Calcium supplement

Hey guys, I figure this has probably been asked before, but with the lack of a decent search engine on these boards I didn't want to go through hundreds of posts looking for it. The main question is, what do you take for a Calcium supplement? Secondary I guess, what do you use for a B complex and multi-vitamin? I am currently just taking a Centrum One-a-day chewable twice a day for vitamins. I am using a Sublingual (liquid) B Complex. My problem is the Calcium. I had been taking some caramel flavored chews I bought at Wal-Mart. They were pretty good and I liked them. Then I discovered they were Calcium Carbonate instead of Calcium Citrate. So I went out Saturday and bought some of the Citrical Calcium chews. Well, when I take them, they seem to gum up or something in my pouch. I can't hardly eat anything for hours after taking them, and they cause a discomfort and bloated feeling when I take them. Yesterday I ate probably just a little over a tablespoon of shredded chicken for lunch at about 4:00 pm. I went to work and at 6:30 pm I took my vitamin and one of the Citrical chews. Within 30 minutes I had this almost cramp, bloated feeling in my stomach. I heated some more chicken for dinner at 2:00 am, 6 1/2 hours after taking the Citrical chew. I couldn't eat but about 4 bites. I felt like if I ate anymore I was going to be sick. (Oh, the weird hours because i work 6:00 pm to 6:00 am) So, has anyone else tried these things and had a problem with them? I am pretty sure they are what is causing the problem. I am going to stop taking them for a couple days to find out for sure. Anyway, if that is the case, i am just curious what might be an alternative. I have checked a number of stores here but can't find the chews or a liquid calcium that is the correct kind. I need to find something else to try and am hoping you guys can offer some suggestions. Thanks

----- 
Even the toughest criminals become remarkably docile 
 once separated from society by six feet of soil. 

I get Calcium Citrate pills at the Vitamin Shoppe.  As for your cramps, perhaps you should be having the chicken pureed.  It may be too soon after your RNY to be having shredded chicken.  I hope some of the more recent post-ops can tell you about this.

I take the citrical creamy bites, the citrate ones, and I dont have any problems.  I didnt start taking them until I was about 3 months out, before that I ate some crappy powder that was terrible. It takes time my friend, all does get better I assure you.

Can you tolerate them if you eat the Citrical Creamy Bite by itself, with no other food? You want to do that anyway, since calcium and iron compete for the same digestion pathways so you don't want to eat anything with iron within 2 hours of eating the calcium. So don't take your multivitamin at the same time or within 2 hours of taking the calcium. I take the Citrical calcium citrate 250mg+D, and just chew two tablets at a time. It's a bit of a chalky consistency, but the taste is pretty bland and goes down fine with water. That might work for you if you can't tolerate the sugars in the Creamy Bite.

You might want to try Calcium Citrate Malate, which is perportedly the most absorbable kinds of calcium. GNC (gnc.com) has a good one but there are others out there.  Just search on GNC.com for "citrate malate". I've also ordered from vitacost.com which has a very inexpensive citrate malate. http://www.gnc.com http://www.vitacost.com/NSI-Calcium-Citrate-Malate-1-000-mg-100-Capsules?csrc=PPCADWLT-calcium_citrate_malate&s_kwcid=calcium%20citrate%20malate|573205391

It isn't a problem with what I eat. I can eat chicken breast with no problems at this point. It is those stupid calcium chews, they seem to gum up in me or something. I took one and didn't eat for 6 1/2 hours afterwards and still had problems. I don't know if i am dumping on them or not. It seems weird if that is the case, they only have 5 carbs and 4 sugars, and I have eaten stuff with higher carb and sugar amounts than that with no ill effect at this point. (Like the chicken I had, it was bar-b-que chicken with about 9 gr of sugar and it went down fine. Anyway, I didn't take them today, and have been able to eat just fine, so I am sure it is the chews that are causing the problem. Not a real big deal, I just need to find a different supplement. I just wondered what else was out there. I don't want to have to deal with crushing pills or anything. I want to find a different chew I can tolerate, or a chewable or powder or something. I will check some of your suggestions and try to find something else.  Thanks.

----- 
Even the toughest criminals become remarkably docile 
 once separated from society by six feet of soil. 

You can pick up Calcium CItrate at most drug stores. Just read the bottle and make sure it isn't calcium carbonate. Also make sure it contains Vitamin D, which improves absorption. I think 30 day supply cost about 7 dollars at Walgreen's