Calcium

There was a post a while ago about calcium. I am going to stop at the Westbrook mall and check out the vitamin store, but I can't remember the name of the calcium. I looked back through old posts, but must have missed it. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Carmen

Carmen--try TUMS smooth dissolve--750 mgs calcium and very good taste Hillary

I have been taking the smooth dissolve, but have heard calcium citrate is better and wanted to try that. How is everything going for you so far? Carmen

Carmen: You really want to take calcium citrate. Twin labs has a chewable wafer that is like a giant sweet tart. I just ordered powdered calcium citrate form valleynutrition.com. The Tums and or Viactive will not cut it for us WLS patients. Best of luck to you. Chryssie

Hi Carmen- I'd be sure to speak directly with your surgeon or nutritionist about what they want you to take at this point. The theory is (and that I know of it is just a theory, not backed up by a lot of scientific proof, which is why so many surgeons don't care what kind of calcium you use) that cabronate does not absorb as well as citrate. Of course, I may have missed a study...so if anyone knows of one, please feel free to share! Remember- carbonate is easier to find in chewable form (in fact almost everything chewable is carbonate) Citrate is harder to find in chewable (sometimes darn impossible) But, you can find pills (HUGE, probably too big for you at this stage) and liquid ($$$$). I see no reason not to err on the side of caution if citrate is possibly better. What the heck- it can't hurt. But, your surgeon may have other thoughts- esp. since you are so newly post op. Good luck to you. Lisa C

I did ask at my first check-up and was told that calcium carbonate is ok at this stage. Once I can swallow pills I will be given a perscription for a multi-purpose pill, including calcium carbonate and iron. The nutritionist agrees that carbonate is ok early on, but citrate is better. I remember someone saying something about a liquid which also had Vit D (I think). That is what I want to try. Thnaks for the info, Carmen

Hi Carmen- I'd be sure to speak directly with your surgeon or nutritionist about what they want you to take at this point. The theory is (and that I know of it is just a theory, not backed up by a lot of scientific proof, which is why so many surgeons don't care what kind of calcium you use) that cabronate does not absorb as well as citrate. Of course, I may have missed a study...so if anyone knows of one, please feel free to share! Remember- carbonate is easier to find in chewable form (in fact almost everything chewable is carbonate) Citrate is harder to find in chewable (sometimes darn impossible) But, you can find pills (HUGE, probably too big for you at this stage) and liquid ($$$$). I see no reason not to err on the side of caution if citrate is possibly better. What the heck- it can't hurt. But, your surgeon may have other thoughts- esp. since you are so newly post op. Good luck to you. Lisa C

Carmen, I think you are referring to the liquid Calcium Magnesium Citrate that I found at the Westbrook mall Vitamin store. It is made be Lifetime vitamins and comes in a brown 16 oz bottle. I showed it to Elina, Dr. Aranows nutritionist and she said it was a very good product. Liquid form is absorbed the quickest which is good for us. You can mix it with something, but it actually isn't bad right off the spoon. Hope this helps. Terri