[wingsofeagles]

Please tell me your secrets to making sure that you don't forget your vitamins!
I'm 15 months post RNY. I keep forgetting my vitamins and know they are important but I get busy and forget! Give me your secrets!

Thanks!
J.

[greensgirl19]

Once a week I put all my vitamins in a sunday-saturday pill holder and every morning when I get up I only have to empty out that days' pills take them. I have one for the morning and one for night time. It really helps, especially since we have so many. I don't have to fumble with the bottles everyday, just once a week. Actually remembering to take them is another issue - this just makes it easier! Maybe leave them out so you can't miss them.

[ragdolldude]

Segmented pill holder are great. Most have a group of "areas" for each day of the week, and each day as 3-4 segments. I set up my calcium, D, and prescription meds once a week. You have to establish a routine though. I have one segment to take when I get up,, one for late morning, one for early evening and one for bedtime. If you're home all the time, you could set the stove timer for every so many hours to remind you. Or they do make portable kitchen timers that you can bring with you around the house. OR, they do make wrist watches with multiple alarm times you can set during the day. This is probably a feature on some cell phones too. Liquid vitamins taken once a day when I get up take care of that aspect of my supplements. DAVE

[gone2Bthin]

I have found it easier to get chewables whenever possible. Like Kelly, I use the pill holder and set up a weeks worth at a time. I put a days worth of pills in a snack size ziplock bag and carry it in my pocket for the day. When I feel the bag in my pocket it reminds me to take some. Good luck & hope you find a routine that works.

[beckamarie]

pill holder here too, up until I did that I would forget all the time now I keep them on my desk and whenever I sit down they are staring at me

[judijo]

I have calcium citrate w/D pill bottles in the bathroom, in the kitchen and at work, all within full view.

I just take my iron and multi before bed, as a routine. My thyroid is in the AM after brushing teeth.

[Perfesser]

I put them into a weekly pill holder every Sunday night, then split them up for taking at breakfast, midday and evening. The first and last are easy to remember, but for the midday I have a watch with two alarms. The first goes off at 1:00 PM, the second a half hour later to remind me that I should have taken them. Not entirely foolproof, but it sure helps! My wife was having a problem with forgetting hers, so I got her a watch with four alarms. She has two go off in the AM half hour apart, and the same in the evening. Again, you have to hear the alarm and act on it, but it helps. I haven't played with cell phone alarms, but some are equipped for that, too.

CT

[wingsofeagles]

Thanks to all of you for your suggestions!!! I have a pill box I'm going to start using. I have to figure out about my 3x/day calcium but the others I can pretty well fit into my pill box and get them hopefully at night with my other meds.

You guys are awesome!
Janie

[minnesotashopper2]

Good question you asked. As you know once you get into a routine, it is so much easier. I also have the weeks worth containers. It is so easy to remember now, especially after all these years.
The only one I have problems taking is my thyroid med, as it is to be taken on an empty stomach, so I try to have a bottle of water, and the meds right there, and when I make the bed right away in the morning, I pop that pill in, and take my water. Then by the time I am up, and busy, I am making my protein drink, and I always have the container right there, so I take my morning meds at that time. The mid afternoon ones, I do tend to maybe forget those, so will just take them when I remember, many times a few hours later then most. And the bedtime ones, well one is to help me fall asleep, so I always take that about a half hour before hand, or else I lay in bed, and start thinking, and not be able to sleep.
You are far enough out, that this will catch on for you. Have them ready, and available, maybe in the bathroom, or a room you are in several times a day, it does become routine. And if you miss a day, obviously you will be fine, dont sweat it, I think I heard if you do something for 21 times straight, that it automatically becomes a habit.?? (think i learned that way back in nursing school). forgot? lol

[kimtindall]

Same here, pill box in location that I will always see! In the past year, I think I have missed my calcium about 3 times. I have all of my stuff in a oill box on my computer desk and I take my calcium to work with me so that I can space them out through the day.