Question about vitamins - ThinnerTimes

jadickens · 05-15-2007, 09:13 AM

My niece had the surgery a year before I did and looks "model gorgeous" now! I am six months out and we hadn't seen each other since my surgery when she came over for Mother's Day. It's amazing to see the positive changes in both of us. So, anyway we were talking about our surgeries and comparing this and that when she asked me about what vitamins I'm taking. I told her I just got whatever Walmart had. What she said next blew me away. She said that she also took "generic" vitamins for a while but was at the mall and decided to go into GNC. She spoke with the person who worked there and they thought the best vitamins for her would be the GNC Women's Ultra Mega Multivitamin.

She said since she has been talking these multivitamins she has doubled her energy and feeling of well-being.

Has anyone else had a similar experience? Do different brands of vitamins really make a difference?

lward76 · 05-15-2007, 02:03 PM

i really dont know, but would like to know what others take 2. I take one multivitamin and iron and b12 a day, my doctor gave me a 1 year supply.

LisaM · 05-15-2007, 06:31 PM

Notwithstanding the subject line, I wouldn't buy vitamins at the 99 Cent store, 'cause you never know what's in them. I would hazard a guess that the women's vitamin that your niece is now taking has 100% of her daily iron requirements, and she might not have been getting enough, thus the change in her energy levels. That's just a guess, though.

I think the key for any vitamin is that you trust the source--I trust Wal-Mart, because I know that most of their store brand products are made on the same production line as the brand they are costcutting - Wal-Mart's just cut a deal to get them to the consumer more cheaply.

My own opinion (and it's probably worth what you paid for it...

) is that, if the active ingredients are the same, the vitamin is the same. The only place where I have to be careful is the coatings--the dark red coating on some multivitamins makes me ill (and it did pre-op as well), so I have to take the ones with the peach-colored coatings. Other than that, I just try to get some balance. My last labs were done in March, and were spot on.

Here's my daily vitamin regimen, and the reason why I take 'em. Please note, I've not been able to take my 1500 mg of supplemental calcium since my gallbladder surgery, as it makes me hurt something awful (don't know why). Still trying to introduce it slowly, but since I get 90 percent of my protein from lowfat dairy, I'm not sweating it too much.

Morning
Prenatal 19, 1 daily, as multivitamin, iron supplement (by prescription)
Beta Carotene, 25K IU, for Vitamin A levels
B-12 sublingual, 500 mcg, for B-12 levels (and because B-12 in multivitamins is not readily absorbed)
Flaxseed Oil, 1000 mcg, to maintain regularity
Fish Oil - Omega 3, 1000 mcg, family heart disease history

Evening
Flaxseed Oil, 1000 mcg
Fish Oil - Omega 3, 1000 mcg
Centrum Multi-Vitamin

LisaBoston · 05-15-2007, 08:05 PM

About a month ago, I switched from a chewable vitamin to a liquid form that is 85% absorbable. I notice a difference in taking them. I also notice when I don't take the liquid if travelling when I pack to chewable ones. My liquid stuff has to be refridgerated. One bottle is supposed to last 2 months and a cost of $35....BUT saying that...if its good for me and I can afford it, its one thing that I will invest in...just like my protein powders and vials....comes before anything else I buy for myself.

hello kitty · 05-16-2007, 09:53 AM

Well, considering I'm only 4.5 weeks out of surgery, I know I'm a little different... but I chew 2 vitamins a day, 2 calciums a day (1000mg), and a B12... My physician told me the type of vitamins I chew didn't really matter, as long as they were a "complete multi-vitamin".

kittens4 · 05-16-2007, 12:52 PM

I take Bariatric Essentials - chewables - 2 a day. I get them online.
I was taking Optisource, but couldn't remember to take them 4 times a day!
I also take the big chewable calcium twice a day
Sublingual B-12 once a week
I just had 6 month labs and they were perfect! Woohooo!
I think if you have had Bariatric surgery, you should take a Bariatric vitamin. I'm probably getting ripped off, but they seem to work for me! I feel great!

CeeCee · 05-18-2007, 03:15 PM

I take 1 Viactiv multi-vitamin every day, and 2 Viactiv calciums. My surgeon confirmed today that's okay with him, no need to worry about anything else if I feel good and look good (You know, color-wise!).

TX DEB · 05-19-2007, 08:12 AM

I take Duet prenatal chewable vitamins. they are prescription, one a day. Then a B-12 shot once a month. I haven't been able to take the calcium yet.

TX DEB · 05-19-2007, 08:15 AM

BTW, I was told due to reduced food intake and malabsorption process that I will always need more potent vitamins then just "regular" off the shelf one a day types. Which this makes complete sense, especially early ouy.

janh · 05-27-2007, 06:59 PM

I take two kiddie chewables daily-one in the morning and one at night. Dr said, that they should be a permanant addition to my diet.