I was given a huge list of vitamins and now on my pre-op diet I am taking them, but I have one problem. How am I going to swallow the powder out of the capsules if I can only drink sips?? It takes like 3-4 gulps of water to get them down now! Is any one else having the same problems?:confused:

I don't understand why you have to take so many vitamins....are you having by-pass or the band? Is your doc's office selling you the vits?

Mimi

I'm having the band. My docs nutritionist told us to start taking vitamins like we are having gastric bypass because we won't be getting the nessicary vits. from the amount of food we are eating (or drinking). They also said that when we are on a regular diet again we will take like half as many. Isn't everyone required to take vits.? they told me my hair will "thin out" if I don't get the nutrition my body needs with these suppliments. Basically they scared me into submission, oh yea, and they don't sell the vits. Do you have to take any?

I'm surprised that you've been told to take so many Vitamins as well. Most bandsters report taking a multi-Vitamin plus a Calcium supplement. That's also what my doctor recommends (I take adult chewables). I've also added B-12 with my doctor's approval. Like most everything else, there can be a wide range of recommendations from our doctors.

I've been banded for over a year, and at my 12 month blood work check they checked everything from A-Z, and all my tests came back within the normal range.

As far as hair falling out, my personal belief due to hair loss I experienced after previous surgeries and childbirth, it's hormonal. I started losing hair about 6 weeks after surgery, but within maybe six months it stopped and grew back as thick as ever. If it was due to a lack of vitamins, it wouldn't have stopped as suddenly as it started, and I wouldn't have had regrowth.

I'm glad to know your doctor isn't selling the vitamins. That was a good question. How big are the vitamins? With good restriction, I'm not supposed to swallow a pill bigger than an M&M.

so my doctor had me taking 2 Multivitamins a day during the pre surgery diet. The reason he explained was that the first week after surgery was hard on the body and he wanted to make sure I was well equipped(vitamin/nutrient wise) to handle it. I was taking one in the morning and one in the evening plus my usual calcium.

During the first week post op - I was given the okay to mix the crushed Vitamin (or pain pill) with applesauce to make it easier to take, I'm sure you can get the same okay.

I'm back to my regular Multivitamin and calcium as my regular routine.

Many of the health food stores have liquid multivitamins... that would solve that issue... just a thought.

Bariatric Advantage has chewables designed for band patients. I used them for the first couple of weeks, but then discovered the capsules my doctor's office provides go down just fine.

If you're not able to get them down, thought, there are lots of alternatives. I WOULD be sure to get Vitamins designed for bariatric patients.

Miss_SeeAnn: I am so glad your doc isn't selling the vits for extra money. Like Kiz I just take chewable adult Centrum and chewable Calcium/Vit D. The "HUGE LIST" of vitamins really through me for a loop because Banding is not an absorption issue and most protein shakes and vitamins have a lot of nutrition. Of course you should do as your doctor recommends. Best wishes,

Mimi

I just take a Centrum (or it's no-brand-name substitute) multivitamin per day, plus I added vitamin B12. I make sure I drink my 2 glasses of milk per day, plus I randomly add fat-free cheese, yogurt, etc... so, I don't take extra calcium. However, I started loosing hair after about three weeks, and am still loosing hair now. I hear that it's supposed to stop and revert back to normal.. I just hope it does! Good luck figuring out what's best for you.. don't forget, almost everyone's journey is a bit different.