Hi, when did you start taking bariatric supplements, and which brand is the best?

9 hours ago, catwoman7 said:

you're right in that those won't hurt, but like the Patches, they seem to work for some, but not for others. Fortunately, most people don't lose enough hair that it's noticeable to others (although we definitely notice!)

I am dreading the hair loss! I'm vain and I wish there was some supplement or topical that would prevent it.

59 minutes ago, catwoman7 said:

yes - injections are once a month. As for sublinguals, I do a megadose once every two weeks - it cuts down on the cost.

I will require injections? Oh, my.

11 hours ago, ShoppGirl said:

When I asked my NP about these she said she has asked several companies to send her the research with proof that they really do absorb through the skin and not one has yet to send it. So do your research. She said it mustn’t be simple that it absorbs through skin otherwise things like hand sanitizer and alcohol wipes we use on our hands (and she says she uses a ton of all day) would be absorbed into our bodies and that sorta made sense.

Hi ShoppGirl. It's so interesting you said this. I emailed my nut last night about them, and she got back to me today. She said the exact same thing. She has requested information from companies for proof and never hears back from them. She advised me to steer clear of them. Back to the drawing board for me lol.

The science of transdermal patches are real, effective and proven. I can't speak for vitamins or this brand. Ever heard of nicotine patches, prescription pain medicine patches or DMSO? That stuff is 100% effective. It uses a "vehicle" to transport the product into the skin. Your nutritionist may not know about transdermal patches. If you plied sanitizer or alcohol into a transdermal patch, theoretically it also could cross the skin barrier and enter the muscle/blood using whatever vehicle they use. Nicotine patches work. It might just be possible!

4 hours ago, Bloodhound said:

I will require injections? Oh, my.

no. Most of us take sublingual B12 tablets. I don't know very many people who do injections - but those will work fine as well.

4 hours ago, Bloodhound said:

I am dreading the hair loss! I'm vain and I wish there was some supplement or topical that would prevent it.

I think almost everyone dreads the hair loss. I helped lead the pre-op classes at my clinic for three or four years (before COVID hit), and it never failed - at every class, people asked about hair loss! Honestly, most people don't lose enough for others to notice (some do, of course - but for most, no). I hardly lost any. I knew I was losing it because there was more hair strands in my comb for three or four months than was usual, but just looking at my hair - no - couldn't tell. Some people do report their hair getting thinner - but again, more often than not, they're the only ones who notice it.

I think most of us who are a ways out from surgery will tell you that it was a small price to pay for losing all that weight, and it was really more of a minor annoyance than anything else. In retrospect, I shouldn't have wasted any brain cells on it since it really wasn't that big a deal.

That's helpful, thanks!

SORRY JUST NOTICED I’M ON THE GASTRIC SLEEVE FORUM - I’M A BYPASS PATIENT hence the comments below about injecting B12… SORRY!

I’m in the UK and 8 years out from my op - the first few weeks I was forced to take liquid vitamins that were disgusting (drinks that fizz!!) but I’m now on permanent prescription tablets here in the UK and because I’m over 60 I get it free at the point of delivery (all working individuals pay into a national insurance scheme). I do know that we were told categorically that 1) we had to take multivitamins (bariatric grade), plus zinc, calcium, (and if you’re a pre-menopausal lady) iron daily; and 2) that we had to do B12 injections.

I take 500mg chewable Calcium with vitamin D (daily), Zinc 220 mg (2 0r 1 alternate days), Iron 210mg twice a week and Foreceval multivits & minerals (daily). B12 can be done either intramuscular (absorbs quicker, but done generally by a health care professional) or intradermal which is easy to do yourself. I do the latter, as I do the injections once a month by myself. There are videos on YouTube about how to self-inject. The syringes are only small like insulin needles, and painless. I source these myself as the UK is very behind the US in their appreciation of the merits of B12!

Oh - and I barely, if any, lost any hair… maybe a few more than usual when washing for a couple of weeks, when the weight was coming off quickly, but nothing I could ever see.

Edited September 6, 20214 yr by Jacks133

My Dr told me I could take ANY kind of multi vitamin, that it didn’t have to be bariatric specific. Does that sound right to anyone else? Also, I use a B12 nasal spray (prescription) once a week. It’s awesome, no injection and no sublingual.

1 hour ago, Tgtr said:

My Dr told me I could take ANY kind of multi Vitamin, that it didn’t have to be bariatric specific. Does that sound right to anyone else? Also, I use a B12 nasal spray (prescription) once a week. It’s awesome, no injection and no sublingual.

For VSG, can probably get away with OTC but with gastric bypass, the duodenum, distal stomach and proximal jejunum are bypassed so there is a higher potential for vitamin and mineral deficiencies.

Did any of your surgeon's suggest you take two of High ADEK multivitamin a day, in addition to 3 Calcium chews? I didn't realize I was suppose to take two (doh!) and I've been only taking one.

On 9/5/2021 at 11:00 PM, catwoman7 said:

I think almost everyone dreads the Hair loss. I helped lead the pre-op classes at my clinic for three or four years (before COVID hit), and it never failed - at every class, people asked about hair loss! Honestly, most people don't lose enough for others to notice (some do, of course - but for most, no). I hardly lost any. I knew I was losing it because there was more hair strands in my comb for three or four months than was usual, but just looking at my hair - no - couldn't tell. Some people do report their hair getting thinner - but again, more often than not, they're the only ones who notice it.

I think most of us who are a ways out from surgery will tell you that it was a small price to pay for losing all that weight, and it was really more of a minor annoyance than anything else. In retrospect, I shouldn't have wasted any brain cells on it since it really wasn't that big a deal.

I use Zipfizz every morning in my water. I was told multiple times that it would not absorb properly, and every time I would prove them wrong in my labs. Plus, it tastes good and is a change from just water.

Here's what I take: (all chewable, none upset my stomach)

Procare Bariatric Multivitamin - https://www.amazon.com/ProCare-Health-Bariatric-MultiVitamin-Capsule/dp/B06WWM7PRD/ (3 or 4 formulations available based on your iron needs)

BariMelts B1 - https://www.amazon.com/EZ-Melts-Thiamine-Sublingual-Vitamins/dp/B00VVLAPKM/

Country Life Brand Chewable Calcim Citrate

Natrol Brand Biotin

Natrol Brand D3

Sublingual b12

I started all of these after my very first appt with the surgeon. I stopped before surgery and resumed when I could eat soft foods. 3 months post op my vitamin levels in bloodwork were better than before surgery. I've had no deficiencies.