Question:
I am 4 weeks post-op lap rny and I am having a terrible time with the chewable childr

The children's chewable s.f. vitamins and the tums my doctor recommended are very hard to me to take. I've always had a problem chewing up medicine. It makes me nauseauted and I find myself dreading to take them. Is it safe to take One-a-day vitamins (Swallow whole) and some other form of calcium? I realize this is very important for my health, but I am having a terrible time with it. Any suggestions?    — Rhonda H. (posted on June 5, 2001)

June 5, 2001
Hi Rhonda, my doctor told me not to take vitamins until after the 6 week check up but... you need to do what your doctor says. At 6 weeks my doc put me on a prenatal vitamin every other day and an iron pill on the other day. They are both in pill form and even though they are large I have no problem swallowing them. My Lap RNY was January 15, 01 and I am down 63 lbs and feel great. Good luck
   — marlene R.

June 5, 2001
Hi Rhonda...my doctor started me on my vitamins at 4 weeks post-op and I thought about taking childrens chewables..but don't think I could handle the taste. I am taking GNC's Ultra Mega for women...which are pretty large..but I break mine in half and take them. As far as Calcium..I take Viactive..which are in chewable form and taste pretty good. You can get them in either Carmel or chocolate chews. Taking large pills at this point won't hurt you...but for me I find myself gagging if I don't break them in two. I think it's all in my head cause I never had problems before. Anyways..I hope this helps...best wishes to you! *hugs*
   — Sherry B.

June 5, 2001
My doctor started me on the chewables (Flintstones Complete with Iron) right after surgery and by week 4 I could not stand taking them any more as they made me sick. My doctor then put me on One-A-Day vitamins twice a day. The pill is very small and easy to swallow and digest. Like other people I take Viactive for my calcium supplement. The chocolate tastes a lot like Tootsie Rolls but my favorite is the caramel which tastes like Kraft Caramels. They're yummy.
   — Jeanne R.

June 5, 2001
Following my lap RNY, my surgeon started me on Flintstones Chewable vitamins and Tums on the 3rd post-op day and instructed me to continue them until I was 3 weeks post-op. At that time, I was told that I could use any multi-vitamin with iron and calcium supplement that I wished. I have been taking Centrum, which is a fairly large tablet, since that time with no problems. Viactiv calcium supplement tastes great, but is certainly more expensive than TUMS, so I just stayed with those since I didn't mind the taste :-) Good luck!
   — Diana T.

June 5, 2001
A few of you mentioned taking Viactive for calcium. Isn't that calcium carbonate? I thougth we as WLS folks should take calcium citrate - that citrate was the only calcium we could absorb post-op. Is that true?
   — Anika R.

June 5, 2001
All I have read says that Calcium citrate is the Calcium supplement to take, NOT the Calcium Carbonate. The citrate absorbs better and is more advantageous to those who have gone thru' WLS. Viactive is "Carbonate" which does not absorb well enough to get daily requirements.
   — Laura M.

June 5, 2001
My nutritionist says children's chewables for the first month, then we can switch to Centrum Complete. As for calcium, Twinlab sells liquid calcium citrate + magnesium, calcium citrate wafers, and calcium citrate + magnesium capsules. I found a great deal on these at http://www.vitacost.com.
   — PT LawMom

June 6, 2001
I really know what you mean, I am 7 weeks post-op, and I used to all most throw up, every time I chewed those Flintstone chewables......My doctor said i could take one a day essinitals, they are smaller then a M&M, I hope this helps you, I know the feeking.
   — Marie B.

June 7, 2001
ihave been told by both my nutritionist and doctor to take a prenatal vitamin and the calcium citrate. tums and viactive are calcium carbonate and are not very absorbable as before the surgery due to the fact that carbonate is primarily absorbed in the duodenum which is usually bypassed in bariatric surgery. hope you find this helpful!
   — KERI L.

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