An infection for 5 months? And I felt tired even before Dad's stroke, but much worse after and it was still summer, August.

I am not a believer in vitamins. However, I come from a long line of believers- especially in B12. Apparently when my mother was an infant and a young child, she did not eat enough. Her ped came to the house and gave her weekly B12 injections.

Bp- any brand advice? Does your pill have an aftertaste?

I'm sorry you and your family have been having a rough time lately.

I do believe in vitamins though think there are junk ones out there too. Vitamin b's make a huge difference. Had blood work done recently and found out my d's were very low. dr. put me on high dose once a week for awhile. The tired 'fog' I was having every day has lifted and I have energy again. It's amazing. My doctor said almost everyone is dificient in vitamin d. I'll note I live on the east coast.

( I always thought that was Viagra)

Rita, I never have been big on daily or specialty vitamins because I ate pretty healthfully. I had growing boys so I made sure we all did! But the last year or so I've not been as attentive, and I probably eat way more protein than I need and not nearly enough produce.

I don't notice any aftertaste, they aren't chewable and I take them when I brush my teeth so the minty freshness probably covers up any aftertaste :)

sheels, I live in the Great Lakes region so probably also deficient in Ds. Being of 100% Scandinavian descent, a woman, and having borne children and breasted them makes me susceptible to osteoporosis, so I should probably take something for that.

Well, we have been taking the EmergEnC (or however they spell it, lol) immune support gummies with B vitamins since January to try to keep us from getting the winter crud! I ran out of that brand and bought a different brand that didn’t have the B vitamins in it bc the other was sold out. Dh totally noticed a difference the first day...and he didn’t even really know the first ones had the Bvitamins. He had much more energy with the first batch than the second. Needless to say...I ordered the EmerGEnC ones from Amazon and now we’re all feeling energetic again! Oh, and they taste GOOD! Like candy!

B complex makes a noticeable difference for me, to the extent that if I take it too late in the day, I lie awake at night wondering what the heck happened. But I come from a long line of vitamin b deficient folks and have problems with anemia myself.

Yes vitamins can make a difference if you are deficient in them. B-12 is a tough one as for some people, as they age, they find it less digestible and can become deficient. See for instance here.

Vit D is also another one that we can be deficient in (I am) as it comes from sunlight. Depending on where you live, how much milk you drink and how much sunscreen you wear, it can be difficult to acquire. One symptom is depression. See for instance here.

Vitamin D makes a huge difference in how I feel both psychologically and physically. Most people are deficient in Vitamin D. We stay out of the sun, use sunscreen, do not drink milk and so on. It is always wise to see if you are deficient.

I agree about B12 as well.

B12, D, Magnesium (orally or topically) and Omegas make a big difference for me. I used to take at night too, but the b12 kept me up, now I take it in the morning and only a couple times a week.

I also find B vitamins give me energy and help me have a positive state of mind too. Like those above, I can't take them late in the day or I'm up all night. I take a 1 a day type women's multivitamin and B complex (Trader Joe's brand) every morning.

I drink a GT kombucha when I want some energy - the label states it's very high in B vitamins - works much better than coffee for me. I can't drink those late in the day either, tho.

I'm another who generally doesn't take vitamins and relies on a healthy diet to give me what I need. But B vitamins are known for energy. Many years ago I remember my sister being in college and coming down with mono. As she started to recover, the doctor put her on a strong dose of all B with C vitamins. It really seemed to help. I have taken the all b with c here and there when I am a bit run down, flu/cold season, etc. I can't say that they give me a burst of energy, but I do think i feel better overall. I have never had my D level checked, that I know of, but plan to do that at next physical. Just curious as I do know many women who are deficient. I am outside alot, although I wear sunscreen, I try to get a few minutes in without it.

I had my D levels measured last year for the first time and the doctor immediately prescribed 50,000 units weekly. Wish I'd known about this critical test much earlier.

You all inspired me to get some vitamins. The only kind that doesn't make me feel sick are the Multi-Omega 3 adult gummies. I also took a B this morning. And, made a big pot of vegetable soup. I honestly feel like I'm dying lately.

Justterrilyn, I wonder what it is about the vitamins that make you feel sick? I know that too much iron can make one nauseous.

I picked up some combo vitamin D and Magnesium; my dad had been taking it so I hope it helps (without the brain hemorrhage). I wonder if I will notice a difference, now that I'm feeling so much better?

Funny story: DH and I were growing tomatoes, and had heard that a calcium-magnesium vitamin was good for them. So we tried it. The tomatoes failed miserably. At the garden center we were talking with "the guy" and I mentioned I'd given the vitamin. DH said,"but so did I!" Yep, the overdose killed the tomatoes. Kind of an agricultural "Gift of the Magi".

Except for the B12, does it matter whether you take vitamins in the morning or at night?

You do need to take them with food!

I take Vitamin D 2,000 IU per day because a few years ago I was very low, at 17 ng/dL. I'm now up to 40 but it took awhile.

I also take Biotin (5000 mcg) for hair and nails.

I ONLY use Nature Made brand. Consumer Reports testing showed their brand actually had the concentration of vitamins that were listed on the label without fillers. Some vitamins can have lead in them. Don't go cheap.

I've heard you should take iron in the morning to prevent nausea. And now I understand why my dad was always very clear to get NatureMade.

Biotin for hair and nails? I'll look into that. I notice that not only have I not been taking care of my nails (let alone gone for a manicure), I've been kind of abusing them.

I believe in b12 as well and have seen the benefits. There's an interesting book about b12 deficiency and how it can mimic a lot of other much more serious problems. Could it be B12. I have read the sublingual tablets Jarrow or the drops - both which go under your tongue - are most effective and will work on people whose digestive system isn't absorbing b12 anymore. It seems to be fairly common as we age.

There is also talk that Vitamin D has been reclassified as a hormone and is vitally important to your health. I'm sure there are differing views on this, but they have upped the testing optimal range to above 50. New studies seem to say it should be combined with k2 and taken with fat for best absorbancy.

Legomom, I wondered about the sublingual, because that is what my dad was getting. He had me return a bottle because I hadn't gotten him the sublingual.

Amazing the things one can learn about vitamins!

I've also heard that for young people with anxiety etc, vitamin D drops are better than the tablets. Not just little kids, but young people in general. Going to try it with DS.

Vitamins can make a big difference if you were deficient, but if you weren't falling short, taking more won't help. There are some that can be harmful in excess.

will work on people whose digestive system isn't absorbing b12 anymore

Only some of them. I have pernicious anemia and believe me, I'd love to stop sticking myself with those big intramuscular needles, but if you have totally lost intrinsic factor they don't work that well, or often not at all.

You are right writersblock - I should have said not for everyone! I'm sorry you have to get stuck!

Thanks for the sympathy, legomom!

My father did not absorb B12 and with the first injection, there was a remarkable change. Deficiency can mimic many things, as someone said above, and for him it was like his dementia improved 100% after first dose!

Oh Writersblock, what a bother to have to use the needles, on top of the pernicious anemia. I'm so sorry!

lovemrmewey, I'm going to bring my mom some B12, perhaps it will help her dementia. My dad took it for years and though he hasn't had it since his brain hemorrhage, I think it helped him recover as much as he has. I will bring him some, too.

My late MIL got B12 injections, but I thought it was just the amount she needed or something. DH didn't say anything about her not absorbing orally. I didn't realize that was a thing. I did allergy shots for years -- I totally get not wanting to get stuck again and again. Sorry you have to do that, Writersblock.