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Vitamins!

Also, as an update to people saying that they don't know why the nutritionist would discount specific name brands. Or that I should ask why not certain vitamins. I asked her yesterday and she just explained that traditional vitamins do not supply enough of the daily values that bariatric patients need. So really, I could take them but I would have to take way more of them to meet the daily requirements.
 
My surgeon and dietician both told me to take Bariatric vitamins only for the first month. I asked why because these vitamins are not cheap. They said these vitamins have the potency and the purity that is required for my smaller stomach and re-routed intestine to absorb all the nutrients I need properly, especially in the first month. Other vitamins, especially the casing or coating that is used to encapsulate them, do not break down and absorb quickly enough. You only get about half of what you are putting in. It is interesting to note that my program has different vitamin requirements depending on the surgery you are getting as well.
For instance, if you are having gastric sleeve, a daily chewable vitamin such as Flintstones is fine unless you have vitamin deficiencies prior to surgery.
My primary care physician had the gastric sleeve and has only ever used Flintstone vitamins because that’s all she could tolerate. She and I have the same surgeon. My dietician said that after the first month, if I can find other vitamins I can tolerate, I am fine to take them. I just need to bring them in at my one month post-op so the dietician can let me know how much of each I need to take and when. As I am not a pill taker, I will probably stick with my chewable Bariatric vitamins. Not advocating either, it is just my personal preference. As long as you are getting what you need, it doesn’t really matter how you get it.
 
Not to beat a dead horse, but I had the gastric bypass. After 6 months post-surgery and taking generic multi-vitamins & minerals, my bloodwork was perfect. And I'm 60 yrs old. Not knocking bariatric vitamins, just saying that for me, Kroger's brand vits evidently are being absorbed just fine. If anything changes, I'll be the 1st to consider jumping on the bariatric bandwagon. Just not in my budget for now.
 
dianeseattle said:
I'm 14 years post-op.

I was in a 7-year University study.

I was extensively physically tested twice a year, questioned like they were the FBI.

Filled out reams of paper questionnaires.

Constantly monitored by medical professionals.

My results were published in the national society's official report, submitted to FDA.

Done hundreds of hours of research in medical studies.

My health is perfect. Others in my age range suffer numerous diseases.

I hike 5,000-foot peaks in the wilderness and stay in the backwoods a week at a time, carrying a 70-lb. Backpack.

I lost some hair post-op, but it grew back. Common with ANY surgery.

And yet... I would never tell anyone else to do what I do. Each person has a unique physiology. Listen to your doc and nutritionist. Study post-op lab results.

I buy my vitamins and minerals over the counter at Rite-Aid and Trader Joe's, online and anywhere else, after I READ THE LABEL.

Sorry you've had a bad time physically, but how do you know it's related to surgery, rather than aging or environment?

Hundreds of thousands of people have had bariatric surgery over the last 40 years, and technique has advanced with the numbers.

I think it would be presumptuous of me--or anyone--to predict an outcome based on my experience.

But my results are pretty typical. That's why motivated people go through all this.

I have lots of pictures on my profile, mostly of the food I eat while staying healthy. Feel free to have a look.
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I’m confused - are you suggesting that I’m telling people what to do? I didn’t tell anyone “what to do”, barely advised them to confirm that information, if you read my post. I also didn’t say that my vitamin deficiency was related to this surgery- I’m less than 6 weeks out. I battled vitamin deficiency for years because of an unrelated condition- all I was saying that it’s not an easy fix. It takes months to supplement most vitamins, in my case I needed an IV. And it had a devastating impact on my health. Since every source I came across was pretty insistent that bariatric patients need special supplements I only advised to double check this information to avoid serious health problems.
 
I think things are getting just a little too tense about this whole subject…just my opinion. As a “newbie”, I am just trying to get information and support, same as Kcuster83. Things are taking a bit of a turn in the wrong direction. This started as a simple question about VITAMINS of all things and that has turned into a pissing contest over who is right and who is wrong and who is most qualified based on their experience to say what’s right or wrong or who did it better or WHATEVER! We are here to offer up our stories in hopes that maybe someone will find our personal experience helpful as they go along on their own journey. This forum is supposed to be here to support, not tear down or belittle. I hope it stays that way.
 
MANDY2910 said:
I think things are getting just a little too tense about this whole subject…just my opinion. As a “newbie”, I am just trying to get information and support, same as Kcuster83. Things are taking a bit of a turn in the wrong direction. This started as a simple question about VITAMINS of all things and that has turned into a pissing contest over who is right and who is wrong and who is most qualified based on their experience to say what’s right or wrong or who did it better or WHATEVER! We are here to offer up our stories in hopes that maybe someone will find our personal experience helpful as they go along on their own journey. This forum is supposed to be here to support, not tear down or belittle. I hope it stays that way.
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Yessss. I was just asking for what different vitamins people take to try to get some different options to try because what I have tried are sooo gross.
 
