Question:
Vitamins causing extreme gastric distress and constipation

My cousin is 11 months post op. She has lost 115 lbs. When taking vitamins (Flintstone complete) Calcium (Viactiv) and B12 she is experiencing severe gastric distress and extreme constipation. Has anybody had these issues? What causes this? What can help? Thanks    — Patty N. (posted on March 23, 2004)

March 23, 2004
I don't mean to sound flip, by giving a simple answer, but here it goes. She should change the vitamins she is taking. Instead of Flintstones, try Centrum liquid or get a prescription pre-natal, or choose a non-chewable. She should be find with a pill at this point. She doens't take all of these at the same time, right? (you're not supposed to) Do ALL of them cause discomfort when taken individually? Iron can be constipating, she could try a daily does of Benefiber or citrical or metamucil. Or, she could try adding more fiber into her diet, to get things 'moving' Sorry to be somewhat vague, but without more details, I don't think I can be more specific. I wish her good luck!
   — LMCLILLY

March 23, 2004
Don't want to sound flip either but she really should be taking a calcium citrate supplement. Viactive is calcium carbonate and from everything I've read it does us no good at all. The B12 should be sub-lingual. Swallowing it will do her no good at all. It might not be the vitamins causing the constipation. It may be that she isn't getting enough fiber. I had the same problem and recently started taking the Metamucil capsules everyday and have noticed a tremendous difference. I do take the pre-natal vitamins and I notice that if I don't drink plenty of liquid with them, I have some tummy issues........i.e., I have a metallic taste in my mouth and my tummy aches slightly. But 115 pounds in 11 months...........SUPER.
   —  SCbabe B.