Good vitamin with NO IRON!

[Sreeves 56]

Can anyone recommend a good Vitamin that does not contain Iron? I have been taking 2 Flintstones chewables a day and I am so constipated I can't function. I take Miralax daily and even drink Smooth Move tea every few days but I just can't get un-constipated. I stopped the Vitamins 2 days ago and have been on the hunt for one without Iron in it but I can't seem to find one for those of us who have had gastric bypass. I am fine with gummies, chewables, or anything I can take (3.5 weeks post op). I know there has to be something out there!

[OregonTeacher 63]

I believe the Centrum senior chewbles might work for you.

[innwtitdtity 57]

I think the Iron is necessary if you had RYN. I too have been a bit constipated but I have been taking 1-2stool softness daily and that has helped tremendously. Good luck!

[Djmohr 6,965]

I suffered with Constipation the first 6 months post op. What I found was that even though I was getting in 50oz. Of Water a day, my body actually needed more. I started regularly getting in 64 or more and suddenly my constipation resolved. Also making sure you get in enough vegetables with your Protein should help to.

I do not take any softener so any longer and the only time I have a problem is when I travel and don't get my Water in.

[James Marusek 5,244]

Iron is one of the requirements for Vitamins after surgery. In my case even though I was taking Flintstone Multivitamins, my blood work showed that I was Iron deficient and I had to take a separate iron pill as a result. It is important to separate the intake of iron and Calcium by 2 hours. So I take my iron just before bedtime.

Constipation is a common issue after surgery. In my case I had to resort to putting a glycerin suppository up my rear end every 3 days for relief. I eventually found a cure that works for me. I eat an apple a day before bedtime. But it only works if I eat the skin of the apple. Also it is important to consume the required amount of fluids each day. This can also lead to constipation. I have been constipation free for a year now.

[Sreeves 56]

Thanks, everyone! I am talking about very severe Constipation. I now have a fissure and it is excruciating. I have always been hypersensitive to Iron supplementation. When I was finally able to go all I could smell was the Iron. I am definitely getting enough Water (I track it on Sparkpeople, about 60 oz a day). I stopped the Vitamins 3 days ago and today was the first day that was semi normal. At least I don't feel completely bloated anymore. I was starting to get worried! I am thinking once I do reintroduce iron (at a later date, for sure!) I will not be taking 2 Vitamins a day that contain iron. I will do one with and one without and see where my bloodwork is. I have been drinking V8 with Fiber but it has a lot of carbs and I stalled in my weight loss for over 2 weeks. I am FINALLY starting to lose again, thank goodness. I was starting to think I was never going to lose another pound, lol! I see my surgeon again in July but if I feel like my iron might be low I will have my GP order a panel to check it. I definitely want to keep taking all my other vitamins, and I will try the Centrum Silver and see how well I tolerate those. Thanks again for all of your advice!

[shirleybstephens 1]

I have the exact same problem, and my surgeon recommend I take Vita4Life multi’s without Iron. I’ve been taking them daily for months and I’ve been great so far. I still take iron supplements, but I take them separately from my multi and every other day. It has helped immensely with my Constipation issues. You may want to check them out. Here’s the link. J

http://vita4life.net/products/bariatric-vitamins-comprehensive-mini-multi-vitamin-no-iron-formula.html

[SPettijo 40]

Hi there, I get my Vitamins from Bariatric Advantage and have enjoyed them. I am currently on the chewable but was on the capsules before surgery for about six weeks. I was on the capsule with Iron but they have one without. Don't know if this helps at all.

First or Third might work.
https://www1.bariatricadvantage.com/catalog/us-en/1/Multivitamins

[Sreeves 56]

Thanks, ladies! I posted this in May and I am STILL severely constipated! I am on the Bariatric Advantage Vitamins now (no iron) but I like those Vita4Life ones so I might give the a try. My blood work all came back perfectly normal at my 3-month checkup, so I don't have to take Iron at this point, and I have added Miralax and prunes to my diet every day which is keeping me from getting totally bound up. I really hope that eventually my body adjusts and I won't have to worry about this all day, every day, but for now I just keep doing things by trial and error.

[Daisee68 2,493]

​I have the same issue. I really hope this isn't the rest of my life. It is SO miserable. I bought some Miralax today but I hope I don't have to take that forever. I am only 2 months out and haven't added much veggies / Fiber so maybe once I add that it will get better. I take BariActiv Multi-Vitamin (not the same as Bariatric Advantage) and it is without Iron. I do take an Iron supplement and generally only take it every other day. I haven't had my first blood work yet, so hoping I will be one of those that doesn't need the iron (especially since I had a hysterectomy a couple of years ago so a little less risk for anemia).