Question:
What are the chances of getting osteoperosis?

Long-term post-ops seem to be rare. I am assuming thats because the surgery has come so far and become much more popular in the last few years. Is calcium not absorbed as much after surgery? Different absorbtion rates with different types of surgeries? And is one likely to get osteoperosis? Also, with many becoming lactose intolerant, is this a more serious issue? Any questions answered are appreciated.    — Cheri M. (posted on July 23, 2001)

July 23, 2001
I'm sure it is a risk.. one that has been identified and so many surgeons recomment particular forms of calcium etc to help prevent it. I know with some of the surgeries certain forms of calcium are less likely to be absorbed. I have received correspondence from vitalady.com before and that might be a place you can go to get information and helpful advice.
   — Dawn R.

July 23, 2001
Osteoporosis is a concern because of the malabsorption of calcium. But, if you take your calcium CITRATE supplements with your daily vitamin, you should not have a problem. I take a prenatal vitamin once a day and calcium citrate supplement twice a day. This is my prescription from the surgeon and my nutritionist. Calcium carbonate is not absorbed as well as citrate.
   — Tere F.

July 23, 2001
The risk is very real. Part of the problem IS the massive weight loss. We have to sort through the choices of exactly what is lost and work hard to keep what we want. We want to KEEP muscle & bone mass, but lose the fatty tissue. I know, we're just so picky. We take the protein supps to hold onto the muscle & organs, and the calcium to hold onto the bones. We did Tums for awhile, then swtiched to a well formulated carbonate. No matter, we both have osteoporosis. Calcium citrate is believed to be the most absorbable form of calcium, as long as we are taking a LOT of it, double RDA, for example. Calcium is found naturally in fruits & veggies more than other places, but we cannot access it without the use of the stomach. And so, many of us have way too small a pouch to take on as bag a load as we'd need to get enough calcium. Bearing in mind that we are losing bone mass with every passing day during the weight loss stage. Since my husband & I took such large doses of the wrong calciums, it never occurred to me to change the type, after all our blood work was good. And an ankle scan said I was fine. HOWEVER, under the nagging of my online buddies, I got the full dexascan and found the awful truth and then got my husband in, too. We both have osteoporosis & the #1 treatment is not easily available to us. The #2 choice is easy and all, but I didn't tolerate it. He does, but it is reputed to be a poor 2nd choice. We have yet to see if our efforts to correct with minerals will have any effect in slowing or stopping the progress of this disease. I am a prime candidate for it, but my husband was not. Oh, and for the record, had I known in 1994 that I would end up with this, YES, I would still do it. The benefits still outweigh the problems, FOR ME. As more of our peers (mid-90's) come back with the dexascans, we're seeing the vast majority do have at least damage, if not more. We refer to ourselves as the Tums Generation.
   — vitalady