Vitamins-who knew?

[allraindrops]

Who knew that vitamins could be so difficult? I thought that was going to be the easiest part since I've taken my birth control pills and anti-depressants without fail for the past 15 years I thought that doing the vitamins would be easy! I was totally wrong....I'm only three weeks out but was determined to be one of the rock star DS'ers that got all of VitaLady's vites in right away....I ordered her starter pack and have been trying REALLY HARD to get them in but I literally cannot swallow them all. Maybe it has to do with being banded so long that my stomach is resisting swallowing them all? I've re-swallowed pills that came back up and try to not let them come back up...I never would have thought I would have this problem....I guess that my stomach is a lot smaller than it used to be....

Maybe I need to get back to basics and focus on hydration and protein first and stick with a multi-vitamin for another week and see what happens. I'm so discouraged....

[Joanne]

I think that's pretty normal early out. It happened to me, too, and I also read it many times. Give yourself some time and try again in a few weeks. You can live off your vitamin stores for awhile. The most important things now are fluids, followed by protein.

I was about 6 weeks out before I could even tolerate my vitamins, but I swallow them by the handful now. Give it time and I bet you can work up to it slowly but surely.

[stacee]

It took awhile for me to be able to take all of them too. I had the vitamin "re-rise" where they would come back up.. It passed after the 6 or 7 week.. now I take big ol'handfulls without so much as a gag.. I hated doing 1 by 1 and waiting to make sure it wasn't gonna "re-rise" on me. good luck, it sounds normal to me.

[shann_ds]

No, it's not just you -- they suck! I threw mine back up more often than I got them down for the first year. And I've only recently gotten consistent with them. hang in there and keep trying!

[Deleted]

Honey, you're a mere infant. Take your time. Start with ONE multi. Then another multi. Then add something else. It will take a good many weeks, and maybe even a couple of months, to get up to speed. Quit being in such a rush.

[sandyv63]

I was just like you pre-op. I have been a massive supplement taker for years so this would be a piece of cake for me. It must be something about that new, tiny stomach that makes sucking down the vites just a little more difficult than we thought though...

Now at 9 weeks out I can do them by the handful again but at three weeks, forget it. Wasn't happening.

[larra]

You're pushing yourself too fast too soon, trying to be a champion Ds'er. Back off! Throwing up pills isn't helping you recover. Give yourself a break, try again in a couple weeks, and I bet things go a lot better.

Larra

[rklc2002]

I was the same way early out. Even looking at my pills would make me dry heave or throw up. But, at 3 months out, I can tell you that it does get better! Hang in there.

[abright0]

I take 4 multi vitamins a day, and calcium (sometimes). Waiting on my labs to get back to see if I need to add anything. I see no reason to take things unless I am on the low side of normal. I do have to figure out something to do about calcium. It makes me so bloated and uncomfortable, that I avoid it. I have tried several kinds but nothing seems to help.

[hoosiermama]

The calcium was making me not be able to eat and drink it bloated me so bad. I read somewhere out here that taking magnesium with it helps that. I take 50 of mag for every 100 of calcium. It works and I'm not constipated which calcium does

Worth a try

me

[renegadeorange]

I'm 4 weeks out and still can't swallow my mutli's. I've had to go with a liquid multi that tastes like butt, and some chewable calcium samples I got. I know they aren't enough, but at least it's a little something to get into the routine.

Like everyone else said, give it time. I was also surprised when I popped that first multi and gagged it back up seconds later. lol NOT a pretty sight! I have to fight with myself every morning just to get my PPI swallowed, and it's not even a large capsule.

[Deleted]

Maybe I need to get back to basics and focus on hydration and protein first and stick with a multi-vitamin for another week and see what happens. I'm so discouraged....

Sounds like a good plan! I was so constantly nauseated and/or vomiting for at least 4 months post-op, that I started my vitamins later. You're right about the basics and the rest will come. Now I get them all down without problems. I would never recommend intentionally delaying the taking of vitamins, yet for those of us who couldn't, it can work out beautifully.

[sherbearmama]

I'm 5 weeks out and it was really hard getting started with the vitalady regimen. It's only been a few days that I've been on it--I definitely feel the pills sit there a bit in my gut and when I burp I totally taste some of them. Don't feel bad about not being on it yet. It's all in our own time--you'll get there sooner...or...later. But you'll get there.

Good luck (and wish me luck too!),
Sheri

[Happy DSr]

practice, practice practice. You will get used to it, and as said, you will find yourself able to throw down a handful at a time!

Early on, I found it helped to stand up straight, head up when taking especially the larger pills. Let gravity help some, any ensure the path is as straight as possible

maybe that might help

[allraindrops]

Thanks everyone, for your advice and kind words--I will cut myself some slack and try again later--with some new strategies in tow--back to basics I go!

[callmeEJ]

I'm a year out, and I still have days where I have to fight to keep from tossing the handful of vites I just swallowed. Take your time! DON'T RUSH!