Not taking your supplements is NOT okay - Page 2 - ThinnerTimes

CeeCee · 08-02-2007, 10:04 AM

Thanks for the info! I'm wondering: neither my surgeon nor my PCP feel that I need to take in any vitamins beyond what are in my multivitamin (that I take just once a day) and calcium (twice a day). Labs have been good so far. Should I just go get some B12 and take it anyhow?

MiladyB · 08-02-2007, 10:06 AM

Ok, question? My surgeon doesn't have me on B12 supplements. I do get it from the prescription Prenatal vitamin he has me on. All my labs have been normal including my Iron, B-12, hgb, hct.....all of those labs that are checking for anemia and iron levels. My pcp checks my labs every 3-6 months, so I have them checked often. I take 1200mg Calcium Citrate every day. Should I be concerned that my surgeon doesn't have me on additional B12? I go to a surgeon who is very up-to-date on the needs of the Bariatric Community but he usually doesn't start B12 unless your labs are low. Are there others out there who aren't taking additional B-12 supplements?

JenBear7 · 08-02-2007, 11:11 AM

My surgeon said that I should start with B12 before my first labs are drawn. I dont have to start iron until after, but B12 was "suggested" (strongly). The only vitamins I was told I HAVE to take are a multi and calcium.. at least until they determine my needs via labs.

LisaM · 08-02-2007, 12:25 PM

Beth and CeeCee, my dietician/nutritionist was also adamant that I begin B12 immediately, and my levels were never low... and if you look at Zen's work from the paper she wrote, there has been no toxic level of B12 established. In my humble opinion (and I am NOT a medical expert), it couldn't hurt to add a sublingual B12 on a daily, once a week, or twice a week basis.

And Jeanie, darlin', it sounds like you're doing what you've been asked to do...and it sounds like you're on a good regimen. Calcium citrate, which most docs/nutritionists say is the type of calcium we should be taking, may not be a problem for those who form kidney stones (here's a link), but having had kidney stones myself, I understand not ever wanting to have one again. We're all pretty much walking that tightrope... and it sounds like you're doing great.

I should have emphasized that most of us ARE doing great--we take our supplements and medications religiously. This was to send a wake-up call out to the folks who AREN'T doing great, who are skipping days and weeks, and even months at a time taking their supplements. Time to get back up on the horse--I care about all of you, and want you all to care about yourselves enough to take your dern supplements!

LQQkn · 08-02-2007, 01:49 PM

I agree with you about sups.. here is my problem. I take them but don't absorb them. I am very concerned long term about this issue. Janie

Zenomia · 08-02-2007, 02:13 PM

Beth, My group highly reccomends B12 as well, and as always I advocate following the orders YOUR own Dr. perscribed. It might not hurt to do a little research, get an opinion from your Dr., and make an informed decision on what is in your best interest. I take mine daily because it is one of those that is not absorbed well by us, and getting too much isn't really a concern. If it can't hurt ya, and can possibly help...then that is what I do. You need to do what is right for you. Discuss it with your Dr. He may do things differently or by-pass a smaller or larger segment of the duedendum than others do. I know that portion of the intestine is where the most absorbtion occurs. It's a complicated process, that I won't go into on how B12 has to be converted to work correctly...research it. That's the best I can tell ya.

MiladyB · 08-02-2007, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zenomia

Beth, My group highly reccomends B12 as well, and as always I advocate following the orders YOUR own Dr. perscribed. It might not hurt to do a little research, get an opinion from your Dr., and make an informed decision on what is in your best interest. I take mine daily because it is one of those that is not absorbed well by us, and getting too much isn't really a concern. If it can't hurt ya, and can possibly help...then that is what I do. You need to do what is right for you. Discuss it with your Dr. He may do things differently or by-pass a smaller or larger segment of the duedendum than others do. I know that portion of the intestine is where the most absorbtion occurs. It's a complicated process, that I won't go into on how B12 has to be converted to work correctly...research it. That's the best I can tell ya.

Thanks for the words of wisdom, Laura. What I may do is send an email off to him and see what he says. I don't have an actual appointment with my surgeon until Jan. 08. I do know that I get B12 in the prenatal vitamin he prescribes. It is an actual prescription vitamin, not one off of the drug store shelves. My labs are still all coming back totally normal. So I seem to be getting what I need but it is worth a discussion with him or the nutritionist in his office.

paige52 · 08-02-2007, 04:17 PM

My nutritionist had me start taking a sub-lingual B12, flic acid, B6.... from Trader Joes... I take it every other day and my labs show above normal every time.

LisaBoston · 08-02-2007, 04:23 PM

I learned something from my surgeon weeks back about my B-12. I was taking shots every month, then increased to bi-weekly. When I told him this he prescribed me tablet-chewable B-12 (tastes gross) to take at the start of week 4, he says the levels drop quite low and I can tolerate and absorb the b-12 shots better by having this little mini-dose the week before. Doesn't make any sense to me, but hey, it can't hurt!

CeeCee · 08-03-2007, 06:42 AM

All great info, thanks! I'll discuss with Surgeon and PCP when I see them in Sept. I think I may go get the sub-lingual now, though...