Does anyone else take an absurd amount of vitamins?

Desifreckle

For several years I have dealt with cronic fatigue. It would be as bad as coming straight home from work and taking a 3 hour nap, only to be awake for 3 more hours then go back to sleep for another 8 hours before going to work again. Or just coming home and laying in bed the rest of the day. I had blood work done and nothing, doctors said my numbers were all good so they didn't really care to look further into it. Well, in the past year I've had 2 surgeries removing 2 different cysts (one as large as a watermelon, that filled my entire pelvis) immediately after that one was removed in May of 2015, another one began to grow and became almost 10cm. That cyst and my left ovary was removed in Febuary 2016. I still felt tired 24/7. Also, I was forced to take birth control to control the cysts and sloebthr growth, so the hormones were making me crave carbs like crazy in result this past year has not been a good year for my weight. (I went from 300 to 176 2 years before all of this happened)

I finally switched doctors (obgyn and weight loss specialist) and this guy has changed my life. Lol! The first thing he did was give me a mile long list of vitamins he wanted me to take, and just about everyone I know seemed skeptical about it. I was even a little hesitant because multivitamins never worked for me and some even made me sick. A few people told me not to bother, but I was willing to do anything so I bought EVERYTHING on the list and I had to get a 2 week pill organizer just to keep it straight....but.....I got to tell you.....I feel so much better already! It gives me hope that I may be getting out of this funk finally, hell I'll keep my granny pill organizer forever if it makes me feel like this! Hahahaha

I was just wondering, is there anyone else who takes a LOT of vitamins??? How long have you done it? Where do you buy them? What brands? Is Amazon a good place to get them?

hassankarimi82

I've taken a multivitamin & mineral and glucosamine for the last 3 years. They are a supplement to my diet, but if it gives me that extra 1% benefit then the cost to effect ratio is worth it. So there's no need to take more than the stated dose. They are synthetic anyway and won't replace what proper nutrition can give. That help?

Enjcg5

I take RAW one daily multivitamin and Minami fish oil supplement in the morning and magnesium at night. I love the way they make me feel! I buy them on Amazon and have it set to auto delivery.

psuLemon

Most supplements are highly ineffective and outright useless. Which ones are they suggesting?


My wife has a good amount of supplements (magnesium taurate, potassium, one a day, vitamin d, electrolyte drinks, does IV infusions) but she also has Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome.

MelissaPhippsFeagins

I take a multivitamin in the am and zinc & magnesium before bed. Before my autoimmune disease was correctly diagnosed, I also took iron & vitamin c three times daily, 1/2 hour before meals and a B complex morning and night. If I am having a bad week, I take the B complex occasionally.

ReaderGirl3

Nope, don't take any. I was taking fish oil for a while but my doctor told me to stop because it can affect cholesterol numbers and mine are optimal now. So nothing for me

Francl27

Been feeling better and got less sick since I stopped taking vitamins actually...

RoxieDawn

I sleep a ton better stopping the multi vitamin I took. I still take a magnesium and calcium (peri meno).. But I too feel better not taking vitamin supplements...

kirstenb13

I only take prenatals currently because the usefulnes of folic acid is scientifically well established but other vitamins are probably mostly bs.
This is an article about a study that even found an increased risk of mortality with multivitamin use http://blogs.plos.org/publichealth/2014/08/21/multivitamin-supplements-increase-mortality-risk/

I just do my best to get them from food.

extra_medium

kirstenb13 wrote: »

I only take prenatals currently because the usefulnes of folic acid is scientifically well established but other vitamins are probably mostly bs.
This is an article about a study that even found an increased risk of mortality with multivitamin use http://blogs.plos.org/publichealth/2014/08/21/multivitamin-supplements-increase-mortality-risk/

I just do my best to get them from food.

Don't we all have a 100% chance of mortality anyways?

Sassie_Lassie

I do but only because the servings are broken up throughout the day. The main ones I take are:

Daily multi with niacin
Vitamin D
Calcium
Coq10
Omega 3
Endothelial
Krill
Macuguard (for the eyes)

And a bunch of others. I also get my blood tested 2 times a year and adjust as necessary. I personally do no think you can obtain all of the necessary vitamins your body needs through fruits and vegetables.

fitmom4lifemfp

I take a multivitamin, super-b, biotin, and melatonin. Have done so for many years. Once when I slacked off for a few months, I noticed limp hair, less energy, etc. - so I don't slack off anymore.

socajam

I take Vitamin D and that has made a quite difference to my life. Now I have added a multivitamin per my endocrinologist, that all. I eat very healthy, so I get most of everything else from what I eat.

williammuney

Look up dr. Bruce Ames on YouTube if you really want to know how vitamins and minerals effect the body

AmazonMayan

Just iron occasionally when I know I'm not eating correct foods for me to keep my levels good. Years of dealing with this so I know before the Dr can tell me lol.

