Question:
What are the essential vitamins I should be taking?
I have surgery in 6 weeks. I really would like to start taking my vitamins now. I have having gastric bypass. Can some one please help me??? — jackie L. (posted on October 12, 2008)
October 12, 2008
Hi Jackie,
In the begining my Dr. had me on Flinstone chewables, sublingual B-12, and
calcuim citrate. Since then I take adult chewable multi-vitamins, still my
sublingual B-12 and I use Building Block Bariatric chewable calcuim (which
is a citrate). But those are 4 a day, 2 in the am and 2 in the pm. Other
than that you will need to check with the nutritionist to see what their
regimen is. Best of luck to you, it is so exciting!
— Jean N.
October 12, 2008
my dr. told me to take a one a day vitamin, until i had surgery and then
the weight loss center told me to take opti-source vitamins, you can get
them at walgreens, or walgreens.com, they are chewable, and don't taste bad
at all, you can also get them at nestle health or something like that, you
can do an internet search, they was cheaper through the nestle place, you
take 4 of them a day, and nothing more. my bloodwork after 6 months came
back good, except protein was low, I guess that was my bad!!
— Lisa Koch
October 12, 2008
Dear Jackie, I don't know about the vitamins, but congratulations on your
surgery!! That's so great - I had a lap band a month ago and, so far - so
good. I think the hope we all get from this is really amazing. Best of luck
(: -Barbara W.[aka, Oakroom]
— oakroom
October 12, 2008
I took Bariatric Advantage Orange chewables for over 10 months but ran out
and forgot to reorder so now I take Centrum Multi-vitamin that I swallow. I
started taking my vitamins before I had surgery just to get in the routine
of taking them. I take Biotin (I'm very lucky and never lost any hair after
WLS), B-12 sublingual that you put under your tongue and let dissolve,
Calcium Citrate, make sure it's not Calcium Carbonate because we have
trouble absorbing the Carbonate and now I also take a B-complex, Vitamin D
, Iron with a chewable Vitamin C . Good luck with your surgery.
— DEBI R.
October 12, 2008
Jackie it is very crucial to start taking your vitamins before surgery. My
Surgeon told me that, so you can get in the habit of taking your vitamins.
I don't have my date yet , but I'm having the DS done. I wish you luck on
your journey.
— Judy Hardy
October 12, 2008
Jackie, your surgeon should have given you a list what he or she wants you
to take. Each surgery has different requirments. For the DS and ERNY there
are more doages to be taken compared to the lap band or RNY. You really
need to talk to your surgeon about this and not listen to other people. But
you should be taking them now before surgery. I wish you the best.
— [Deactivated Member]
October 12, 2008
The most effective vitamin / mineral supplement is a "liquid".
You will only absorb 10-15% of pills and chewables. A good
"liquid" vitamin / mineral supplement is VEMMA. It has 1000 IU
of vitamin D3, very important. In addition take calcium citrate, B-12
sub-lingual and find a protein powder for shakes that you like. Go to
www.TrySomeVemma.com Good luck !
— [Deactivated Member]
October 12, 2008
With GB you will malaborb fat and nutrients...and therefore all your vits
need to be supplemented forever...Regardless of people that tell you
"don't listen to others" as if this isn't "questions and
answers" or for people who live with the same surgery that you are
having. You should always be your own health care advocate and question
your doctors "opinions" and ours...if you ever doubt them ( or
because you want to live a long time post op) ... We make mistakes...But
so do surgeons and doctors. YOU know your own body better than
anyone...and if something feels off, then it probably is. The problem with
new post ops is that they think that because for 6 months or even a year or
two that they have great labs that this is how it will always be...I
thought the same! I was great for 4 years even! At year 3...Doc didn't even
runs all tests because I felt great and kept my weight in check with no
troubles. I thought that was weird but didn't question it...I will NOT make
THAT mistake again. It takes the body a long time to use all its natural
vitamin stores...and...Unless you have a WONDERFUL surgeon who compares all
your labs past and present and takes the time to even order a full set of
labs each time, you may not even know you are getting low or decreasing
your stores UNLESS you personally keep an eye on your labs and
levels...Often docs will only see if you are in range and that is their
only concern...Meanwhile you could be great and then drop sharply but stay
just above a low and with a year til next labs, become deficient to the
point of becoming VERY sick. This happens quite often to many if not most
3-5 year post ops. I had a great surgeon and nut but I was almost
completely malnourished at my 4 year mark...After much researchon vits and
