Fat soluble vitamin absorption-- and Chris

[Guest guest]

> OK, guys.

>

> Even though I'm Gagner's patient, why can't I follow the

> supplementation recommendations of other surgeons? Would this be

non-

> compliant? I know; it's my own darn fault for not tasting these

> things before surgery and then taking up the issue with the doctor.

> I just can't handle the chewables. tell me exactly what

> supplements you're taking. How are you doing with the water and

> protein?

: If you are really having difficulties with the ADEKS, why

not have an honest, frank discussion with Dr. G now and tell him you'd

like to try the other stuff? I know that they prefer you be on

'chewables' for the first three weeks just as a rule of thumb for

sensitive stomachs (I took the Centrum Kids chewable multis, the ADEKS

and viactiv - beginning the iron after 3 weeks post-op)... I'm not

sure if Allergy A & D comes in a chewable form but it's possible...

It may be that Dr. G will want you to stick it out for the first three

weeks than switch.. He may prefer you switch further post-op. I know

that other Mt. Sinai patients have tried Vita4Life, I think instead of

the 'recommended' supplements. I'm not sure if anyone at Mt. Sinai

has tried the Twinlabs Allergy A & D, but if you ask let me know, ok?

I would be interested in seeing what he has to say about the E and K

and whether most multis would cover that if one took the Twinlabs A &

D or whether he feels the ADEKS are necessary b/c they cover ALL

fat-soluable vitamins, etc.

I know one woman who actually was SEVERELY ALLERGIC to the ADEKs and

ANY multis she took! It could have been the additives or something

(she also had a severe and painful reaction to the steristrips, too -

OUCH). I'm not sure what she finally ended up with (perhaps you could

ask her - I can provide her name and e-mail addy if you want) but I

know she experimented quite a bit before she found something that

didn't give her a severe skin reaction...

Like I said, the one reason I've been given against Twinlabs A & D

(and this was from another knowledgable post-op, not a surgeon or

doctor) is that some say they *may not* be absorbed as completely,

etc. but I really don't know what this opinion is based on....

I honestly would discuss this issue with Dr. G before just switching,

especially so early out. I know that they have accomodated people in

the past and the vitamins they recommend aren't the only ones out

there!

All the best,

lap ds with gallbladder removal

January 25, 2001

Dr. Gagner/Mt. Sinai/NYC

10 months post-op and still feelin' fabu

preop: 307 lbs/bmi 45

no

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/30/01 3:49:51 PM, duodenalswitch writes:

<< I have Citracal brand calcium citrate tablets in an " economy " sized

bottle. Two tablets provide only 400 mg. of calcium. Yes, I triple

checked. Argh! Now, just read another post about being able to take

the citrate form of calcium ONLY with iron? That ain't right, right?

>>

: Are they smaller? They have different kinds and I did try the

smaller pills once but didn't like them as much. I can't remember whether

they had less calcium per pill or not, though..... The ones I've been taking

are the CITRICAL PLUS, so maybe the dosage is different?

I think citrate is the ONLY form of calcium that one CAN take with iron. Of

course, one doesn't have to. I've read that calcium is best absorbed/broken

down when it is eaten with food -- and one has to take the iron on an empty

stomach... So, you may not find that this works for you. So far, my levels

have been fine and I prefer to take the two doses of citrate with my iron

(the last set is taken with my evening meal).

Any other form of calcium will bind with the iron and nullify.

all the best,

lap ds with gallbladder removal

january 25, 2001

Dr. Gagner/Mt. Sinai/NYC

10 months post-op and still feelin' fabu

preop: 307 lbs/bmi 45

now: 200 lbs (maybe celebrating this weekend when under 200?? I hope

so!)/size sweet 16

[Guest guest]

OK, this is weird.

I have Citracal brand calcium citrate tablets in an " economy " sized

bottle. Two tablets provide only 400 mg. of calcium. Yes, I triple

checked. Argh! Now, just read another post about being able to take

the citrate form of calcium ONLY with iron? That ain't right, right?

>

> In a message dated 11/30/01 11:12:08 AM, duodenalswitch@y...

> writes:

>

> << Thanks for the information. You must be right about the

Citracal in

> that the dose should be 2 pills, three times a day. Still, that's

> only 1200 mg., and considering that Gagner's so conservative about

> all the other supplements (to the point of overkill, MAYBE) why run

> short on the one, single supplement that is MOST crucial for us???

> Hess, Rabkin (others?) recommend 1500--2000 mg. in calcium

> supplementation.>>>>>>

>

> Oh, you're most welcome, . Now, two of the citrates have

500

> mg/calcium... so taken three times a day that would be 1500 gm

(similar to

> other DS docs suggestions). Do you have the Citrical citrate

pills? Those

> are 500 gm/two pills. NOt sure if another brand may have less???

>

>

>

> <<<<<Glad to hear that the Chromagen is a gel capsule thingy. Does

your

> insurance pay for this?>>>>>

>

>

> Strangely, my old Oxford policy did, but at a percentage (a regular

script

> would cost me 15 but the chromagen cost 25. BEtter than over 50

without any

> coverage!). THen, my dh got a new job and we still had Oxford but

they NO

> LONGER covered this as a supplement! Oxford generally does NOT

cover

> nutritional supplements but has some exceptions. Guess I don't

have any of

> those anymore!

>

>

> <<<<<<Clarification: I AM taking Viactiv for the first three

weeks; the

> Citracal comes later. Same with the iron--haven't started taking

it

> yet, but was given the prescription to fill.>>>>>

>

> I started out on the Viactiv but got so sick of chewing and really

didn't

> like the chocolate taste! That was a big surprise to me! I

switched to

> Caltrates. They have a really nice, fruity flavor. I really liked

those,

> but decided to switch to Citrical when I was three weeks post-op

b/c I heard

> it was absorbed better...

>

> I'm still not sure what type of citrical you have but I would think

they

> would be pretty standard... 500 mg/two pills... I know they have

different

> formulas. I like the Citrical Plus (it also has Vit D but

minerals, etc.).

>

> all the best,

>

> lap ds with gallbladder removal

> January 25, 2001

>

> 10 months post-op and still feelin' fabu

>

> preop: 307 lbs/bmi 45

> now: 200 lbs (ok ------ will I be celebrating this weekend? I

hope

> so!!!)/size sweet 16