My surgery is scheduled for 1/4 and I am getting everything ready ahead of time. I have ordered a bunch of protien samples so I will be prepared to try them post-op to see which ones I like the best.

But what I haven't gotten yet, or even really thought about was Vitamins. I don't have much money, and the ones from Bariatric Advantage are so expensive. Does anyone have any advice on some good, inexpensive vitamins that I can take post-op? Also, what about Calcium, Iron, B-vitamins, etc? Are all of those necessary? Can I find these in chewable form somewhere fairly inexpensive? Do I need to invest in Omega-3's as well?

There are just so many options and I am getting more and more confused the more I research them!

Shellbelle - My husband totally figured out my Vitamins for me.. I have never taken them before and he is kinda freaky about taking them. Anyway here is what I have been taking...

3 calcium chews 500mg Plus D & K per day - Carmel flavor ( very good like eating a carmel candy ) Meijer Brand around 8.99 for 60 chews - 1 chew 3 times per day

Vitamin B complex sublingual liguid with B12 1200 units - 1/2 dropper under the tongue once per day in the morning - 10.99 will last a while so not bad - bought it at walmart

1 Bariatric Advantage multi- vitamin ( berry flavor chewable) twice per day. One in the morning and 1 in the evening. 24.00 for 1 month supply

I chose not to take the Iron because I had the thermal albation a few years ago and do not have a full blown period anymore.. which is terrific

The only expensive one was the multi vitiman - I'm going to shop around on that one

I have not taken any of the other ones you mentioned and it's not on my list from the Doctor

Hope this helps!!

I've been taking -- on my dietician's recommendation -- generic kid's chewable multi-vitamins with iron from Walgreens. I don't know how much they were but I'm sure they were less than $5. Also I have to take 2 Tums Ultra a day. I've heard you can get sublingual B12 fairly cheap too. That covers me for vitamins. You'll get more variety and probably better taste if you spend more, but I don't think you have to go into debt over supplements, especially since they are so essential.

<p> </p>

<h1 class="ipsType_pagetitle" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-size: 14px; font-family: tahoma; color: rgb(50, 50, 50); white-space: nowrap; ">

<span class="fn nickname" style="font-size: 16px; ">LGoz - where did you get the Meijer calcium chews?</span></h1>

Please disregard that last post, not sure what happened.

I was wondering where you got the Meijer calcium chews from, LGoz.

at Meijer ..It is a store like Walmart or Kroger.. .. I'm not sure you have them in Florida. You can look at your local grocery. There were name brand also but they are more but still ok in price..

Shelle, Try Walgreens or CVS for your Vitamins. They often have B1G1 sales.

I take: Centrum Chewables for Women, 1 per day (was 2 until I was back on solids post-op) bought at Walmart; 1 sublingual B12 per day 5,000 mcg, bought at Walgreens, 2 Tums chewables morning, 2 Tums chewables at night, 750 calcium. I use Tums instead of Calcium pills because I'm on Coumadin and my pulmonologist wants me on the Tums.

I also started taking Biotin at 2 months out. It's a B-complex Vitamin that helps with hair regrowth since many WLS patients lose a good bit of hair starting around the 3rd month. Mine's thinning, but not as badly as I'd feared.

I'm on a tight budget like you, and I'm betting my monthly vitamins come in under $30. I took it from my food budget since I'm not eating or cooking anywhere near as much as before surgery.

Good luck!!