Vitamins

dragonflies6

Are there any gummy vitamins that can be used because I practically vomit every time I have to chew a chalky chewable vitamin. Also what vitamins can be used once I'm able to swallow pills.

ThinGwen

Gummys don't work for the multi because they don't contain something - maybe iron? There are meltaways for pretty much everything, and those are easy to take. Several people like flinstones for the multi

grim_traveller

Gummies and children's vitamins are NOT complete, even if they say they are on the package. Doctors tell people to take Flintstones vitamins for the same reason parents give them to their kids. They taste good, and it's easy to trick people into taking them. But they lack a LOT of things. Compare the labels on gummies and children's vitamins with the label on a complete adult formula, and you can see the difference.

Most people end up using Centrum or a generic version of Centrum. I get the CVS brand when they are BOGO. It costs me about 13 dollars for two 360 tablet containers, or a year's supply.

Here is a good post about Flintstones:

http://wlsvitagarten.com/2011/01/16/guest-post-whats-the-fuss-about-flintstones/

cmchandler74

I think the thing missing from the gummies is Calcium Citrate, which you definitely need unless you want to start losing teeth. I keep a stash of the gummies and an added bottle of Calcium Citrate on hand in case I cut it too close from when my vitamins are shipped for the month (I use Bariatric Fusion, which I get from Amazon). That way, I have SOMETHING just in case, but it's my backup plan, not my norm.

anbrdr

Just make sure your calcium citrate is not taken within 2 hours of anything with iron in it. Your body ca not absorb both in the same time period. I use the centrum silver chewables (no iron) and Bariatric Advantage Calcium citrate 500mg (cinnamon flavored). ! each for breakfast and lunch, and I'ms supposed to take a 3rd multi at dinner, then iron at bedtime, but I usually forget those.

martabeerich

I was told that because of nutrient absorbing issues, I needed to take bariatric vitamins. Also, my clinic said if you HAD to have something different, to have the Dietician look at it, evaluate it, and tell your what to supplement it with. That made sense to me. Vitamin malabsorbtion in WLS patients is a huge issue. Which is why my clinic does yearly bloodwork for vitamin deficiency.

abadee9

Have you tried Centrum Liquid?

grim_traveller

cmchandler74 wrote: »

I think the thing missing from the gummies is Calcium Citrate, which you definitely need unless you want to start losing teeth. I keep a stash of the gummies and an added bottle of Calcium Citrate on hand in case I cut it too close from when my vitamins are shipped for the month (I use Bariatric Fusion, which I get from Amazon). That way, I have SOMETHING just in case, but it's my backup plan, not my norm.

It's not the calcium that's missing from gummy and children's vitamins. Plus, since we can only absorb about 500 mg of calcium at a time, we need to break it up into three doses per day of 500 mg each.

Comparing Centrum adult, sort of the gold standard for complete adult vitamins, and most gummies, the following is what Centrum has that gummies are missing:

Vitamin K
Thiamin
Riboflavin
Niacin
Iron
Phosphorus
Magnesium
Selenium
Copper
Manganese
Chromium
Molybdenum
Chloride
Potassium
Nickel
Silicon
Tin
Vanadium

Flintstones "Complete" are missing:

Phosphorus
Magnesium
Selenium
Manganese
Chromium
Molybdenum
Chloride
Potassium
Nickel
Silicon
Tin
Vanadium

And a lot of things that gummies and children's vitamins do have, they have in lower percentages than a truly complete adult multivitamin.

You don't need chewables or liquid. Tablets and capsules get absorbed just fine. You may want chewables for a few months after surgery when swallowing might be a little more difficult, but they aren't necessary. Chewable bariatric vitamins aren't special. In fact, one brand in particular stinks -- to get the 200% daily we need, you would have to take EIGHT per day of a product called Bariatric Fusion. And you can find complete multis for much, much lower prices than the bariatric chewables.

Don't mess around with vitamins. Deficiencies can take years to show up. Vitamins are medicine. They don't have to be tasty, or fun. Just take them, and take a good one.

garber6th

I took liquid vitamins until my surgeon cleared me to take pills at 4 weeks. My other option per his instructions was to crush all the pills I had to take. I tried that as well as the liquid vitamins, and the liquids were just slightly less foul. Since 4 weeks post op, I have been taking Centrum multi for women, Hair, Skin and Nails, and a calcium supplement. Like Grimm said, you don't need the overpriced bariatric vitamins. I buy my vitamins at Costco, but Puritan's Pride online has really good deals on vitamins and so many to choose from.

dragonflies6

My doctor says I am supposed to take chewable until 8 weeks. I want to take my vitamins but they make me so nauseous that I can't seem to eat anything. And having to take everything multiple times a day keeps me sick to my stomach all day.

Tawnykakers1

Has anyone checked out the Centrum Vitamints? I saw a commercial on them and wondered if they would work.

mjks_mom

I was proscribed Nascrobal which is a B12 nasal spray that you take 1 time a week and it comes free with calcium, and iron and multi especially for bariatic patients called Bariativ vitamins look them up My insurance covers them for a $25 a month copay. The calcium is horrible and very very chalky but i like the other stuff, I take Viactiv calcium which the surgeon said i can take first six week weeks even tho its calcium carbonate and not citrate but then i have to switch over. but by then i can take capsules he said. Win Win. Love the B12 nose spray tho it makes me feel so good each week, i never miss that does.

ThinGwen

Dragonflies- the nausea might be from the iron. Do you take the vitamins on an empty stomach? I try to take them shortly after I eat a "meal" (using chewables and a tiny amount of water to get the flavor out of my mouth), or after I'm halfway through a protein shake.

martabeerich

Vitamins on a full stomach, is what I've been told for years. BTW, it is the B vitamins that make me green. So I take one after every meal (i have 3 ) so I don't OD on B vitamins and get queasy.

KSMussey

dragonflies6; when you get to the stage you can swallow pills take a look at Thorne Research Basic Nutriens 2/day.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FOTMGTU?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s01
They are easy to take capsules and only 2/day give you everything you need except Iron.

akindofmagick

I was swallowing pills before I left the hospital. VSG. Haven't had any trouble with pills, but learned years ago never to take them on an empty stomach.

gdnplnty

Both the nutritionist and my physician have stated to not do the gummies or anything like that due to the VSG. They state that have a tendency to get stuck and can cause irritation, so I have just not used those and stuck with the chewables instead.

I think that between the water and spacing of pills, I feel like I have shoving my face all throughout the day. Starts off with 2 thyroid pills, wait 1 hr, start morning shake (takes me about two hours to finish) then start with the calicium citrate, wait an hour, take chewable vitation, wait 1 hr, start next one, wait, oh yes, drink drink drink water too and continue throughout the day till all those and other meds are done. Add another shake for lunch and pills and water. For bed, can't miss all of those pills as well.

BUT - I have a followup with regular doc next week, and we are going to see about taking me off the blood pressure pill and rechecking my thyroid levels to see if those should be as well.

ki4eld

I use the Bariatric Advantage capsules and have been since 3mo post-op. I just couldn't handle the chewables, but I did them for the first 3 months to prevent any possible issues.