I went to my post op nutrition class on Monday (I'm 8 days post) and one of the things I asked the nutritionist about was not being able to tolerate the chewable Multivitamin (Bariatric Advantage-Vitaband 1 (2) times daily). I started taking it the 3rd day, tried it twice both times almost vomiting it up. She suggested just waiting then until my stomach is healed and they allow for capsule usage vs the chewable. Great with me but when I asked when that will be she said about a month (4 weeks post).. I then said OK would it be alright then to take (2) children chewable flinstone completes OR the gummy One A Day adult Multivitamins in place of the ones I cannot tolerate until I can move onto the capsule and she said NO don't worry about it, you can go without the Vitamin for a month. I just kinda said OK with a reeeally look on my face.

Wouldn't you think having some type of vitamin would be better than having nothing at all? I'm pretty sure I have seen some of you here on the boards using the alternatives I mentioned above, if so there were no obvious issues with them, right?

Work with your doctors:scared0: I had challenges with the vitiamins and like a silly person, stopped taking them. Four months later...not thinking it has anything to do with my WLS & diet (thought it was stress from work and life in general) was feeling depressed and not sleeping. Got some additional blood work and I was low in Vit. D, B and another called DHEA all resulting in mood/depression and potential bone issues! It's been two weeks taking suppliments and I'm feeling WAY WAY WAY better. Each of us has a different reaction/chemistry and because of our diet behaviors I bodies react differently....please work with your doctors so you aren't doing any hidden long-term damage.

okay...I'm off my little rant Ladies...just want everyone to be successful and healthy:001_smile:

I had my labs drawn when I was about 9 months post op and I was deficient in a lot of things. I eat a varied diet with protein fruits and veggies. I am now taking iron among other things, even though I was taking a multi all along. I don't agree that we don't need to worry about being vitamin deficient. I just had blood drawn today, and I will find out if I have improved in the areas I was low in.

Thank you for your input OregonDaisy. I agree with you in a long term but I wouldn't worry so much for 2 to 6 weeks after eating normal and having a lot of fat to get rid of. I did it for 45 days and it worked without making me deficient at all by doctor's recommendation. I'm glad you brought it up because I didn't mean to talk anybody into not taking their vitamins in a long term.

Have you looked at coconut water? It has lots of great vitimains.

Have you looked at coconut water? It has lots of great vitimains.

Where do you get straigh fresh coconut water? It really sounds delicious to me.

You can buy it canned or bottled at most health food stores like Earthfare or krogers. You can also buy the coconut and just drink the water/milk from the middle. If you get a fresh coconut (with the green shell not brown) it will have a lot more nutrients in it. A neat fact about coconut water is that you can subsutute it for blood in transfusions and coconut is the only food you can live solely off of. I used it after the home birth of my son to gain back energy. Add a slice of lime when it's chilled and it's pretty good .

Thank you DJackson! I have already wrote that on my list for after I get the surgery. Great tip. Are you looking for a doctor? I'm in Orange County California and I'm going through Dr. Quebbemann.

Yes I am! I'll look up Dr. Quebbemann, thanks for the suggestion :biggrin0:

To find his website got to google and type: N.E.W program at Newport Beach, CA. I have been researching doctors for 6 months, let me know if I can be of any help to you. Dr. Quebbemann has a discount price now of $14,785.00. I couldn't find anything cheaper close to home but I know there are doctors in the center of the US that do it a lot cheaper.

This was a good thread for me. I have had a lot of trouble not throwing up vitamins. I'm going to have my blood checked out and see if I'm difficient. I have no trouble taking the D vitamins, my thyroid medicine, etc. But multis liquid or not, make me puke.

I tried the Centrum Orange flavored chewable yesterday and did not throw up. It was not as gross as I thought it might be. More like chewing a Tums. Doesn't have a lot of calcium, but it seems to have enough of everything else.

I personally would take something closer to the Adult Gummy and try to find one that does have Iron. B12 is recommended if you are on a PPI/acid reducer. They have sublingual ones that taste like cherry, you stick it under your tongue, it dissolves and your done.

The big issue is that we are losing so fast, things are running through our bodies and liver, and we aren't taking in large amounts of Vitamin rich foods that taking a good quality vitamin will help keep you from becoming deficient, or your body having to play catch up. There's more than Iron, Vitamin A, D, B and C that we need. Folic acid, copper, selenium, Riboflavin, Niacin, etc etc are all essential for all of us. Plus, throw in there that most sleeve patients take a PPI (Nexium, Prilosec, Etc.) that can inhibit absorption of some very vital minerals and Vitamins.

Not all vitamins and minerals are fat soluble, and while it may take me months to even a year to become deficient in a particular vitamin/mineral, I don't want to make my body work any harder. Losing fast is great, but don't forget that it can be very tasking on our bodies, livers, hair and skin.

Just my 2cents.

So noted. Makes perfect sense to me. Thanks!

Pre surgery I tested low on D and B12...( I use sun screen, and I'm a vegetarian... ) I eat a large variety of fruits, veg and grains, so sometimes food is not enough. I was a little deprressed, and the D really snapped me out of it.

My surgeon wasn't that concerned either about supplements but I still take a multivitamin, iron, b12, the only thing i'm not taking is calcium cause i drink a lot of milk. I'd rather be on the safe side and not let my body suffer from lack of vitamins, I know for a fact that vit B12 even if you take more than the RDA is excreted by pee, so no harm in taking it, I'd rather be sure I'm protecting my brain and nerves.As per the other vitamins you won't take too much if you take what your Doctor or the bottle say, better safe than sorry!

Hi Gloria - You dont have to have Fresh Coconut Water. You can get packaged. I Personally Drink Vita Coco brand and here are the nutritional details:

Per 100 ML (each container is 330 ML so x 3 for each for rough est.)

25 cals

0 Protein

6 grams Carbs

6 grams sugar from carbs

0 fat

0 fibre

12 mg sodium

15 mg calcium

12 mg magnesium

206 grams of potassium

44 mg vit C