I use over the counter chewables, have tried various ones. My lab values always come back normal, but I'm switching the the Bariatric Advantage brand because they're specially formulated for bariatric patients and I'm hoping that if I maybe absorb the product better that I'll have a bit more energy. I've never gotten sugar free vitamins, not even in the beginning, and I had no problem tolerating them. But...each person is very different in their tolerance levels to sugar. I have always been able to buy the regular chewables. I do know, though, from experience with Bariatric Advantage, they taste far better then the over the counter brands. They cost more, yes, but their quality I'm very pleased with. I've been buying their B-Complex for a while now. I've used their multi and calcium in the past when I was newly post-op and was very pleased with the quality. I can't really afford them to be honest (almost $100 for 3 months supply), but, as my husband said to me, I need a very good quality vitamin that will have optimum absorbtion. I guess when I look at it that way, it makes sense. LOL. Anyhow, sorry for rambling. Just wanted to share what does work for me, what I find best tasting and best quality, for me. What's right for me, may not be right for you of course. Hope this helps a little! I know I didn't answer your question! Hope you find something that works well for you!

Basically where I got my surgery done. It is said many times over that if you do not take the baiatric vit that are made for people with gastric bypass surgery, you are putting your own life at risk because of the absorption problem we now have in our body. I use Optisource from walgreens..its about 25 dollars for a bottle that lasts for a month. please talk with your surgeon about this because its very important. good luck on your surgery

I used the flintstones chewable- 2 of them in the AM. My doc said that was fine, and I never had a problem with labs or anything. Keep in mind that iron is very important (I take mine at night) so you do not become enemic.

Choose the sugar free multi WITHOUT iron.

This way you can take it with your calcium supplement and not worry about the calcium/iron controversy.

Then supplement your iron with carbonyl iron ( Feosol) is the brand name) I buy mine at Walmart, Walgreen's, and Rite Aid. Meijer and Kroger carry it too.

We do not absorb Ferrous sulfate, so if you are supplementing with this form of iron, you are wasting your time and money. we do not generate enough stomach acid to break the particles down small enough for absorption, in the short time we have the iron in our stomachs. so it just gets pushed on thru without ever doing us any good.

there are 2 other types we can also use, but I need to go find what the are, it has been a long time since I needed their names. I do know one starts with a G, and sounds like glu...I'll try to come back with the names

God Bless!

Janelle

Personally, I wouldn't use the children's chewables for any longer then absolutely necessary. It is too risky.

Children's chewables were formulated for children. As soon as you can switch over get onto a senior multi, or a bariatric vitamin. I don't use the bariatric vitamins because I found that I can get the same level of supplementation in a "senior, silver, or Mature" multi, as I can the bariatric, and it is cheaper by HALF! (or more)

God Bless!

Janelle

i just started OPTISOURCE orange flavored chewables. over the counter. walgreens
1 month supply $26.00. chew one 4 times a day.
way better than swallowing horse pills.

I also had my surgery on the 9th CONGRATS!!! My dr told me to get the flintstone chewable complete with iron and take 2 a day.