I'm sorry if this is somewhere here. I did search but couldn't find an answer. Please can someone tell me "exactly" what supplements I need post surgery. My dietician and my surgeon keep giving me general information. I'm obsessing over this! I need to know EXACTLY what to get. I'm interested in chewable, and as few as possible. I take a vitamin D supplement already. I know I need a multivitamin but what else? Thank you for any help. I'm so confused and it's making me crazy!

Hey!

I had the bypass, so I am just going to copy & paste the information that my nutritionist & medical team gave me regarding vitamins etc, because I also obsessed over it!

A-Z Multivitamin and Minerals containing 2mg of copper. This means if you are lucky enough to get Forceval on prescription, you only need 1 Forceval tablet a day. You will still need to take the other supplements detailed below.

For most other shop bought options, you will need to take 2 A-Z tablets a day (even though the packet says one a day). Remember the crucial bit is getting one that says A-Z.

Options include:

Dissolvable · https://www.naturesbest.co.uk/multivitamins/young-adults/effervescent-multivitamins-a-z-fizzy/

· https://www.boots.com/boots-multivitamin-effervescent-orange-20-tablets-10274999

Chewable · https://www.bassettsvitamins.co.uk/bassetts-vitamins/multivitamins-rb-pomegranate-flavour · https://solgar.co.uk/products/solgar-kangavites-bouncing-berry-complete-multivitamin-and-mineral-formula-chewable-tablets · https://www.naturesbest.co.uk/multivitamins/multivitamins-for-kids-teens/tasty-chews/ · https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/304373156

· https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/304385770

Tablets · https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/285513527

· https://www.boots.com/boots-a-z-multivitamin--live-friendly-bacteria-30-capsules-10274964

Calcium:

You need at least 1200mg calcium in your diet each day. Count each portion of dairy as about 300mg (such as a yoghurt, a matchbox size piece of cheese or a glass of milk). If you aren’t getting enough calcium, you should top up. You can get Adcal D3 or something similar on prescription from your GP or shop bought options include: · https://solaray.co.uk/products/calcium-citrate-1000mg · https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/solgar-calcium-citrate-with-vitamin-d3-tablets-60001382

Vitamin D :

Most people need 50-75ug or 2000-3000IU to keep their levels in the healthy range after surgery. · https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/betteryou-d3000-vitamin-d-daily-oral-spray-60012895

· https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/holland-barrett-vitamin-d3-tablets-25ug-60099316

Iron:

Most people need 45-60mg total iron a day (each multivitamin contains 14mg so 2 a day plus your diet may mean you don’t need extra). Women who menstruate should aim for 100mg so could get one on prescription from your doctor. If you suffer with constipation, try a gentle iron like Spatone or Floradix.

· https://www.boots.com/boots-iron-14mg-60-tablets-10292905 · https://www.vitabiotics.com/products/feroglobin-capsules?variant=29079594991685&gclid=CjwKCAjwx7GYBhB7EiwA0d8oe9Z32aqlWYVdfZqyMPLnCP8nuZDgbwMS3xpj4nGXzaGIg46GQ0SjgRoCwV8QAvD_BwE

Vitamin B12:

You may get injections every 3 months from your GP or you can use a spray / sublingual drops. Don’t rely on tablets where possible as the absorption isn’t as good as the liquid.

Try: · https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/betteryou-pure-energy-b12-boost-oral-spray-60099160 · https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/holland-barrett-b-complex-sublingual-liquid-60002871 · https://solgar.co.uk/products/solgar-liquid-b12-2000-with-b-complex-59-ml

Edited November 8, 20241 yr by Bypass2Freedom

Just to note also, in the first 3 months post-surgery I was advised that no tablets should be taken - just chewable or dissolvable

2 hours ago, Bypass2Freedom said:

Hey!

I had the bypass, so I am just going to copy & paste the information that my nutritionist & medical team gave me regarding Vitamins etc, because I also obsessed over it!

