My bariatric team gave out samples of (Bariatric advantage) chewable and liquid vitamins to try, to be prepared for the stage after surgery when you cannot take capsules. They are the MOST DISGUSTING THING EVER. The texture, the initial taste, the smell and the after taste. I literally had to spit some out and others I gagged and choked the entire time until it was gone. I have tried the soft chews and the chewable capsules but have not tried the liquid. I am worried about being able to do this after surgery with an already sensitive stomach! I bought some additional samples of "Celebrate" and they are just as bad. Does anyone know of any brands that are better? And, Why don't they make a liquid like cough medicine where you can just do a tablespoon or 2 and call it a day! UHG!
Vitamins!
- Thread starter Kcuster83
- Start date
3momchaos
Member
This is my vitamin of choice. I’ve had good levels for all my blood work so far, and they’re once a day. However, I was instructed not to start vitamins until 1 month post op. You do what your team says about starting though.
Bariatric Choice Once Daily Bariatric Multivitamin Capsule with 45 mg of Iron (90ct) Amazon.com
Bariatric Choice Once Daily Bariatric Multivitamin Capsule with 45 mg of Iron (90ct) Amazon.com
My instructions direct to start chewable or liquid multivitamin and calcium 3 days POST-OP. Cannot start using capsules until I am in the solid food phase. The chewables are unbareable tho, that is my problem.
JudyNY
Member
I have only found liquid vitamins that you mix a power with water and have it has an actual drink (8 oz), not just 1 spoon full. My idea behind a liquid that you just take like cough syrup is to just get it swallowed and over with ASAP. haha I asked my DR and the nutritionalist on my team and neither of them know of a cough syrup like vitamin. I never heard of the patches but will look into them and see what the professional say! Thanks. I just can't believe this day in age that they can't figure out a better chewable.
I was told Flinstones chewables were fine for the 1st month. They tasted fine, sorta like Sweetarts. After that I switched to Kroger's brand multivitamin like a generic Centrum which I swallow daily. I also take Kroger's Calcium Citrate twice daily, Vit D3 & Vit C, their brand of Vit B12 every other day, prescription Iron every other day with Vit C, prescription Vit D2 50,000 units weekly. No bariatric vitamins, no chewables after the 1st month. Just relatively cheap, buy 1 get 1 free Kroger's vitamins & supplements.
My 6 month bloodwork levels came back fine. So imho no need for expensive vitamins for me, at least.
My 6 month bloodwork levels came back fine. So imho no need for expensive vitamins for me, at least.
Karen, We were specifically told no Flinstones. haha I didn't ask why, I usually have just taken store brand gummy 1 a days. Which I was also told will not work after surgery. I assume they just base everything on an average and maybe most people need the extra boost of the bariatric vitamins. I deal isn't even the cost of them, if I need them than so be it. But my goodness they are so disgusting! I just want to be sure I get all of my required vitamins and minerals so I am healthy and don't look sickly.
Isn't it so interesting how different programs have such different requirements? I only took the Flintstones (well, Wal-Mart generic children's chewable) that 1 st month before "graduating" to grown-up multivitamins. Idk why the differences are there, but again, I don't want to knock bariatric supplements. I just found that what I use is much more affordable, easy to swallow, and provide the same good results. Good luck with whatever you "chews!"
They need to find a way to make it better, 1 a day gummies are delicious! I can't believe these bariatric companies can't do better.Isn't it so interesting how different programs have such different requirements? I only took the Flintstones (well, Wal-Mart generic children's chewable) that 1 st month before "graduating" to grown-up multivitamins. Idk why the differences are there, but again, I don't want to knock bariatric supplements. I just found that what I use is much more affordable, easy to swallow, and provide the same good results. Good luck with whatever you "chews!"
MANDY2910
Member
My doctor suggested Bari Melts, which are chewable. They actually taste fairly good and they melt away fast. They are about $60 a month plus or minus. Anyway, they work well for me and I can handle the taste. I have tried others and they make me gag! I hate the taste of vitamins and if they have that vitamin smell to them it’s over!
Try Bari Melts. They taste much better to me but they also melt quickly. I was told by my team that only specifically bariatric vitamins are an option. No Flintstones or any other vitamins that are made for “regular” people. We require different doses and formulations, otherwise you can become deficient.i don’t want to advise against your doctor’s orders, but I did quite extensive vitamin research to find good products for myself and literally every source I’ve ever red was consistently saying the same thing. I would really check this information. I battled with vitamin deficiency for many years and I can tell you that it’s not easy to fix and can take immediate, serious effect on your body. I lost my hair, got rashes that permanently scarred my body, damaged my teeth and it even affected my vision.