Anything else I do well easily getting enough from foods. Multi vitamins and prenatal all of it makes me ill.

stefanwolf

I take Raw One multi, fish oil, reservatrol, and glucosamine/msm. I also drink Shakeology after long workouts.
Quality of the vitamin matters! I never take a one a day multi, but a 4 a day serving that a spread throughout the day. Ultimately, if you feel better, then despite the naysayers something good is happening. I do not know if there is a right answer. Someone on this post wrote that they stopped talking fish oil because it would affect their cholesterol, whereas my nutrition class in college it is recommended to take fish oil if you do not eat enough fatty fish because it raises your HDL (which helps lower LDL.) It was also recommended by my Husdands Doc to help his high cholesterol. Two points of science at odds with each other.
Some people feel sick with vitamins, which could be because they are getting too much of something or because they are buying a low quality vitamin. I do wonder myself sometimes if I am getting too much, but as long as I feel better then that's the important part.

ReaderGirl3

stefanwolf wrote: »

I take Raw One multi, fish oil, reservatrol, and glucosamine/msm. I also drink Shakeology after long workouts.
Quality of the vitamin matters! I never take a one a day multi, but a 4 a day serving that a spread throughout the day. Ultimately, if you feel better, then despite the naysayers something good is happening. I do not know if there is a right answer. Someone on this post wrote that they stopped talking fish oil because it would affect their cholesterol, whereas my nutrition class in college it is recommended to take fish oil if you do not eat enough fatty fish because it raises your HDL (which helps lower LDL.) It was also recommended by my Husdands Doc to help his high cholesterol. Two points of science at odds with each other.
Some people feel sick with vitamins, which could be because they are getting too much of something or because they are buying a low quality vitamin. I do wonder myself sometimes if I am getting too much, but as long as I feel better then that's the important part.

At the time she told me to stop the fish oil (last spring), my total cholesterol was 150/HDL was 58/triglycerides were 49/LDL was 82. There's such a thing as too low of cholesterol causing issues, so she recommended that I quit the fish oil. Fast forward to the fall and new blood work put my total cholesterol at 167/HDL at 69 and LDL at a 97. So while being off the fish oil my HDL actually improved. My total cholesterol went up a bit, which is actually a good thing, and my LDL went up some, but still within the normal range. Both my doctor and I are very happy with where I'm at, and there's no need for me to change anything or add any supplements to my diet.

dlkfox

Multivitamins, probiotics, and fish oil make feel sick. Plus, multivitamins have so much stuff in them. I know I don't need all of it because I track what nutrients I am getting.

That being said, I do take a calcium supplement because of the dairy allergy, and it's the only way I get close to my daily recommended amounts.

kissa714

I take a multivitamin, a fish oil omega-3 supplement and a B/C/zinc vitamin daily. im thinking about getting an iron supplement as well. I think vitamins are incredibly important, especially if you dont eat a lot of animal products.

emjay2345

Do you mean at one time?

stillnot2late

Yes I take a multi, with extra supplements. Two doctors recommended what to take and I did it. When I tell myself its all hype and I stop, I go right back to my lousy-ness and achy-ness and sleepless-ness - and having no strength to even exercise. So for about 20 years I've done it. Nobody told me that I didnt need to take them, to just get my nutrients from food, because its between my doctors and me. I know that I used some words that are not real, I did it on purpose. I also noticed that several of my friends' docs have been telling them to supplement their meals.

jgnatca

Post Bariatric patients come with known malabsorption issues so I'll be on vitamins for life. I have to watch my Folic Acid, vitamin D, B12, iron, and calcium.

I take an eight hour patch so I don't have to use up valuable stomach real estate for the vitamins as well as extra iron, vitamin D, and B12. (Patch MD.com)

I take the B12 as a sub-lingual pill. I take iron at the end of the day with a chewable vitamin C to help with the absorption of both.

I never take calcium with iron as they can cancel each other out.

