Question:
What Calcium supplements won't cause constipation?

My doctor took me off calcium for six weeks. Then we will run labs. I lost TEN pounds, comimg off the calcium and relieving the constipation. I am two years post op and know that I need the calcium. What has worked long term for you?    — Allison M. (posted on May 10, 2004)

May 10, 2004
I can relate. I had to stop taking the calcium supplement because of severe constipation that turned into impaction. VERY PAINFUL. I now drink two glasses of milk a day to help make up for the supplement. My labs were excellent per my surgeon at the last check up.
   — ckreh

May 10, 2004
Have you tried Tums Extra Strength? It comes in sugarfree and gives 750 mg. of calcium per tablet. This is what my doctor has me take
   — njcrom2

May 10, 2004
Note re last post: Tums is calcium carbonate. There is scientific evidence to suggest that we don't absorb calcium carbonate well after WLS, so you need to stick to a calcium citrate. I take the Twinlab chewable calcium citrate wafers (1500 to 2000 mg a day), and have only mild problems with constipation. To alleviate that, I take 4 tablespoons of Benefiber in my morning drink every day. That, and an occasional stool softener, work fine for me. I'm way too scared of osteoporosis to fool around with the calcium thing.
   — Vespa R.

May 10, 2004
There's a reason constipation is rampant in nursing homes: Tums (carbonate). Milk is another good constipator (as recommended by some docs for just normal diarrhea), as is cottage cheese. As RNY, we can't really absorb much calcium from either without the food passing thru the duodenum. Carbonate form requires acid, of which we have very little and if we did, what would Tums do to it? The only thing I can say is that calcium citrate is more readily absorbed by us and the magnesium in it helps offset any tendency to bind. Think: milk of MAGNESIA. I am in the process of tweaking my mag, as we speak.
   — vitalady

May 10, 2004
There's a reason constipation is rampant in nursing homes: Tums (carbonate). Milk is another good constipator (as recommended by some docs for just normal diarrhea), as is cottage cheese. As RNY, we can't really absorb much calcium from either without the food passing thru the duodenum. Carbonate form requires acid, of which we have very little and if we did, what would Tums do to it? The only thing I can say is that calcium citrate is more readily absorbed by us and the magnesium in it helps offset any tendency to bind. Think: milk of MAGNESIA. I am in the process of tweaking my mag, as we speak.
   — vitalady