3momchaos said:
This is my vitamin of choice. I’ve had good levels for all my blood work so far, and they’re once a day. However, I was instructed not to start vitamins until 1 month post op. You do what your team says about starting though.
Bariatric Choice Once Daily Bariatric Multivitamin Capsule with 45 mg of Iron (90ct) Amazon.com
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I use this one also. It was on dr/bariatric approved list. I started it when I was on liquid diet before surgery
 
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Mal44 said:
I’m confused - are you suggesting that I’m telling people what to do? I didn’t tell anyone “what to do”, barely advised them to confirm that information, if you read my post. I also didn’t say that my vitamin deficiency was related to this surgery- I’m less than 6 weeks out. I battled vitamin deficiency for years because of an unrelated condition- all I was saying that it’s not an easy fix. It takes months to supplement most vitamins, in my case I needed an IV. And it had a devastating impact on my health. Since every source I came across was pretty insistent that bariatric patients need special supplements I only advised to double check this information to avoid serious health problems.
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No, I'm not. I was telling my story based on multiple comments on this subject.

Before RYGB, I didn't even believe in supplements. I don't trust the companies that make them.

I hope you didn't misunderstand me. I'm having some cognitive difficulties lately.

In fact, I found my post so confusing, I deleted it five minutes after I wrote it. No one was supposed to read it.

I am sorry you did. It was not directed at you, but only at detailing some personal experiences from my unique point of view.

I must be off my game.
 
dianeseattle said:
No, I'm not. I was telling my story based on multiple comments on this subject.

Before RYGB, I didn't even believe in supplements. I don't trust the companies that make them.

I hope you didn't misunderstand me. I'm having some cognitive difficulties lately.

In fact, I found my post so confusing, I deleted it five minutes after I wrote it. No one was supposed to read it.

I am sorry you did. It was not directed at you, but only at detailing some personal experiences from my unique point of view.

I must be off my game.
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Love you Diane. Just wanted to remind you! ❤❤❤❤
 
Update: I found a 4 in 1 protein shake. It is protein, multi vitamin, fiber and calcium. It is not the best shake I ever had but it not the worse either. I have verified I can use this after surgery and may just need to take an addition calcium. I am less panicked about being able to take vitamins right after surgery now. Hopefully my taste doesn't change and I will still be ok with it after surgery too.
 
Kcuster83 said:
Update: I found a 4 in 1 protein shake. It is protein, multi vitamin, fiber and calcium. It is not the best shake I ever had but it not the worse either. I have verified I can use this after surgery and may just need to take an addition calcium. I am less panicked about being able to take vitamins right after surgery now. Hopefully my taste doesn't change and I will still be ok with it after surgery too.
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I'm glad you found something that will meet most of your nutrional needs, at least at the beginning of your post-surgery meals. Would you care to share the name of your shakes, flavors available, where you found it & how much, and nutritional amounts. This might be useful to others in search of an all-in-one solution. Way to go.
 
Kcuster83 said:
I don't know all of the answers to the questions you asked. But it is CELEBRATE 4 in 1 protein shakes.
celebratevitamins.com

Celebrate - Bariatric Vitamins and Nutritional Supplements

Celebrate provides the best bariatric vitamins and bariatric supplements following bariatric surgery: gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, and duodenal switch.
celebratevitamins.com celebratevitamins.com
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Betcha you didn't expect a quiz when you posted this! Don't worry, you passed with flying colors!!!
 
One thing that worries me is that vitamins are unregulated. At all. There could literally be anything in them. The FDA doesn't have the authority to check them until someone's liver fails (or other poisoning). Same for supplements. It's a whole big thing from Orin Hatch in the '90s. Anyway, how do you verify that you are getting what's on the package?
 
rjbj said:
One thing that worries me is that vitamins are unregulated. At all. There could literally be anything in them. The FDA doesn't have the authority to check them until someone's liver fails (or other poisoning).

Anyway, how do you verify that you are getting what's on the package?
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I had the same concerns, so I looked forward to post-op blood draws and metabolic panels.

Everyone has a different digestive system, though, and should only examine his/her own numbers and not compare to others.

I watch these numbers closely, since I'm aging and have slacked off since COVID became so intimidating.

Starting this journey really brought up more questions than answers. I don't know how people get enough nutrients without consciously adding more supplements. I also wonder if nutrition actually has a major effect on lifespan. An elderly couple I used to know started with cocktails at lunch and stopped with highballs at bedtime, smoking two packs of cigarettes each, every day. They lived into their 90s.

I'd rather stay in touch with my numbers than take risks. So I'm grateful when I can see the label and compare it to my tests.
 
In case you are interested, the law is the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994. I teach a class about sketchy medicine in American history, and unregulated supplements is high up on my list of medical practices to be wary of. You should see what passed for whole milk before the original Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 brought regulation to consumables: watered down milk, chalk, pureed calves' brains, and just a hint of blue dye. Does a body good!
 
The bariatric advantage vitamins are what my team suggests because they have 1 vitamin that you take ant it has all the vitamins you need in a day. Pre-sugery I'm taking 2 a day. Post-surgery I will take 4 a day. They taste terrible but it is because of the iron that is in them. Iron in any form taste terrible.
 
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