By the way only the iron deficient should take iron supplements. Too much iron can be a problem too. I got myself a LuckyIronFish.com which is a fun way to get extra iron in.

chrisbyradio

Vitamin deficiencies are usually rare except D and Iron (mostly in women). I would speak to a dietician, nutritionist and/or get a full blood check up from a doctor to see if you're actually deficient in any of your vitamin intake from diet alone. Supplementation is overused way too frequently. You can actually overdo certain vitamins. Most common side effect is kidney stones but fat soluble vitamins have been known to cause toxicity in situations of exceeding the UL (tolerable upper limit). Any really benefit people experience from supplementation is usually placebo in nature. Some supplementation like Creatine and CoQ10 actually have scientific backing and observable results. I would just suggest before spending a bunch of money on vitamins and minerals you should visit a doctor first and rule out deficiencies and other causes for any ailments. Also there has never been a peer reviewed study that has shown taking multivitamins or supplementation has decreased mortality or disease risk versus someone who doesn't supplement at all.

Can_Do_Gal

I live in Northern New England. Vitamin D deficiency is very common here because of the latitude & light. All 4 of us in my family - hubby, 2 teens & myself have been taking Vitamin D for years. Initially, we had bloodwork which showed it to be low, tried a dose suggested by our docs, had repeat testing, and then adjusted the dose. We have testing annually at our annual exam.

Everyone in our family also takes fish oil. Our teens have been on it since they were about 9 & 5. Our HDL levels are not good without it - again, bloodwork. It's super helpful for brain & eye health.

I had thyroid cancer & now take calcium, selenium & magnesium. The calcium is because they had to take a parathyroid (controls calcium) during my thyroid surgery. I cannot maintain healthy levels of calcium on my own, despite having decent calcium intake from food. Again, my level was set with bloodwork. I'm lucky in that I only need a little, so I only have to dose that once a day.

The selenium & magnesium I initiated myself because they are commonly low in people who have had thyroid cancer & are struggling as much as I was for years. My magnesium has been confirmed by bloodwork, and would not be normal without the supplement. When I stopped taking selenium, my thyroid bloodwork went markedly south & when I resumed, it improved. This is indicative of needing it, too.

I'm taking iron right now because of funky perimenopausal bleeding. My ferritin & iron levels are being monitored by bloodwork.

I also take glucosamine/chondroitin. Without it, my knee arthritis acts up.

I consider the above to be a ton of vitamins & supplements. But except for the glucosamine, the need for them has all been confirmed by bloodwork & are monitored by bloodwork. I'm sure you get my point. According to my truly awesome PCP, for most people, vitamins & supplements aren't necessary & generally just make expensive urine when your body expells most of it.

But chronic fatigue is real & truly stinky. I'm sorry you have to cope with that. As someone who felt more than half dead for 3 years because I had narrow minded endocrinologists, I suggest you have your new doctor re-run your thyroid numbers. Make sure they look at Free T4 and Free T3, not just TSH. And educate yourself- there is a wide range of "normal," and one person might feel horrible where one person feels fine.

Camish911

I take a multi-vitamin (One-A-Day Women's Active Metabolism), Vitamin D, Magnesium, and a krill oil supplement. I came to the conclusion that I needed to take Magnesium after reading that stress can exasperate a magnesium deficiency, and a magnesium deficiency can exasperate Eczema. No more Eczema problems now that I take magnesium! I get my supplements from Walmart.

lemurcat12

I take D in the winter (recently stopped it as I'm now going to be out in the daylight more for some months). I take omega 3 (trying the algae kind) off and on, but am not that concerned about it because I eat lots of fatty fish. Tried taking a multi, but it upset my stomach, so I don't. Trying ZMA because I have sleep issues, but I keep forgetting to take it. I avoid taking iron since I've never been diagnosed with a deficiency, overdose is possible and dangerous (it can destroy your liver before you know anything is going on), and my mother has a condition that leads to iron build-up that I am therefore more likely to also have.

Upstate_Dunadan

Not sure if you really mean just vitamins, or supplements. To the later -

Multi-Vitamin
Fish Oil
Creatine
ZMA - at night before bed, results were immediate - deeper sleep with less tossing and turning

I do take a pre-workout and also supplement protein intake with Whey Protein.

minniestar55

Multivitamin with omegas, Adcal D3 (combo D & calcium) due to D/calcium deficiency, glucosamine & chondroitin. Deficiency diagnosed & monitored by blood tests.

H_Ock12

Under the direction of my doctor, I take VitaminD3, Fish Oil, Biotin, B12, and an iron supplement once or twice a week.

dbhDeb

Nothing. I am recommended to take Fish Oil, Niacin, Vit. D and a baby aspirin. I tend to get stomach upset with them.

Hope228

I have Multiple Sclerosis. My Dr. wants me to take 50,000 IU's of Vitamin D. I Haven't been able to find any that go that high. I also take Tumeric, Biotin, and fish oil.