Need help...

Just want to be sure on this.... After my last visit with my WLS Dr., I am changing to a calcium caplet with D instead of the tums I've been taking, but I can't remember what we shouldn't take calcium with for the best results on absorbsion. I think it's calcium and iron that can't be taken at the same time. The Dr. also said I should be taking two of my Centrum Complete Vitamins rather than one, so this throws another pill into the mix. So, how should these be spaced? I also take synthroid for my thyroid which has to be taken by itself, so that's the first thing I take when I get out of bed. Any help would be appreciated! Theresa

Theresa, you are right on the calcium and iron. You will need to wait 4 hours after your calcium to take your iron. I take my calcium in the morning and before bed. All my other vitamins I take in the middle of the day. Also do not take both centrums together as you will only absorb only one centrum. With your iron, you will need to take vit. C in order to absorb the iron. I hope this helps, good luck. Janice

Thanks guys, but another question... Jan, I don't take an iron suppliment "per say"...just whatever is in my multivitamin. So does that mean I can't take the calcium near the time of my multivitamin? This gets difficult when you have to take two big calcium pills and two big multivitamins, and each of THEM shouldn't be taken at the same time either! Geez! Thanks for your answers! Theresa

Theresa I didn,t know that eather DR juet told me to change from tums to other calcemI am taking calcem with D I get my Iron In my Vit you learn somthing everyday THANKS MARY JO

Theresa: I take my regular vitamins in the morning, wait a few hours to take my iron and vitamin C, and then at night I chew up the calcium (like Viactiv). I got sick on the calcium citrate, so I am on the chewables. I hear they aren't as absorbable, but I can't take the others. I know, I'm weird. Hope that helps. Maybe get a little pill tote and take the pills with you to work? That might work for you! Good luck, Pam

I need to hijack with a big hello to you Pamela. Glad to see you posting as I missed you for the last couple of months. Janice

I have this same problem. You can't take the thyroid medication with calcium so I take the thyroid in the morning, iron in the afternoon with a vit C to help me absorb it more, and calcium at night. Take care, Fran

Theresa, I do the same thing as fran... I take my thryroid meds in the am... then my multis after lunch, then my calcuim at night. I have not been told to take extra iron yet, so I don't do that yet... but I am sure adding more pills will make things more difficult as you have said. Is there a different multi you can take so you can take it all at once to free up med time? Just wondering. Good Luck.... Shawn M.

Calcium Citrate (NOT carbonate, we don't process it and absorb it), 1500mg per day, is what I was told. And the body only gets about 500mg at a time, so that means calcium three times a day. So, I do a two hour gap between calcium and multi and between iron and anything. Kind of a pain but I know someone with osteoporosis, so I'm religious about getting it in. Other than that, Costco (and Sams Club, I'm sure,) have their own version of Centrum for a better price.

I always thought it was calcium and zinc that couldn't be taken together... Thanks for the heads up on throid/synthroid and calcium. Mom takes synthroid, but not calcium. Will have to to that in my .....