Hello Sleevers! Looking for some advice and guidance on vitamins! What vitamins do you suggest? What's the best bang for your buck? What are good and yucky flavors? Also, input on high protein shakes...what's your experience! Thank you so much! I appreciate the feedback!!

Hey! I'm pre-surgery so I can't speak to the Vitamins question, but I can tell you I've been using the unjury Protein powders since about May 1st (on my own) just to be able to get more protein each day - MD wanted me eating about 100gms/day which is really hard to do. I've lost a little weight during that time and time that my craving for Pasta has practically totally diminished, and I am not craving sweets. A co-worker suggested I try the Unjury so I read all the reviews on the website and took the plunge. I even like the chicken Soup flavor, just have to closely watch the Water temp. I just hope that once I have the surgery my taste preferences don't change.

Have you had your surgery yet? If so, how have you been doing since then? I'm new to this website and have been reading a lot of posts mainly to gather information and everyone's different experiences.

I always hesitate to give Vitamin advice, but will tell you what I do...

I use the Opurity Vitamins that are specifically made for Sleevers. I do this for several reasons...

1. Research indicated that lab results are better after using these vitamins (my labs have all been perfect since my surgery)

2. This allows you to only have to take one kind of vitamin (plus Calcium and Vitamin D), but you don't have to take a slew of other supplements along with a 'normal' vitamin. I like the ease of taking one vitamin..regardless of the taste...which leads me to the next point...

3. It does taste terrible (they claim it's orange berry flavored...it's more orange-y to me)...but once you chew it up and swallow it, it's done...and FOR ME...it's worth tolerating 15 seconds of icky-ness for the benefits of #1 and #2. (I usually take it in the middle of drinking my Breakfast shake, so then I can just drink some chocolate Peanut Butter tastiness and the taste is gone in seconds).

Just my two cents worth...

Edited August 7, 201412 yr by MnWin

For multivitamins, for the first four weeks after surgery I did a double dose of Wellesse liquid multi-vitamin. After that I switched to Trader Joe's High Potency chewable multivitamins. Did a double dose for a year and have recently switched to a single dose since I can eat more now.

I think both of them taste fine. They are both cheaper than specialty bariatric vitamins -- especially the Trader Joe's chewable, which is about as cheap as you will find any high potency chewable multi anywhere. Plus lower calories and carbs than most vitamins.

I have my labs drawn regularly and the results are always excellent.

For protein shakes, I like to use powders to make my own shakes, I don't like the ready to drink stuff like Premiere Protein or EAS. I think all of them (the ready to drink protein shakes) taste disgusting, like industrial sludge. I'm not terribly picky with respect to the powders to be honest. I regularly use HealthSmart cappuccino and hot chocolate, Syntrax Matrix, Syntrax Nectar Sweets, Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard, Chike, Unjury, and Jay Robb. My absolute favorite is the Chike Iced Coffee for sure. I would suggest trying some samples before surgery, then getting some more samples to use after surgery. Don't stock up on tubs of protein before surgery because even if you like it now, you may hate it after surgery. Places to get samples or small quantities:

http://www.nashuanutrition.com/store/protein-powders/protein-powder-samples-1-serving.html

https://www.chikenutrition.com/chike-variety-pack.html

http://www.unjury.com/store/protein/unjury-starter-kit.html

http://www.jayrobb.com/protein/whey-protein-samples.asp

http://www.vitalady.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?search=action&keywords=protsamp&SortKey=sku&SortOrder=ascending&template=Templates/ProteinSampleQuickorder.html

http://www.nashuanutrition.com/store/hot-drinks/healthsmart-hot-drink-cappuccino-7-box.html

http://www.nashuanutrition.com/store/hot-drinks/healthsmart-hot-chocolate-variety-pack-7-box.html

http://www.mybariatricpantry.com/Bariatric_Protein_Samples_s/35.htm

Edited August 7, 201412 yr by Bufflehead

Hey! I'm pre-surgery so I can't speak to the Vitamins question, but I can tell you I've been using the unjury Protein powders since about May 1st (on my own) just to be able to get more protein each day - MD wanted me eating about 100gms/day which is really hard to do. I've lost a little weight during that time and time that my craving for Pasta has practically totally diminished, and I am not craving sweets. A co-worker suggested I try the Unjury so I read all the reviews on the website and took the plunge. I even like the chicken soup flavor, just have to closely watch the Water temp. I just hope that once I have the surgery my taste preferences don't change.

Have you had your surgery yet? If so, how have you been doing since then? I'm new to this website and have been reading a lot of posts mainly to gather information and everyone's different experiences.

Hello, I haven't had surgery yet. All pre-op requirements are done and meeting with surgeon today! I found out yesterday I was approved by insurance to be covered for the surgery! I am excited to see what the next step is!!

I take a pre-natal. But my nutritionist recommended either two regular multi-vitamins or one pre-natal, so I swallow down that giant red horse pill and call it a day. It's called Your Life, and I got it at the grocery store. For my Vitamin B and D, I take Sundown naturals, which I also got from the grocery store. My nutritionist and surgeon did not have any specific brands they endorse or prefer. I was on Centrum chewables, but they tasted awful, I think because of the Iron in them. Anyhow, I have no restrictions on pills so switched over to them as soon as I was cleared for a general diet.

Could someone tell me how long you need to space out your pills before you take another one? I believe it is 15 min.?

I had surgery on 8/5. I am home, walking, drinking my fluids and Proteins. Minimal discomfort. Slight left shoulder pain still from C02. I found the cinnamon gas-x strips on Amazon before surgery and they work great.

I tried diluted apple juice today and also had a Core Power light Protein Drink and my blood sugar was only 83 afterwards. I cried happy tears!!!

I found Core Power light works best for me...it has stevia, monk fruit and some honey. It is 11 grams of sugar and comes in strawberry-banana or chocolate flavors. They sell at Walmart for $2.68 each in my area. I found some on line as well. I used these drinks during my pre-op diet phase and in 1 week, I lost 17 lbs. I added additional Protein Powder to them to boost the intake. I found the GNC pure edge products worked best because they had stevia also.

Artificial sweeteners all cause migraines for me.

Does anyone know if there are companies that do not use sucralose or aspartame as a sweetener in their sugar free chewables or liquids?