Val - Britt has provided great information I just wanted to encourage you to switch to a citrate. My doctor has said all along that the citrate is absorbed much better. I am no vitalady but ... you don't want to get healthy just to have different issues arise. Trudy

found this for you Why do we need calcium? Since my diagnosis with osteoporosis in August, 2000, I am NOW, belatedly,trying to learn a little more about it. I drank milk til I was 45, and a lot of it. I have taken calcium carbonate faithfully since my surgery. I had kidney stones in 1997, too much carbonate. Did I learn? No, took citrate for 3 months, then right back to carbonate. It's cheaper. As I learn things through the Osteoporosis Foundation and through literature on the subject, I add the summaries here. I've learned that we put calcium into our "bank" until early adulthood, then we start taking it out. Caffeine, carbonation and some meds hurry the process. Losing weight also helps this along. Normally we shed/regrow bones cells like other cells. However, with the ever lightening body weight, the bone cells think they don't need to regenerate, so they don't! AND we don't absorb calcium as well as we did when we were younger. And we don't absorb it without a stomach. Tums are carbonate less and may or may not contain Vitamin D. Also, some acid is required for absorption of calcium. What do Tums do to acid? I do not offer any products which do not contain calcium citrate. I had special calcium citrates capsules made for us. They are swallowable as is, or they can be opened and stirred into something. They are 240 pills for $15 (about $5/month) for 3 per day. Each cap contains 500mg calcium citrate, 200 IU D, 250 mg magnesium. We can only absorb 500 mg of calcium at one time, so they are made to be as much calcium per pill as we can manage. Citracal is the only brand name that I know is formulated correctly. It runs about $13/month and if the bottle is the one that says "2 tablets = 630mg", then you would need to take 5 per day. I have recently developed another product for use by those who already have their diagnosis or who want to just be more careful. I'm calling them Super Calcium, but they have a really boring name on the label. EACH PILL contains the same as the above, 500mg calcium citrate, 250mg magnesium, 200IU of vitamin D PLUS 1 mg of boron and 33mg of ipriflavone 240 for $20 Along with using a good calcium citrate, my PCP's office recommended SIMPLE weight bearing exercise. Just heft a can of veggies in each hand. Now, even I can do that. My osteoporosis is fairly advanced and I only got the DEXASCAN due to peer pressure. I'd never have known it if it hadn't been a constant topic of conversation. I had a foot scan which showed me to be so far superior that I'd NEVER have to worry. However, I was told that isn't a true reflection. Tragically, my peer group was right and now, for my little economy ride for 6 years, I will pay dearly. Instead of just taking the citrate, I'll also take Tri-boron to increase absorption, ipriflavone to decrease bone loss, as well as trying to take the prescription preparations. So far, I am unable to tolerate the side effects of either one. Don was also diagnosed recently. He has taken much larger doses of calcium, but that makes no difference since it was the wrong kind. He took both carbonate and oyster shell. Some brand names that are NOT citrate are Caltrate 600 & OScal. I strongly recommend that anyone over 40 or post-op have this scan done ASAP. It's painless and not even expensive. You don't have to have all of these, just one or two is enough. Your justification for having it might include: being post-menopausal lactose intolerance MASSIVE WEIGHT LOSS having had any obesity surgery it's in your family recent bone breakage use of caffeine or carbonation after age 20 use of nicotine being fair or of Northern European descent being small frame August 2001 dexascan shows no change whatsoever. In my case, without the ability to use the prescriptions available, that is GOOD news. That means that the mineral preparations have at least held the line.

Yes, everything that I have learned says that Tums / rolaids are NOT suitable for us. *Calcuim citrate* (not calcium carbonate) is what you should be taking.

Trudy, I did well on liquids yesterday. The scale moved down this morning. However, I am not claiming the loss till I see it again tomorrow. I have my plan together for liquids today too. For me, the liquids are a double help. I can control my protein and calories as well as it being very low sodium. Fluid retention is one of my biggest problems. I tend to eat processed foods too often. Canned chicken, weigh****chers soups or entrees and even when I cook, I add salt for flavor. Doing all liquids plus drinking my normal gallon of water/crystal light/green tea- really flushes out the fluids. I bet I went "potty" at least 20 times yesterday! And It cleaned out the colon/bowel too, which is a blessing in itself. All in all, a great day yesterday. Now, today is already tougher. Stress at work is off the chart today. Also, someone just heated up some Lasagna in our office microwave and the smell is KILLING ME! I wish I could toss the office microwave out the front door. What office has a microwave and a refrigerator right up front? We are not talking the break room here (where there are a host of appliances and vending machines), they are litterally in th front office! Anyway, sorry for the rant. The smell is really getting to me. I made myself a reminder note and posted it to my computer screen. It asks these questions, Are you really hungry? OR..... are you bored? are you emotional? are you stressed? are you thirsty? It helps me to remember why I want food and that food is not the answer. Hugs, Valorie

Hi Trudy! yes, its true *I am back!* Glad that you are doing well. down 191 wow - is your goal to get to 200 pounds lost? A friend of mine want to be able to say *200* lost How is that new tummy? Do you love it? Did you post pictures on you profile? I wanna see! he he he I am going for another ps consult on 5/5 with another surgeon. If I can get it covered - I ma so doing it ...if not I will contimue to play lotto. Keep me posted on your 5k plans. That pain do not sound normaL???? Maybe CeCe can share? hugs, Britt