question about calcium supplements

I looked at the chewable calcium supplements and they all contain sugar! I have the regular calcium tablets, but they look like horse pills and make me gag when I try to take them. The pharmacist reccommended Tums which are almost pure calcium, but I worry about taking an antacid everyday. Does anyone have any suggestions? Cheryl

I've heard that calcium citrate is absorbed better than the calcium carbonate (Tums). They are indeed horsepills though. Consider getting a pill cutter to break them up into smaller pieces. Or, if you prefer, you can get a pill crusher and take it with water although I don't know how bad they taste. Also, be sure to wait a couple of hours AFTER taking you vitamins with Iron before taking the calcium. Iron will prevent the absorption of the calcium.

I was told to take tums. So I bought the tums ultra and only have to take 2 a day. They have 3 grams of sugar per serving (2). Also the viactiv have 3 grams of sugar so I don't see the difference. I have both but have been using the tums for now. As soon as I'm on soft/pureed foods I will switch to the Viactiv. They taste like toostie rolls! mmmm Kelley

Cheryl, my doc told me to take 3 tums a day. I got the extra strength and he said that is probably best for me. I wouldn' t worry too much about that I also got the fruity kind. It does have 2 grams of sugar but I was reassured that was perfectly fine. Bethany AKA Da Offishal Riddler and Bertha 24 Days into NewPouch and feeling great! -28 lbs!!!! Yayyyy A riddle a day will keep the Marchers pounds AWAY!

It must be calcium citrate, so Tums won't do. A pill cutter is the way to go. Or crushing and putting in yoghurt or applesauce or some such. My surgeon is not making me work with this for another few weeks but doctor's requirements vary. Right now I'm 3 weeks post op and chewing up 2 Flintsones' chewables multivitamins each day, that's it. Later I will be adding the calcium and multi with iron. Not sure on the timing, probably after my second post op visit or so. Gano

Honestly I never thought about the Tums....silly me! But I did buy the chewable calcium and don't have problems with them causing me to dump, so I'll at least finish these up and then maybe move to Tums. Dina

I have been told by my doctor and my nutritionist that it HAS to be calcium citrate. The part of our system that breaks down and absorbs the calcium carbonate has been bypassed. The calcium citrate breaks down easily and is absorbed. The carbonate isn't.