I try to stay pretty calm most of the time, but there have been too many people of late who have sheepishly admitted to not taking their supplements. THIS IS NOT OK!
Even after we are able to eat eat more food, the malabsorption component of our surgeries is still present.
We must take vitamin supplements for the rest of our lives in order to remain healthy. What the heck did you risk your life for by having this surgery if you're going to throw the quality of your life and health away just 'cause you don't feel like taking a pill once or twice a day? You have a responsibility to yourself and the people who love you to take care of yourself.
I will get down off my soapbox now. But, just in case you feel I don't have a leg to stand on, here are some of the things the experts at Merck have to say about vitamin and mineral deficiencies:
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia develops gradually, allowing the body to adapt somewhat. Consequently, the anemia may be more severe than the symptoms indicate. Anemia causes paleness, weakness, and fatigue. Severe anemia causes shortness of breath, dizziness, and a rapid heart rate. Vitamin B12 deficiency can also cause nerve damage (neuropathy) even when no anemia develops, particularly in people older than 60. The legs are affected earlier and more often than the arms. Tingling is felt in the feet and hands, and sensation in the legs, feet, and hands is lost. Vibration and position senses are also lost. Mild to moderate muscle weakness develops, and reflexes may be lost. Walking becomes difficult. Some people become confused, irritable, and mildly depressed. Advanced vitamin B12 deficiency may lead to delirium, paranoia, and impaired mental function, including dementia.
Vitamin A
An early symptom of vitamin A deficiency is night blindness, which is caused by a disorder of the retina. The whites (sclera) and corneas of the eyes may become dry—a condition called xerophthalmia. Xerophthalmia is particularly common among children who have a severe deficiency of calories (energy) or protein (see Undernutrition), which includes an inadequate intake of vitamin A. Foamy deposits (Bitot's spots) may appear in the whites of the eyes. The dry cornea may soften and ulcerate, and blindness may result. Vitamin A deficiency is a common cause of blindness in developing countries.
Folic Acid
People who have folic acid deficiency develop anemia similar to that due to vitamin B12 deficiency. Fatigue may be the first symptom. In addition to the general symptoms of anemia (such as paleness, irritability, shortness of breath, and dizziness), folic acid deficiency may cause a red and sore tongue, a reduced sense of taste, weight loss, and diarrhea.
Vitamin B6
Vitamin B6 deficiency can cause anemia and inflammation of the skin (dermatitis) with redness and greasy scaling. The hands and feet may feel numb and prickling—a pins-and-needles sensation. The tongue may become sore and red, and cracks may form in the corners of the mouth. The person may become confused, irritable, and depressed.
Vitamin C
In adults, a few months of a diet low in vitamin C can cause bleeding under the skin (particularly around hair follicles or as bruises), around the gums, and into the joints. Symptoms may include irritability, depression, weight loss, fatigue, and general weakness. The gums become swollen, purple, and spongy. The teeth eventually loosen. Infections may develop, and wounds do not heal.
Smoking increases the vitamin C requirement by 30 to 50%.
Iron Deficiency
When iron reserves in the body are exhausted, anemia develops. Anemia causes paleness, weakness, irritability, drowsiness, and fatigue. Concentration and learning ability may be impaired. When severe, anemia may cause headache, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), spots before the eyes, digestive upset, shortness of breath, dizziness, and a rapid heart rate. Occasionally, severe anemia causes chest pain and heart failure. Menstrual periods may stop.
In addition to anemia, iron deficiency may produce such symptoms as pica (a craving for nonfoods such as ice, dirt, or pure starch), spoon nails (a deformity in which the fingernails are thin and concave), and leg cramps at night. Rarely, iron deficiency may cause a thin membrane to grow across part of the esophagus, resulting in difficulty swallowing.
Calcium Deficiency (Hypocalcemia)
The calcium level in the blood can be moderately low without producing any symptoms. Over time, hypocalcemia can affect the brain and cause neurologic or psychologic symptoms, such as confusion, memory loss, delirium, depression, and hallucinations. An extremely low calcium level may cause tingling (often in the lips, tongue, fingers, and feet), muscle aches, spasms of the muscles in the throat (leading to difficulty breathing), stiffening and spasms of muscles (tetany), and abnormal heart rhythms.
Selenium Deficiency
In selenium deficiency, antioxidants are lacking in the heart and muscles. As a result, cardiomyopathy and muscle weakness may occur.
This is a terrific link, with a table on what foods supply various minerals, and what the safe upper limit is of what you can take for each mineral.
Here's the link for the same kind of table for vitamins.