A-Z Multivitamin and Minerals containing 2mg of copper. This means if you are lucky enough to get Forceval on prescription, you only need 1 Forceval tablet a day. You will still need to take the other supplements detailed below.

For most other shop bought options, you will need to take 2 A-Z tablets a day (even though the packet says one a day). Remember the crucial bit is getting one that says A-Z.

Options include:

Dissolvable · https://www.naturesbest.co.uk/multivitamins/young-adults/effervescent-multivitamins-a-z-fizzy/

· https://www.boots.com/boots-multivitamin-effervescent-orange-20-tablets-10274999

chewable · https://www.bassettsvitamins.co.uk/bassetts-vitamins/multivitamins-rb-pomegranate-flavour · https://solgar.co.uk/products/solgar-kangavites-bouncing-berry-complete-multivitamin-and-mineral-formula-chewable-tablets · https://www.naturesbest.co.uk/multivitamins/multivitamins-for-kids-teens/tasty-chews/ · https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/304373156

· https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/304385770

Tablets · https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/285513527

· https://www.boots.com/boots-a-z-multivitamin--live-friendly-bacteria-30-capsules-10274964

Calcium:

You need at least 1200mg Calcium in your diet each day. Count each portion of dairy as about 300mg (such as a yoghurt, a matchbox size piece of cheese or a glass of milk). If you aren’t getting enough calcium, you should top up. You can get Adcal D3 or something similar on prescription from your GP or shop bought options include: · https://solaray.co.uk/products/calcium-citrate-1000mg · https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/solgar-calcium-citrate-with-vitamin-d3-tablets-60001382

Vitamin D :

Most people need 50-75ug or 2000-3000IU to keep their levels in the healthy range after surgery. · https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/betteryou-d3000-vitamin-d-daily-oral-spray-60012895

· https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/holland-barrett-vitamin-d3-tablets-25ug-60099316

Iron:

Most people need 45-60mg total Iron a day (each multivitamin contains 14mg so 2 a day plus your diet may mean you don’t need extra). Women who menstruate should aim for 100mg so could get one on prescription from your doctor. If you suffer with Constipation, try a gentle iron like Spatone or Floradix.

· https://www.boots.com/boots-iron-14mg-60-tablets-10292905 · https://www.vitabiotics.com/products/feroglobin-capsules?variant=29079594991685&gclid=CjwKCAjwx7GYBhB7EiwA0d8oe9Z32aqlWYVdfZqyMPLnCP8nuZDgbwMS3xpj4nGXzaGIg46GQ0SjgRoCwV8QAvD_BwE

Vitamin B12:

You may get injections every 3 months from your GP or you can use a spray / sublingual drops. Don’t rely on tablets where possible as the absorption isn’t as good as the liquid.

Try: · https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/betteryou-pure-energy-b12-boost-oral-spray-60099160 · https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/holland-barrett-b-complex-sublingual-liquid-60002871 · https://solgar.co.uk/products/solgar-liquid-b12-2000-with-b-complex-59-ml

Thanks for this! Especially a nice UK-based list. Forceval made me very ill when I started taking it, but now that I've been cleared to swallow tablets, I like that I only need one a day. Just hoping the GP will prescribe it. The only vitamin brands I've been suggested by my doctor are Forceval which I can't seem to find without prescription or Sanatogen A-Z which is bit pricy.

I need a calcium and vitamin d tablet PLUS a vitamin D supplement? This is all very confusing.

@NeonRaven8919 no problem at all!

Yeah I have heard a lot of people are very sick with Forceval dissolvable, but with the tablet I have had minimal issues. I wait an hour after eating in the evening and then I take it, and that helps with the nausea!

My surgeon said literally ANY A-Z multivitamin, so long as it says A-Z, and just to take 2 rather than 1!

