[BreeChick]

As those who follow my blog know I really am struggling with my chewable citrated iron supplement. It's caused horrible constipation that hits the area of my intestine that was twisted around and is now back in place. Very sensitive to BM moving through. I read on one of the posts that I think Gee Ma? or her sis put on about sleepiness in the afternoon and someone suggested taking it at night.

Well...hmmm..It started me thinking about when I was taking it and HOW.

I take nearly 22 vitamins a day and more than that on others as I don't take every single one every single day. I have had the pernicious anemia now for several years and the surgeon is very very serious about doing the b-12 shot (full syringe) 2 times a month plus the iron supplement. Hard work got the red counts to move up 4 points...that is as in..say it was 10.1 moved to 10.5..and hard hard work for 2 months worth.

So I started last week trying a timing difference on when I take my iron.

I take it WITH FOOD at night with my last bit of food before bed. The PAIN I'd been having at that same spot is dissipating slowly but surely. So I'm not jumping for joy quite yet! but!!! I decided instead of the 3 times a week to just go ahead and take it every single night..

Sleeping seems to be improving each night somewhat too..that issue will take time to see if it's just a "fluke" or not though!

NOTE: I do make sure that the last meal is only complex carb/protein mix with NO dairy products.

Time will tell! but so far so good. (I do also take the colace generic version 2 times a day to keep things softened and moving)

[kitcatcopycat]

I thinking timing with any med / vit is crucial! I recently started taking Omega 3 three times a day. I now realize why they say to take it with a meal. The only thing is that means I have to move around some other meds that I take. I am determined to get it right.

[not quite Barbie]

Bree,
I'm sure you know, but for others who are reading this, iron needs acid to break down. Since we don't have a stomach with gastric acid anymore, it helps to take iron with a little OJ.

Figuring out the timing can be the trickiest part. I see a lot of people here say they take all thier pills at once and that's just not good. Some need to be taken with food for the fat to help them break down. Some (iron and calcium) fight for the same receptors and so shouldn't be taken at the same time. I think I've got mine spaced right now. (fingers crossed)

[gailsiz]

OK Barbie - from reading your responses - I think we probably are/close to the same page as far as vitimins go. Are you taking separate iron - or a multi vitamin w/iron? I wasn't sure I needed iron - but I think I do. What is your schedule for your supplements? I try to take my multi and niacin and B-12 in the morning at about 7:00 am (with my thyroid pill) I take a calcium twice ( I want to take it twice but sometimes I miss my times) at work like between 11:00-11:30 and 3:00-3:30 or so. Then at home before bed I take the calcium again and the Biotin. Also, I take 1 tramadol too in the morning and at night because of the neck and back surgeries I have had - it keeps the pain managable for the most part (but all this rain is hell on something like this) but anyway - it is better now with the weightloss. So is this close to how you have your schedule? Now you were saying how OJ is good with the Iron (I did not know this .... any other tid bits?) - what other advice does anyone have for this. Is chewables better then the tablets (I am over a year out - does that make a difference on the vitamins?) as I have switch back to the tablets like 6 months ago.....I can't tell. My blood work seems fine... But I am not sure about the breakdown aspect of the vitamins and would like to be getting what I need from my vitamins without canceling anything out because I don't know any better........ ( I guess I didn't ask the Nut everything I should have ) Thanks

[not quite Barbie]

Sorry Bree, I'm hijacking your thread

Some vitamins are water soluable (B complex, and C) and are not stored in the body for long, usually any excess is urinated away. Others (A, D, E and K) are fat soluable and should be taken with food that contains some fat so they can be disolved. These are stored in the fat or liver and can accumulate so don't take in excess of what you need.

Minerals are either macro (Calcium) meaning we need a bigger amount, or trace (Zinc) which is just a small amount. It's usually best to take all your vitamins and minerals with meals. Here are a few exceptions:

Calcium: you can only absorb 500 mg at a time, so you must spread them out. It interferes with the absorption of Iron so don't take it with your Multi if your multi has Iron. It's best absorbed with Vit-D so take with milk product - though most calcuim supplements are packed with D so it's ready to go.

Iron: needs acid to disolve so take with OJ. Coffee and tea can also bind with iron and keep you from absorbing it, but Vit-C aids iron absorption so again, take with OJ.

Don't take fiber supplements with your Multi, it can bind with the fat soluable vitamins and minerals and keep you from benefiting from them.

I still use the chewable Flinstone's Complete (the Complete has Iron) twice a day, 3 Calcium, 1 Vit-D (liquid jel), and 1 B-12 (sub-lingual), and 3 flaxseed oil jel-tabs (for dry eyes and they have Omega-3). I do as much liquid/chewable/sublingual as possible because I noticed a funny white round thing in my BM one day and realized it was my Vit-D pill that had gone straight through me without being disolved at all.

Breakfast - 1 Multi
1st snack - flaxseed, calcium, B12, D
Lunch - 1 Multi
2nd snack - flaxseed and calcium
Supper - flaxseed and calcium

[BreeChick]

I am with ya on nnot taking them all at once for sure. I get it on the OJ but that is NOT an option here fruit = vomit time

So far eating with the iron is going very well will get blood work down again end of the month so we will see if it is making a diff.

Perhaps a pickle would work as well LoL!! :-D

[gailsiz]

Thank-You for that. I do get it. I am going to change back to chewable...and then leave it alone. I understand the OJ - makes sense. This should be explained when the instructions on vitamins are given to you - which is why this site is invaluable to WLS patients (new and old).

[BreeChick]

Update..so far taking the chewable iron at night with some food sans dairy of course! Is working really well..go figure!
Even the few days I forgot to take the generic colace? Things still were ok..no PAIN which right now is the huge issue ..my goal no more pain.

Timing really has made a huge difference on this. I'll check back after the end of the month blood work to see if my blood count has improved.