Calcium, What do you take?

I'm trying to get back on track with taking my vitamins, etc. I used to take a chewable wafer calcium and now I take the Citracal petites but really don't like how many I have to take, their only 400mg. for 2 pills, so I have to take 6 a day....My Doctor says NO Calcium carbonate, only calcium citrate.

So what do you take?

Kelly

I bit the bullet and finally started paying more and getting the Bariatric Advantage. My Bariatric Dr says that the BA vitamins are like the cadillac version. They are better absorbed by us RNYers. I take the cherry lozenges, 3 a day. I was sick of going to the pharmacy and having them be out of my BA vitamins so I finally ordered online through BA and signed up for their automatic refill program so I get free shipping and they automatically send me more when I am due to be running out. I can also change up my order any time. I thought it was fantastic and convenient. Also, the prices online were comparable to the pharmacy already, also they have some rewards program too and off of my second order I already had about $10 to put towards it from the money I spent on my first order.

Alayna,

Thanks, I just may give these a try.....

Kelly

I am on a prescription liquid calcium that my Dr. sadi would be great and HOLY COW I have white fingernails................. Who would of guessed.........  Good luck to you...............

I use the Kirkland Calcium Citrate from Costco.  If you can handle larger pills...they are a bargain.  I take 2 twice a day - total of 4 for 1,000mg.  I've also used the liquid calcium citrate from Iherb.com.  The brand is Blue Bonnet and they have a few different flavors and they're really not bad tasting.  Only 2 tbsp gives you 1200 mg.  I do one tbsp at a time since we can't absorb that much in one crack.

http://www.iherb.com/Bluebonnet-Nutrition-Liquid-Calcium-Mag nesium-Citrate-Natural-Raspberry-Flavor-16-fl-oz-472-ml/1299 5?at=0

Marsha what kind of liquid?

I currently take Citracal + D Petites..

My recommended dose per WLS office is 2000 a day which would be 10 a day... I take 9 a day... 3 am, 3 lunch time, 3 afternoon... (9 x 200= 1800)...

I can't afford the BA brand... I know ALOT of post-op peeps who started out on BA and ended up taking a generic brand or citracal for their calcium citrate... BA just ended up too expensive to maintain.. and their blood levels of everything are fine when they've been tested..

One thing to be careful with about calcium... it won't really show up as being "low" until it's too late.

You know how you lose muscle after surgery (specially RNY) cause you are eating so little, your body is getting energy from wherever it can.. ?

Calcium is like that...

If you don't get enough, your body will call on it's reserves. And those reserves are you bones. So your bloodwork may still be normal, but it's only cause you body is leeching it from your bones to maintain that level.

I think that's why the recommended daily amounts were just upped recently to the 15-1600 for men, 18-2000 for women.

I do a variety ~ PNC always recommends Viactive.  My nurse always said that although citrate is absorbed more readily and is preferred, taking ANY calcium supplement is better than taking none!

So I take citrate in caplet form, Viactive, the cherry BA lozenges, a gummy form I found at Target - I just make sure I get @ 1200-1500/day from various sources, and I like the variety!  I haven't had my 3 year check yet, but my levels have always been good!

Kelly ... I have tried the wafers and found that they were way too sweet for me... I have found Equaline brand at Cub that have 630 mg per tablet. But they are larger pills but you can easily break them apart .

Dave

Thank you all for your replies.....I ended up looking up Bariatric advantage, I looked at all they sell, vitamins, calcium, etc....They are a little pricey but have way more in each pill than what I was taking.....

I'm going to buy $179 worth of stuff, Daily vitamins, calcium chews and losenges, Iron, Protein shake powder, Vitamin D, omega3, probodics, protein liquid drink, protein bar, wls magazine......I need to get back on track with taking my vitamins, etc.....

Kelly