Vitamin B 12 and calcium deficiencies - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

LadyV · 11-06-2009, 09:17 PM

I am 9 months out...I am taking liquid vitamin b12 and liquid calcium citrate. How much should I take daily at this point. What are your thoughts on vitamin b12 and calcium as a defiency in postherpetic neuralgia . I am still have pain and have been unable to get any type of results. I was out of my vitamins for about a month. I have now been on them for a couple of weeks, could I have caused some nerve damage?

How can I tell if I have vitamin deficiencies. I continue to take my multivitamin doing this stressful time in life. (moving, settling in a different town, unpacking)

Thanks for your help

poet_kelly · 11-06-2009, 09:24 PM

You need 1500 - 2000 mg of calcium citrate per day. If you're using a liquid, read the label carefully to make sure you're taking enough. You need 1500 - 2000 mg of elemental calcium, and I know at least one liquid calcium supplement that is labeled kind of oddly so it looks like one tablespoon contains more than it really does.

If you're using a sublingual B12, I think the recommended dose is 500 mcg per day, but I'm not 100% sure on that one.

If you didn't take any for a month, you probably did not do any permanent damage. We store B12 in our bodies for a long time. But it is still important to take it regularly.

I doubt one month without calcium did any serious damage either, although it's not good for you.

The way to know if you have a B12 deficiency is to get a blood test that measures the B12 in your blood.

It's little harder to make sure you're getting enough calcium. They can do a blood test to see how mucy calcium is in your blood, but that doesn't really tell you anything. If you aren't taking in enough calcium to keep the level in your blood up, your blood will just leach it out of your bones. So the level in your blood might look good even if there is a problem. When you have labs done, they should also check your vitamin D, your PTH, and your alkaline phosphatase. Elevated PTH and alkaline phosphatase and low vitamin D may indicate you aren't getting enough calcium.

You should also have a bone density scan done at one year post op to see how your bones are. That is the best way to know if you're getting enough calcium.

Kelly

LadyV · 11-06-2009, 09:41 PM

thanks for the info, just checked the bottle and this is what it says...LIQUID CALCIUM MAGNESIUM CITRATE...serving size 1 tablespoon

vitamin D3 (as cholecalciferol) 400IU
Calcium (from citrate elemental) 600mg
Magnesium (from citrate elemental) 300 mg

Liquid B12 (cyanocobalamin) 1000mcg serving size 1/2fl. oz

Looking at these figures can you please tell me how much I should be getting per day. I also take Optisource as my multivitamin....4 tablets per day

Again thank you for setting me straight....I so do want to do the right thing

poet_kelly · 11-06-2009, 10:01 PM

With the calcium, I think that means it has 600 mg elemental calcium per serving. Maybe Corrine will come along and let us know for sure. Sometimes it is confusing the way they word it. But anyway, I would take three tablespoons a day. And you need to take them at least two hours apart, because we can only absorb about 500 mg calcium at one time.

Is the B12 a sublingual liquid? Like, do you put it under your tongue? Or do you just swallow it? One that you swallow won't work well. After a gastric bypass, we lack something called intrinsic factor in our stomach that we need in order to absorb B12 that we swallow. So you would need a sublingual. And I would take one dose a day.

If you're using Optisource for your multi, you really need to take eight a day. I know the label says four. But here's the thing. The ASMBS says we need about 200% of the recommended daily allowance of most vitamins and minerals, and four Optisource only gives you 100% of a bunch of stuff, including vitamin C, vitamin D, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, B6, biotin, and panothenic acid. To get the 200% we need, you would need to take eight a day.

Kelly

LadyV · 11-06-2009, 10:11 PM

The b12 is a liquid but I also have a b complex I just started taking that is a sublinqual. It has

vitamin b2...1.7mg
niacin.........20mg
vitamin b6...2 mg
vitamin b12..1200mcg
pantothenic
acid............30mg

this is a liquid under the tonque for 30sec at 1 dropper =1cc

What other vitamin (optic source) can I take less of 8 a day is a lot. Right now, I take 2 in the am and 2 in the p.m.

Is there anything else I should be taking beside the calcium, vitamin b12, vitamin b complex and multi vitamin?

Thanks for taking the time out to help me. I really do appreciate it.

poet_kelly · 11-06-2009, 10:18 PM

I recommend either Bariatric Advantage or Celebrate for a multi. If you want chewables, you just need two a day of either of those to get 200% of most stuff. Both those companies will send you free samples if you want to taste them to see what you like before you order. And I suggest you do try them before you buy. It's no good to be stuck with a whole bottle of something that tastes nasty to you.

You may need iron, as well. The ASMBS recommends 18 - 27 mg of iron per day. However, my surgeon actually said he did not recommend people take iron unless their labs indicated they needed it. Mine was good until just last month, when I was 11 months post-op. So I only just started taking it. So I would say you could do one of two things. Either just start taking some, or get your labs checked some time soon and see where you stand and decide then if you need it.

Kelly

LadyV · 11-06-2009, 10:23 PM

Thanks Kelly, now what can you tell me about carbs. How many carbs should we be getting per day. I just started the daily plate, and am amazed at how many i eat per day.

Thanks for answering my question. Im going to order the free samples today. Can I take a pill or should I stick with the chewables for the multi vitamins

poet_kelly · 11-06-2009, 10:29 PM

Your surgery was long enough ago that I would think you'd do fine with capsules if you prefer those to chewables. I will say that my doc told me that we should always take chewables after RNY because they will be absorbed better, but I am not convinced that is true. I know other people who take capsules and they seem to be absorbing stuff OK because their labs are fine.

I'll tell you what my dietician told me to do about carbs. She said to really limit starchy carbs like bread, rice, pasta, crackers, etc. Not that you can't ever eat them, just don't eat a lot of them. And when you do eat them, go for the whole grains, brown rice, etc. She said not to worry about carbs like dairy products, beans, and veggies. We actually need some carbs in our diet, and that is the best place for them to come from.

I don't count carbs. I have no idea how many I eat in a day, and I have no idea what is good number to eat. As long as they are not starchy carbs, I just eat as many as I want.

Kelly

LadyV · 11-06-2009, 10:32 PM

Thanks Kelly, you are a wonderful friend. I am here in NC and its around 12:30 a.m. I'm going to call it a nite. Hope we will continue to talk.

I really do appreciate all your help

Claire-in-Texas · 11-07-2009, 06:31 AM

Deficients in vitamins arise in blood work. That's how they are determined.

I love my B-12 patch. It is the perfect thing for me - from Health Habits. I have no business interest in this company!!!! It's jus a great product. Do a search (click on the search box above) and put in B-12 Patch! And you will see a lot of info on the patch.