Vitamins

[FattyGirl]

How long did everyone take vitamins for after surgery? I am 3 months out and I hate taking these horse pill vitamins. However, my hair is now shedding like crazy. How long did your shedding last for too?

[Stacey03]

Hi, we need to take them forever! I know! But it is really important otherwise you could end up being really sick or just feeling shithouse! I haven't really lost any hair but I'm only 5 months so I shouldn't speak too soon. I know that there are all sorts of vitamins out there to suit people, maybe see if you can find some smaller ones. but yes it is vital. congrats on your surgery and the hair thang will sort itself out eventually they say :-)

[AnnieG]

How long did everyone take vitamins for after surgery? I am 3 months out and I hate taking these horse pill vitamins. However, my hair is now shedding like crazy. How long did your shedding last for too?

Stacey is right! Forever. I couldn't do the big vitamins or the chewables without throwing up -- I went to gummy adult vitamins, finally. I just take a bit more than the bottle says so they match the Bariatric. My hair jumped ship seriously at 5 1/2 months -- mostly the crown and front but fortunately, having gone throw chemo treatment several times, I had not given away all my wigs to the cancer society.

I've added Biotin (also in gummy form) to help with hair regrowth. Our body, depeleted in its own mind, says oh my all the vital things get something -- and hair is apparenty not vital. (Well to me it is!)

Do talk to your doctor or nutrionist about the vitamins; they may have different samples you can try without spending bucks on them.

[Katrina]

I know I catch hell for not taking vitamins (by people on here who are not my doctor or doctors at all), but my surgeon never said I had to. That was the upside to having the sleeve, it isn't malabsorptive. Once we're able to eat enough food, we should be able to take in enough nutrients. I looked over all my labs on Friday and only one of them was off. It was off by 3 points, and the nurse anesthetists told me that it was literally nothing to worry about and that I was doing great. Now, I do force my daughter to take vitamins because she still refuses to eat, so everyone should certainly take into account whether they are able to get in enough nutrition from food alone.

[Alynn]

Try the bit patches by PatchMD

[KiwiGal]

I couldn't tolerate the chewable vitamins directly after surgery and had to crush them and add to a little pureed food or protein shake to get them down. Once I was able to swallow capsules I went onto them which I take with my protein shake in the morning. They are not too big and I take 2 as per my nut. I did find ( in a bad way) that taking them on an empty stomach was definitely not a good idea.
I was told that I will have to take them for life. I always took a multi vitamin so this is not really a hardship - and small price to pay for the new me.

[Christie13]

Ok...you totally have to take your vitamins. It is in all the paperwork I received from my surgeon/nutritionist. There was also this big sign in the room where I have my visits that talks about what each type of WLS procedure is at risk for nutrient deficiency wise. Here is the one for the sleeve.

sleeve.jpg

Some people absolutely can get their nutrients in if they have really, really good eating habits and can get enough food in. Those people are few and far between. A lot of non WLS people don't get in all their vitamins/nutrients which is why doctors recommend multi vitamins to begin with. I personally cannot take any multi besides the gummy kind without getting sick either. So I feel you. I also take B12, D3, calcium citrate, and biotin. I take those in pill forms. Then I add powdered collagen protein powder to my coffee every morning.
Now you are going to do what you want to do...but my suggestion is read up and educate yourself. Also, speak with your surgeon/nutritionist.