nutrition... Iam healthy again after battling malnutrition for the last 8
mos....Fat soluble vits can no longer be absorbed efficiently and dry forms
of these vits eventually need to be supplemented...Fat soluble vits are A,
D,E and K...These are often the vits that most RNYers become deficient in
3-5 years post op along with those that need stomach acid to be absorbed or
the bypassed intestines (Two important vits are calcium and iron
mainly)...Once Vit D goes...calcium and magnesium are close behind...If you
are not watching your iron or B-12, anemia is sure to follow...Once your
system gets low or deficient in a few vits it sends off a chain reaction
that can leave your body in chaos...one vit robbing your bones and other
vit supplies fighting for nutrients and co-nutrients to do their job! This
is when malnutrition can make you so very ill. Take an adult chewable to
ensure you get the vits suitable for your ADULT body! Chewable's are not
only for children... We are adults whose bodies are used to a large amount
of food and nutrients...Take an adult vits regardless of what your doc
tells you...FOR YOUR ADULT BODY!!! I don't say this because I
"think" I know it all, I say it because I BELIEVE it and I LIVED
thru malnutrition and prevention is the best and ultimate way to ensure
your health! You need a sublingual B-12 and need to keep an eye on the
levels...In high doses it's harmless...get low and you could have
irreversible brain damage or anemia , heart attack or all!...Malabsorption
is real and does not magically get better and you don't adjust as I was
lead to believe...It get's worse and if you are not religious about taking
your vits...you can guarantee yourself more serious problems later! Because
of low to almost NO stomach acid with RNY, you must take calcium citrate
with Vit D 3 and magnesium...These three ingredients in one chewable,
liquid or powder all work together to help you absorb calcium....Without
the Vit D3 (which is a dry form of D rather than oil form) You will not
absorb calcium ...and while banders can take calcium as carbonate...RNYers
will not absorb that form of calcium and it can cause gallstones too! TAKE
calcium as Citrate twice to four times a day. You will only absorb 400-500
mg of calcium at one time (reason to take it at least twice daily, two or
more hours apart for at least 1000 mg) I personally take 1500-2000 a
day...(3-4 times daily with extra Vit D3) If you are menstruating you
definitely need Iron (NO IRON SALTS!!!) as carbonyl (tender iron) or as
amino acid chelate and various other NON SALT irons...Speak to your doc
about doses...as IRON is NOT a friendly vitamin...If your Surgeon
recommends Ferrous sulfate (iron salts)...you better start researching his
choice immediately! It's useless to RNYers and yet many surgeons still
recommend it because it is Iron-by-the-textbook and they are most familiar
with it than other less toxic, more absorbable iron like carbonyl (Which
got me out of blood transfusions and iron infusions!) ...Iron salt does
more harm than it can ever do good...Docs do not often require extra vits
beyond those that I mentioned...but a B complex (capsules) no pills, are a
great supp for hair, skin and nails as well as energy and amino acid
absorption (Aminos are what protein is made of and we are all DRUMMED and
HAMMERED to death about the importance of protein) Is this too much info?
Sorry, it's so important in years to follow! Watch your labs closely...Ask
for copies and keep in a binder or folder for your own reference and DO NOT
trust that your surgeon will even look or compare old labs to new
ones...YOU do this for yourself because you are the only person fully in
charge and responsible for your life and are the only person on this green
earth who truly cares enough about you to survive as long as you can. You
are having surgery because you want to be healthy and happy and
thin...so...research all you about nutrition and vits in the GB
body....Once you lose all your weight...you need be able to live in your
thin altered body that no longer functions properly without supplements and
vitamins. Or you can do as some others here advise and just listen to your
surgeon and ignore the people on this forum because we don't know
jack...don't live in an altered body and couldn't possibly have a clue let
alone give good advice about the surgery we live with...
— .Anita R.
October 13, 2008
— Lisa C.
October 30, 2008
I agree with the other post below about the chewable vitamins, B12, and
Calcium Citrate (not carbonate). The only other thing I would recommend is
to find a good chewable iron tablet. They are hard to find anywhere but
on-line. "Bariatric Advantage" has some great
chewables......check them out. But don't forget the iron! Iron deficiency
is the most common side effect of our surgery, so stay on top of it, or you
will be sorry!!! (I was) -Darlene
— dadebrito
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