November 2, 2001
Here's the website of that powdered multi-vit./mineral product I mentioned: http://www.all-one.com. There are different formulas but I was talking about the original formula. This product even has some protein in it - 7g. I think. Every bit helps! And I am NOT selling this stuff or anything. Check it out if you have problems swallowing pills.
   — lalasmommy