Basic vitamin regime on the cheap

I'm on Medicare due to disability.  I'm poor.  Another women in my boat wrote in at the duodenal switch lists asking for advice on how to pay for her vitamin supplements since Medicare doesn't pick up this cost.

I wrote her back privately...this is what I do

I can get the basics shipped to my door for approx $20 a month.

I ordered the multivitamins with ADEK from Baratric Advantage at first, but they are too expensive and unnecessary.  I bought cheaper multivitamins from Vitalady 180 caps (her private label) for around $35 which will last me three months.  I'm going to go with the cheapest generic ones when I run out.

I don't take the ADEKs my doctor's office showed me.  They are too expensive at $40 a bottle for 60, not even a month's supply at 3 a day.  The doc said they weren't necessary either.  It's best to add what you need based on your lab tests.  If you need extra vitamins, your lab tests will show it.

You can order what you need at Amazon, cheap, and utilize their free shipping for orders over $25.  I always buy enough at once to get their free shipping.

Ferro sequels from Amazon.  100 tablets at 1 a day will last appros 3 months. I love these because they are good to my tummy and non constipating. $7/mo

Citracal calcium citrate with D 180 tablets at three a day will last two months. I do like the chewable and lozenges, but these are cheaper. They have no taste, like chalk. I just chew 'em and chase it with a beverage. $7.50/mo



Centrum multivitamin You get 250 which at 2/day will last approx 4 months. Big pills, I break them into half. $5/mo


(Don't always go with the best price. If it's just a dollar or so more, the ones that qualify for free shipping are worth it)

Rich person's surgery?

I'm sorta frustrated since I'm on a limited income. I want the DS, but it seems it's a surgery tailored to only people with lots of money.

Some could say this about obesity surgery in general though, with the hassle of getting insurnace to cover it.

The good thing is now Medicare and many Medicaid programs do cover it.

But that doesn't mean a person of limited means can have the DS. First, you usually have to travel to find an experienced surgeon. Some of these won't take Medicare or Medicaid so your pool is further limited.

The ONLY way I can afford to have mine is to have it in Topeka where my mother lives--the DS surgeons in Colorado are particularly greedy and don't take poorer people's insurance--only insurances that pay them at a premium. The Topeka surgeons seem to be just starting to do the DS, although they are experienced in other surgeries and revisions with good stats--the DS experience simply isn't there yet. It's a scary situation for me. But I don't have the money to buy experience. Medical care shouldn't depend onone's amount of money--but this is America and it's all about the money.

There is controversy about the Medicare Advantage programs. I'm enrolled in one. More providers take it because it pays at the higher Blue Cross Blue shield rate than the lower Medicare rate. This is a freebie giveaway to the health providers from the government because the care isn't any different despite the increased cost. But Bush and his cronies are all about government welfare and handouts for rich corporations and the wealthy. Hopefully, Obama will cut this waste out and mandate that providers take care of sick people for reasonable payment as other civilized countries do.

We should start calling it what it is--greed. Medical professionals should be able to make a good living, but not to be greedy. Greed doesn't go well with caring for patients.

As it is now the DS is an operation for people with the resources to afford it...hopefully one day it will be an operation for those who need it, regardless of their resources.