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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by wishingstar on July 23, 2006, at 18:54:09
I have an odd problem which I have been embarassed to ever ask a doctor about, but I'll ask here.. nothing like the aonoymity of the internet. :)
I seem to have trouble with multivitamins. I admit that my diet is less than wonderful so I try to take multivitamins regularly, but when I do, food seems to "go right through me" and right back out the other end, generally within an hour. It doesnt happen every single time I eat, but it doesnt seem to matter what it was that I ate (healthy or not, portion size, etc). It seems to get worse after I take them for a few days, so I usually take a few days off, but recently, even 1-2 vitamins seems to trigger it.
It seems to me that there must be another factor in play other than the vitamin, because why would a vitamin cause this? But I have thought about it quite a bit, and I cant think of anything else that would be changing. For awhile I was taking a teen vitamin (I'm 23, not sure why I had this one anyway) but now I take a regular women's one-a-day and have the same problem. Is it possible that I am getting too much of something? I am petite, but not unusually so.
Any thoughts?
Posted by Declan on July 24, 2006, at 0:26:58
In reply to problem with multivitamins, posted by wishingstar on July 23, 2006, at 18:54:09
I originally started taking Life Extension Mix multivites and Life Extension Herbal. When I got the sh*ts I stopped the herbal, not realising it was the multivite that was the problem. I dunno which vitamin in particular might be chiefly responsible. Maybe C or B5. I lost 10kg, it went on for months and was ridiculous. Always a slow learner.
Declan
Posted by wishingstar on July 24, 2006, at 15:59:49
In reply to Re: problem with multivitamins » wishingstar, posted by Declan on July 24, 2006, at 0:26:58
So glad to hear I'm not the only one! Although I'm sorry you've had that lovely experience as well. Do you have any suggestions on what I could replace a regular multi-vitamin with, aside from taking 15 individual pills for each thing I needed? I've been taking the regular one-a-day vitamins.. a childrens vitamin certainly has less of many things in it, but probably also less/none of many things I may need. Hm.
Posted by llrrrpp on July 24, 2006, at 23:07:08
In reply to Re: problem with multivitamins » Declan, posted by wishingstar on July 24, 2006, at 15:59:49
Hi wishingstar,
Iron causes nausea and upset stomach for me. I have to take it, b/c I have a very slight anemia. However, I always try to take my multivitamin with food.you might try taking some individual vitamins to figure out what you're sensitive to. You can buy calcium, B-vitamin complex, Vitamin E and Vitamin C etc. for pretty cheap in small bottles and test yourself.
-ll
Posted by Declan on July 25, 2006, at 3:49:25
In reply to Re: problem with multivitamins » Declan, posted by wishingstar on July 24, 2006, at 15:59:49
Some people have such sensitive reactive systems that they cannot even cope with probiotics.
Can you titrate upward from where you find a tolerable dose? You'd do that very slowly.
Declan
Posted by wishingstar on July 25, 2006, at 16:15:04
In reply to Re: problem with multivitamins » wishingstar, posted by llrrrpp on July 24, 2006, at 23:07:08
I've never had problems with iron.. I also am anemic and used to take it by itself (no multivitamin) and was okay. Hm. I may go out and buy some individual vitamins. I dont have a lot of money, but it might be worth a try. I dont take calcium supplements because I have a history of kidney stones and have been told that calcium supplements could make that worse. No fun! Thanks for your suggestions.
Posted by wishingstar on July 25, 2006, at 16:16:16
In reply to Re: problem with multivitamins, posted by Declan on July 25, 2006, at 3:49:25
With the normal vitamins I take now, not really.. as I just take 1 pill a day, and they are thick and probably not easily breakable. I may go by the local health food store soon and see what I can find there. Thanks for your help.
Posted by Declan on July 26, 2006, at 13:26:35
In reply to Re: problem with multivitamins » Declan, posted by wishingstar on July 25, 2006, at 16:16:16
Maybe you should skip the multivitamins and go for stuff like probiotics, lactoferrin, and those green drink super food thingos? I mean, what would I know, but anyway........
Posted by wishingstar on July 26, 2006, at 17:28:31
In reply to Re: problem with multivitamins » wishingstar, posted by Declan on July 26, 2006, at 13:26:35
That's a good idea I hadnt really thought of. I wonder if that's what you were trying to say in your last post though and I didnt quite get it? If that was the case, I'm sorry.. just ignorance on my part. I dont know much about any of those, but will hit google with them later tonight. Thanks for the suggestions.
Posted by Snoozin on August 17, 2006, at 21:35:45
In reply to Re: problem with multivitamins » Declan, posted by wishingstar on July 26, 2006, at 17:28:31
Hi, wishingstar,
Don't have much experience with this, I've been taking multivitamins more than 30 years with no trouble other than upset stomach from zinc.
But perhaps you could eat a nutrition bar each day instead? They have about 25%-40% RDA of many vitamins....perhaps you might tolerate that better than a pill.
This is the end of the thread.
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