My doctor never mentioned taking these but I see that others do. What is the purpose of these vitamins?

Well, I believe since we are on a reduced calorie diet we do not get all the nutrients we need. Thus, we should be taking vitamins and calcium. Calcium of course for your bones. We don't want to become deficient as that could be detrimental to your health and recovery.

I think you might mean calcium citrate..yes, for the bones is all I can suppose. I have a post-op appt. tomorrow and I am asking questions re: vitamins, because another one that is recommended is iron (ferrous sulfate). I get why (red blood cells, etc.), but it's really messing w/ my digestive track. I'm hoping that they will let me "nix it" and let me supplement w/ real food (even pureed spinach w/ tofu or something). I've always been a strong believer in getting as nutrients from food vs. vitamins, but I do take a high B complex recommended from my regular, holistic doctor, as well as calcium w/ magnesium. I did find calcium/magnesium/D at GNC this weekend so that I could get all these recommended items all together.

OK, thanks for the information. I do take a chewable vitamin with iron per my doctor but had seen a number of posts regarding this calcium stuff. I also prefer to get my nutrients through food as well. I am a milk drinker so I add some low fat milk to my diet as well as cheese.

there are different formulations of calcium; some are more easily absorbed than others. I think the 2 biggies here in the USA are Calcium citrate and Calcium Carbonate...

My doc asks that we all take a good multivitamin, sub-lingual b12, and a calcium supplement.

My holistic doc said that calcium citrate is often preferable to calcium carbonate, because the carbonate form can often lead to feeling of "bloatiness". I'm new in this process, but I have tried both forms, and believe I do feel a lot more normal (and less bloated) w/ the citrate vs. the carbonate.

It's interesting how different doctors' recommendations can be w/ regard to diet, nutrition, etc.