JudyNY
Member
Here's a couple I found doing a google search. I have no idea how good they are nor am I endorsing them. Just wanted you to know that there are liquid vitamins that you take by the tablespoon. There might be more out there, I stopped at two because I just wanted to make sure I wasn't imagining it.
Hope this helps.
Liquid Vitamins
Experience the benefits of Liquid Vitamins by Tropical Oasis! Fast absorption and essential nutrients for optimal health.
tropicaloasis.com
Centrum Liquid
Discover the benefits of Centrum Liquid multivitamins for adults. Learn how this liquid supplement provides vital nutrients to support your overall health.
www.centrum.com
I did find this first brand you mentioned too but they have been "out of stock" since last summer when I started looking into it. I don't know if it is just a current issue or if they are just discontinued.Here's a couple I found doing a google search. I have no idea how good they are nor am I endorsing them. Just wanted you to know that there are liquid vitamins that you take by the tablespoon. There might be more out there, I stopped at two because I just wanted to make sure I wasn't imagining it.
Liquid Vitamins
Experience the benefits of Liquid Vitamins by Tropical Oasis! Fast absorption and essential nutrients for optimal health.
Centrum Liquid
Discover the benefits of Centrum Liquid multivitamins for adults. Learn how this liquid supplement provides vital nutrients to support your overall health.
Good idea, worth a shot. I talked with my nutritionist yesterday and explained that I cannot stomach any of the ones I tried so far. She gave me a few suggestions to try and then said to get back to her if I don't find anything and they would help me figure it out. I am hopeful!
Also, as an update to people saying that they don't know why the nutritionist would discount specific name brands. Or that I should ask why not certain vitamins. I asked her yesterday and she just explained that traditional vitamins do not supply enough of the daily values that bariatric patients need. So really, I could take them but I would have to take way more of them to meet the daily requirements.
MANDY2910
Member
My surgeon and dietician both told me to take Bariatric vitamins only for the first month. I asked why because these vitamins are not cheap. They said these vitamins have the potency and the purity that is required for my smaller stomach and re-routed intestine to absorb all the nutrients I need properly, especially in the first month. Other vitamins, especially the casing or coating that is used to encapsulate them, do not break down and absorb quickly enough. You only get about half of what you are putting in. It is interesting to note that my program has different vitamin requirements depending on the surgery you are getting as well.
For instance, if you are having gastric sleeve, a daily chewable vitamin such as Flintstones is fine unless you have vitamin deficiencies prior to surgery.
My primary care physician had the gastric sleeve and has only ever used Flintstone vitamins because that’s all she could tolerate. She and I have the same surgeon. My dietician said that after the first month, if I can find other vitamins I can tolerate, I am fine to take them. I just need to bring them in at my one month post-op so the dietician can let me know how much of each I need to take and when. As I am not a pill taker, I will probably stick with my chewable Bariatric vitamins. Not advocating either, it is just my personal preference. As long as you are getting what you need, it doesn’t really matter how you get it.
For instance, if you are having gastric sleeve, a daily chewable vitamin such as Flintstones is fine unless you have vitamin deficiencies prior to surgery.
My primary care physician had the gastric sleeve and has only ever used Flintstone vitamins because that’s all she could tolerate. She and I have the same surgeon. My dietician said that after the first month, if I can find other vitamins I can tolerate, I am fine to take them. I just need to bring them in at my one month post-op so the dietician can let me know how much of each I need to take and when. As I am not a pill taker, I will probably stick with my chewable Bariatric vitamins. Not advocating either, it is just my personal preference. As long as you are getting what you need, it doesn’t really matter how you get it.
Not to beat a dead horse, but I had the gastric bypass. After 6 months post-surgery and taking generic multi-vitamins & minerals, my bloodwork was perfect. And I'm 60 yrs old. Not knocking bariatric vitamins, just saying that for me, Kroger's brand vits evidently are being absorbed just fine. If anything changes, I'll be the 1st to consider jumping on the bariatric bandwagon. Just not in my budget for now.
I’m confused - are you suggesting that I’m telling people what to do? I didn’t tell anyone “what to do”, barely advised them to confirm that information, if you read my post. I also didn’t say that my vitamin deficiency was related to this surgery- I’m less than 6 weeks out. I battled vitamin deficiency for years because of an unrelated condition- all I was saying that it’s not an easy fix. It takes months to supplement most vitamins, in my case I needed an IV. And it had a devastating impact on my health. Since every source I came across was pretty insistent that bariatric patients need special supplements I only advised to double check this information to avoid serious health problems.