ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass and Lap Band® Forum - View Single Post - Taking meds post-op. Some things you need to know!

MiladyB · 10-17-2007, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fisher1000

What about the absorption of the iron in multivitamins? I take the Optisource brand, per my doctor's instructions, and it says something on the label about additional iron for increased absorption. Are the multivitamins like that not good? Should I take something different and add additional iron, B-12, and calcium?

-Mike

Mike, I take a prenatal multivitamin daily along with 1000-1200mcg of Calcium Citrate with Vitamin D. I appear to be absorbing the iron in the prenatal vitamin just fine. If your doctor hasn't started you on the Calcium by 4 weeks personally I would start it if I were you. I haven't needed any additional iron, well that is until I just had my plastic surgery. I did a lot of bleeding so my pcp has added iron into the mix. The B-12? I would highly recommend it. Even though my B-12 levels are normal I've opted to add in 1000mcg of B-12 twice a week. If you do that make sure it is sublingual, though. It will say it right on the bottle.

One additional note though is if you are taking a multivitamin with iron or additional iron you need to wait an hour before you can take your Calcium Citrate. ALSO you won't absorb any more than 600mcg of the Calcium at one time so you do have to split that 1000-1200mcg over 2 doses.

My routine is:

7am: All meds minus my Calcium
9am: Calcium w/ breakfast
Bedtime: Calcium

Here are a couple links of information you may find helpful:

http://www.bbvitamins.com/education.aspx

http://www.bbvitamins.com/Research.aspx

I highly suggest checking them out, there is some helpful info there.

Your surgeon should be checking your labs several times over the next year so that will help you judge if you are getting in what you need. Now that I am almost 2 years out my surgeon only checks them yearly. I see my pcp every 6 months though, so I have asked him to be checking additional labs every 6 months to make sure everything is still ok.