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Vitamin supplements with ostomy- blockage threat?

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Posted 3/18/2013 11:21 AM (GMT 0)
This of us with IBD are already short or low in blood levels for certain parameters without supplementation (vit D and Folic Acid are classic examples) and on pubmed I see that this can become a bit more serious without a colon (vit K notably)... I'd also like to keep taking some decent probiotics, at least those optimized for the small gut.

Anyway, once my colon is gone, are vitamin supplements a big issue in regards to the threat of blockages, or do most dissolve just fine without issues? Of course I realize that time release/enteric coatings deaigned for lower down a normie's tract would be out. Thanks.
Posted 3/18/2013 12:22 PM (GMT 0)
No, vitamin supplements aren't a blockage threat with a healthy stoma. Before I was even off of NPO I took a folic acid pill while I was in the hospital (I had some mouth ulcers after surgery that I thought could have been caused from discontinuing my folic acid in the hospital -- probably just the stress of surgery combined with having a breathing tube). As soon as I got home I added my usual multivitamin and Vitamin D supplements. My GI did suggest that I switch to chewable calcium (Tums, specifically) because she feels it absorbs better. It helps to take any supplements with a meal so that they don't get hurried through your GI tract and come out whole in the pouch.
Posted 3/18/2013 1:08 PM (GMT 0)
In the 12 years with a jpouch, I have never been low on B-12, or Vitamin K (I get these levels checked annually). However, 3 years ago I was dx low on Vitamin D with about half of the rest of the country. I have been supplementing daily with 1,000units. So, just because you become an ostomate or a jpoucher, it doesn't mean that you will necessarily lose out in absobing vitamins from food or other sources.

Sue
Posted 3/18/2013 1:14 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, sometimes larger pills can pose a threat for blockages. My GI doctors have advised chewables. So I take mostly chewable vitamins - flintstones for kids and calcium and vitD. No issues at all.

Most everything is absorbed in the small intestine, so in general you wouldn't need to change your overall vitamin intake structure just because your colon is removed.
Posted 3/18/2013 1:24 PM (GMT 0)
I take GNC megaman 2x a day...been doing so forever, no problems. I do notice sometimes it doesn't dissolve entirely, but it passes through without issue

Matt
Posted 3/18/2013 4:47 PM (GMT 0)
I use a food grade multivitamin... not cheap but they dissolve quickly and I haven't had an issue with them. Similar to suebear I am Vit D deficient and do supplement that and self inject B12 monthly...but other than those two common Crohnie supplements my levels are better than they've ever been.
Posted 3/19/2013 9:36 PM (GMT 0)
I personally stayed away from non required pills for the first weeks after surgery. But once your diet turns back to normal, you should be perfectly fine. You are probably fine once you start passing anything in the hospital. Before you are discharged, you need to show that you can successfully take oral medication (pain pills specifically).
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