Calcium...were you told you have to take it forever after surgery?

I am wondering because I "used" to take it years ago right after surgery but then I stopped, now I have achy bones,

don't remember if this was a long life to take vitamin? I used to take citracal petites is there a better option of calcium?

any suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

For life. Absolutely.

The only reliable test for bone health is a DEXA scan. Ask your doctor to order one for you.

There are lots of calcium options. Find one that you will take -- religiously.

Thank you Grim,

I will talk to my doctor and hope they refer me to one, will get back to calcium asap.

My guidelines were calcium plus Vit D for life after surgery--calcium citrate 500mg with Vit D3 500UI, 3x daily. Was told and has been reiterated here that calcium carbonate is not as good. I take Bariatric Advantage Calcium Citrate Chewy Bites either Chocolate or Peanut Butter/Chocolate. They're pricey but I love that bit of chocolate 3x a day. I originally used UpCal D, it's a powder you can mix in a little of beverage and drink. It's way cheaper, but it never dissolves all the way and is quite gritty. It doesn't taste bad, kind of sweet, and if you can just throw it down your gullet 3x a day, it's not bad.

thank you so much for the information Cathy, I will look into the chews, sounds like a nice break from the chalky pills.

I also use the bariatric advantage chews - different flavors, I like the fruity ones. Pricey but not too bad on Amazon. I found those to be less chalky tasting than other cal citrate chews.

Just make sure you separate them out and don't take all 3 at once (difficult to absorb that much at once) and also, don't take it at the same time as any supplement with iron (they compete for absorption)

Yup, all in my surgery binder.

In addition to the calcium citrate, you'll also need vitamin d, vitamin k, and magnesium to keep your bones healthy.

I agree that you need to get a Dexa scan, ASAP. RNY patients must take calcium citrate 500 mg - 4 times a day at least 2 hours apart - forever.

I'm 8 years out and have taken my calcium citrate every day and my DEXA ( Jan. 2017) scan showed some osteopenia.

When you don't supplement your body takes the calcium from your bones.

By the way Calcium Citrate is not the only supplement we need to take daily. Are you having annual labs done that include vitamin and mineral levels? If not, you should get scheduled to get orders for those, too.

Best wishes,

Penny

Taking too much calcium can be dangerous, and unless other minerals vitamins are present at the same time - just calcium may not make the bones better.

My bones are great at 9 years post op yet I take app 1000 mg calcium a day ..On average. But I also take magnesium and K2 and selenium, and... etc etc...

Suggesting everyone post op RNY MUST take 2000 mg calcium a day is not really valid.

The more important is what we can absorb and incorporate in the bones .

Edited to add:

If you take 2000 mg calcium citrate - you only getting app 440 total elemental calcium.

So the calcium you take - is it:

• 500 mg element calcium from calcium citrate or
• 500 mg calcium citrate - which means you only taking 105mg elemental calcium?

Whrn you suggest people must take 2000 mg calcium - is it elemental or citrate?

On top of that - there are other forms of calcium that may be better absorbed by some people.