Hi everyone,

I'm new to this site and it's overwhelming but has given me a lot of insight and momentum to get my rear in gear and back to a good place.
I've been reading as much as time will allow (there is just an overwhelming amount of material to cover!) Anyway, I have realized that my vitamin intake is quite lacking and I seem to have been doing it wrong for a long time based on some of the info I've been reading here. I am 7 years post-op and have gained weight, like so many others. I plan to start the 5DPT on Monday and I want to get the vitamin thing right as well.

Could anyone suggest brand names of a multi-vitamin, calcium citrate, and iron brands that they find useful and feel comfortable with using? At this point I plan to add vitamin D and flax seed to my routine but am really in the dark as to amounts, types and brands of the best vitamins and supplements.

Thanks in advance to anyone who can help guide me. If anyone else is beginning the 5DPT on Monday lets join forces!

Barb

I get most of my vitamins from Wallyworld, but you can get discounts thru a link on the website to a company that Kaye recommends. I use a good multi and take two a day. I take Citracal, 4 a day. Iron, B12, B complex, omega 3, and vitamin c. The next thing is to learn the order that you have to take them in as you do not take iron and calcium together. My calcium contains D and magnesium.

Tami, where can I find this link to Kaye's suggested discounted vitamin web site?

Puritan's Pride

Here is a link to another thread in which Kaye explains it. Puritan's Pride is a sponsor of the site, so each time you buy from them, they help Kaye! They run various sales and shipping is supposed to be great. Kaye gets alot of her stuff through here. I didn't realize until searching here that the Partner's Forum had been removed to help with bandwidth. Hope this helps everyone!

Thanks Pooh!

Hiya and welcome.

I use the Costco brand Multi Vitamins & I swear by Citra-Cal + D. I just switched to generic iron - I get the CVS brand. But, I can't of the iron specifics off the top of my head. Some Neighbors do chewables, others (myself included) take the swallow kind. Can you swallow pills without much difficulty?


Hope this helps. Welcome to our special place. Good luck with the 5DPT.

Not a problem! The site has grown so much, that unless you really know what you are looking for, it can be a little tricky finding it!

For my multi, I've been using some chewables I got in a sampler from Bariatric Advantage. My surgeon's office suggested Centrum Complete once these are gone.
I am on Repliva (Rx) for Iron, but get to go off of it & will use the Bariatric Advantage chewable iron, strawberry. You cannot even taste the iron in these.
I also use the Citrical for calcium. I use the Petites.
I take B50 and I think they are "Natures Own" from Kroger. I know it's Natures something-or-other!
Not sure what brand my Biotin is, but I'm not losing very much extra hair since I'm taking it.
Just an aside: I have found, but splitting my meds & taking them 4 times/day with 2 cups water, it is a good way to get in 64 oz. of water.

So Biotin is needed to help with hair loss? I had low thyroid so I thought that was what kept my hair falling out but now I may need to rethink that. Is hair loss after surgery a common side effect?

I was told it is very common until weight stabilizes. Biotin is a B vitamin and is helpful for hair & nails.

Anaestesia (?) can have an effect on hair loss, but so can rapid weight loss. Biotin helps to prevent alot of the loss. KAye is 7+ years out and still takes it regularly.

Thanks to all who responded to my vitamin and supplement questions.

Barb

BeJean, how many mcg's of Biotin do you take?

I use Bariatric Advantage Multivitamins made especially for us... and their iron tablets, which taste good... I use a sublingual B12 that I get at Vitamin Shoppe and it tastes like a sweet tart. I've tried 2 others, hated them.

I use tropical oasis liquid calcium 2x daily. My labs have always been good. I didn't like taking all the pills but had to adjust since its so important... forever!