Question:
Should we re-evaluate calcium supplements in view of links to heart attacks?

I had a heart attack this year 6 weeks after my RNY... with no previous indication of heart problems. Recently a study has come out linking heart attacks to calcium supplements. Is it possible to do without the calcium supplement or greatly reduce the intake?    — jobrasil (posted on June 8, 2011)

June 8, 2011
ASK your surgeon, not us.
   — FSUMom

June 8, 2011
Hello, By all means ask your surgeon, BUT, ask here to, because this is what this site is all about. Some Doctors do not know much about RNY, so asking here is a great way to find out how others have done. I do hope you are doing much better.
   — daizi55

June 8, 2011
I agree with FSUMOM. We are not informed enough about your case to make a judgement. The surgeon who did your WLS is a good one to ask. Plus, more doctors are learning about WLS and I'm sure your cardiologist is well informed.
   — Muggs

June 9, 2011
I have asked my surgeon and my cardiologist, and I will ask my internist of twenty plus years when I see him in a couple of weeks. This is a new research result... and more research will be done. Meantime, I do not want to jeopardize my chances of living longer. My cardiologist said maybe cut the supplements in half. I wondered what other people are doing with this new information. My surgeon said to remember my stomach wasn't normal and that I needed to keep taking calcium, but I wonder if having less calcium will harm me. I don't really have a support group... this site is my group. Here in Brazil I just have a surgeon, not a community.
   — jobrasil

June 9, 2011
The study, published about a year ago, was not "definitive." I.E. more research was indicated. I would think that losing weight is going to reduce your risk of further attacks much more than calcium would raise risk. Some MDs questioned the NEED for calcium supplements because many (normal) patients get adequate calcium from food. We RNY patients do not get adequate calcium from food due to our shortened intestines. Of course your doctor needs to help you weigh the risk. If you're concerned about osteoporosis (does it run in your family?) there are drugs that can be prescribed. I do think asking here is a good idea--we patients must be equipped with as much information as possible to ask our docs the right questions. I know I find myself teaching my primary docabout some details of RNY patients... my surgeons certainly not an expert on mental and emotional issues associated with food addictions and body image... it just means we need to learn about our health and participate with our docs on our care.
   — Greg K.

June 9, 2011
I think you need to have your blood work done and to see where you are at to see if cutting back will be ok like your doctor says you don't get all the calcium in that is why we take that much in. not taking it will not be good too so to much or too little not good
   — mrkbeatt

June 10, 2011
Well, I just had blood work done and a bone density scan done too. All is well so far. I will continue to monitor this, of course, but heart attack feels like a big risk for me, at 66 years when I've already had one, just after my RNY surgery, and just after I started taking two calcium supplements per day. I would really like to get as much calcium as I can from diet and forget the supplements. No one else is in this situation yet, I gather.
   — jobrasil