Vitamin D I would say yes definitely, you can get a spray version of this and it isn't too bad! But Calcium you shouldn't need unless you aren't having the required amount of Calcium as listed in the above!

It is really really confusing, and if I am being honest I have only been taking my Forceval and that is it. I have just had my blood test yesterday, so I wait to see where I need to supplement!

1 minute ago, Bypass2Freedom said:

@NeonRaven8919 no problem at all!

Yeah I have heard a lot of people are very sick with Forceval dissolvable, but with the tablet I have had minimal issues. I wait an hour after eating in the evening and then I take it, and that helps with the nausea!

My surgeon said literally ANY A-Z Multivitamin, so long as it says A-Z, and just to take 2 rather than 1!

Vitamin D I would say yes definitely, you can get a spray version of this and it isn't too bad! But Calcium you shouldn't need unless you aren't having the required amount of Calcium as listed in the above!

It is really really confusing, and if I am being honest I have only been taking my Forceval and that is it. I have just had my blood test yesterday, so I wait to see where I need to supplement!

They told me to bite the forceval caplet, swallow the inside liquid and then spit out the shell. No wonder I was sick when I took it!

I've been doing the forceval and the iron tablets they gave me. I need to follow up with the GP to see what they will prescribe me later.

1 minute ago, NeonRaven8919 said:

They told me to bite the forceval caplet, swallow the inside liquid and then spit out the shell. No wonder I was sick when I took it!

I've been doing the forceval and the Iron tablets they gave me. I need to follow up with the GP to see what they will prescribe me later.

I have never heard of that advice before in my life ? bloody hell! Yeah...no wonder!! The leaflet instructions just say take it an hour after food, and I always find in the evening before bed is best, as if I have nausea I can just try and sleep it off!

Definitely chase it up with them!

49 minutes ago, Bypass2Freedom said:

I have never heard of that advice before in my life ? bloody hell! Yeah...no wonder!! The leaflet instructions just say take it an hour after food, and I always find in the evening before bed is best, as if I have nausea I can just try and sleep it off!

Definitely chase it up with them!

TBH, I think the just ran out of the soluble ones at the pharmacy so they gave me those!

Oh yes, you never open a medication that is a capsule form. can’t belief they told you to do that. The outer shell is to protect your digestive system and to ensure the medication is absorbed slowly.

People with sleeve usually don’t need to take as many supplements as those with a bypass, Sadi, etc. as sleevers don’t have as much of a malabsorption issue as they do. I had to take a multivitamin and vitamin D with K. That was it. I only took the D with K for about 3 or 4 months and stopped the multi at about 8 months. But I stress that was me and what my blood work showed I needed (or was lacking in) or in my case didn’t need. Some sleevers are also required to take calcium and iron. Does your blood work show you have existing needs i.e you are lacking in some vitamin? This would be a staring point as to what you may need even pre surgery. Then subsequent tests will show if you drop in anything.

As to whether you can take tablets or need to have patches, chewables, liquid, or mouth spray versions is really up to what your surgeons requires and what you are able to tolerate. I could swallow capsules from about day 4 or 5. (Regular sized capsules not those giant horse sized ones ?).

General advice:

• take your multi after you’ve eaten. They can cause nausea if taken on an empty tummy. If you have to take two or more multis as your dose, spread them out across the day. Try one in the morning and one in the evening.
• don’t take your calcium at the same time as your iron. Your body can’t absorb them at the same time. Try one in the morning & the other in the evening.
• don’t take your iron within an hour or so of consuming any caffeine if you’re allowed caffeine. Caffeine reduces your ability to absorb iron by more than 60%.
• Ensure you’re getting regular blood tests. My surgeon required once every three months before visits but my GP had me do one in between so I was having one every 1.5 months. That way if anything unexpected was happening, we knew about it quickly.

All the best.

Thank you all so much! I got it. Finally. I just wasn't getting a direct answer (that I comprehended) from my Doctors.