Last Friday I walked into the local health food store and straight to their vitamin section. Quickly I found the liquid vitamins. They had so many to chose from I didn't know where to begin. An employee approached me asking if there was anything she could help me find. After I explained that I was preparing for bariatric surgery, she told me that she was a gastric bypass patient five years ago. She showed me the vitamin she uses. When I asked her about the calcium thing, she also showed me a good liquid calcium.
Once home I opened the vitamins. Not sure what I was expecting, but I was rather surprised by the most unusual shade of green and blown away by the smell. The bottle says citrus flavored, that is an interesting way to describe the flavor. Recommended dosage is to take two tablespoons daily. That afternoon I swallowed two tablespoons, chased rather quickly with a huge glass of water. Taking it this way won't work after surgery as the most I should drink at one time is 1 ounce. I would have to find another way.The bottle says that the vitamin can be mixed with water, juice or smoothie. So the next day I mixed the vitamin with an 8 ounce glass of water. This was even worse than the day before because now I had 8 ounces of nastiness to swallow instead of just under 2 ounces. Hero told me to just "chug it." I told him that I shouldn't get into the habit of "chugging it" because after srgery that wouldn't be an option. Two small sips later I decided to chug it and go back to taking it straight like the day before.
Sunday morning I took it straight. With my eyes watering, mouth rebelling, and nose burning I decided that I HAD to find another way.
Today I mixed my lunch protein shake; 32 ounces of raspberry lemonade crystal light with one scoop of unflavored whey protein. I thought, how about if I added my vitamin to this. While this makes the lemonade an interestingly nasty color, at least the vitamin is now palatable.
Thankfully the liquid calcium is tolerable....once you get over the chalky texture. If anyone out there knows of a liquid multivitamin that has at least 100% of all vitamins and tastes good please let me know!
1 comment:
Okay, this is my 2 cents and my surgeons *rules*...as we know, all are different (to a fault, I do believe :).
My surgeon is not big on supplements, he thinks that you if you can't eat enough/right kinds of foods to get everything necessary then you are too tight. That being said, if you aren't getting it in your diet, he recommends a chewable vitamin (Centrum makes one) and a chewable calcium. I take a sugar free Flinstones Chewable (actually, I steal Jacey's) and a Caltrate 600D Chewable every day. I have a very sensitive gag reflex and can't even imagine trying to get a liquid down, the chewables are bad enough.
As for the drinking, immediately post-op it is not a good idea to drink fast, but I drink no differently now than I ever have. I tried the sipping in the beginning, got frustrated because I spent ALL day trying to get in my water, wait 30 minutes before and 30 minutes after drinking...wasn't viable for me. I asked my doc and he said the 1oz thing for mainly for immediately post-op (and bypass patients since the water goes straight through our bands) and if you were really tight. I have no desire to ever be really tight again! Waiting till 30 minutes after you eat to drink, is integral though in success.
I will recommend a Biotin supplement though, Bariatric Advantage has a good 5mg one in friendly sized capsules (although I haven't came across any pills I can't swallow yet). You will most likely start losing your hair 3-4 months post-op. I knew to expect some loss but not what I have had...it is finally tapering back off now and I can see new growth.
You will do so awesome, I am so happy for you!!
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