Question:
question about calcium citrate
i started with my vit. and i have the chewable calcium citrate things and i think they taste soo nasty but cant find liquid or another flavor, my question is can i take a pill or will that not work the same way. oh i had lap rny on 3-2-09 and if i can take a pill what do u take? thank you!! — esty (posted on March 21, 2009)
March 21, 2009
I had surgery on 2/9/09 and my dr suggested the calcium citrate tablets.
They are bigger than an eraser, so I have to take one a day and cut it in
fourths. I take two halfs in morning and two at night. Check with your dr
to make sure its okay. Hope this helps.
— racegirl
March 21, 2009
For the first 6 months I took Rolaids twice a day. Then I moved on to the
tablets you can swallow. These have no taste at all. Good luck.
— maria09elena
March 21, 2009
I take a little hammer and smash my vitamins and calcium,mix together,and
add warm water.Stir until they dissolve,then drink them.
— Virginia H.
March 21, 2009
HI...I had the same problem w/ the chewables...they were just gross. I have
found a liquid calcium citrate at Mrs. Greens from a comp called Lifetime.
It comes flavored and 2 tablespoons a day is what you would take. My nut
and dr have both approved it...Good Luck!!!!
— elimeno
March 21, 2009
I was told to try to avoide the tablets. I found a liquid at GNC.com and
it doesn't tast bad at all. I tried several brands of chewables and they
were all nasty...
— phyllismmay
March 21, 2009
Hi! I take sugar free calcium chews...taste like chocolate..They are made
by spring valley..I get them at walmart...90 chews for $5 or so. It is
calcium carbonate, but my calcium have been great since I switched to
these. Many at my support group use them also. 1 chew is 500 mg of calcium.
2 grams of sugar and 15 cals...The carbonate has never bothered me....Best
of luck! hugs, kim
— gpcmist
March 22, 2009
At my last support group a lady had some "upcal D" for us to try.
It's a powder that goes into a drink. It's tasteless, but I will say that
it should be put in a water bottle with whatever drink you have because you
need to shake it every few drinks because the powder does settle to the
bottom. It comes in packets and a tub that has a scoop. I bought both, in
case I'm out and realized I forgot my calcium, I can grab a drink and put
it in there. It really is tasteless, but again, if you get to the last of
your drink and it hadn't been shaken often, it will be a gritty last drink,
which I guess isn't nearly as bad as chewing those yucky calcium tablets.
Just do a google search for upcal D it is citrate. Also for the lady who is
chewing the chocolate ones, your calcium might be ok now, but I fear it
will catch up to you. Your body will not absorb the calcium the way it
should. The same lady who brought the upcal d to our meeting brought them
because she had been taking the viactive chews and her calcium was way too
low at her last blood work. Our internist (he works with our surgeon)
suggested the upcal and she loves it.
— Teresa V.
March 22, 2009
There are many other powders and forms of Calcium citrate...For example
there is Up Cal D that is such a nice mild flavor in a powder...It comes in
individual packets for easy travel (tuck a few in your handbag) or comes
in as a powder in a tub with a measuring spoon. I just dissovle it right on
my tongue rather than in liquids...It's a slightly sweet, creamy flavor. As
for the calcium carbonate chews, those cannot be absorbed by the RNY
body...Calcium carbonate need stomach acid to absorb properly. And because
calcium tends to bind to other nutrients it is famous for causing stones
that require surgery! Calcium carbonate combines with hydrochloric acid in
the normal stomach to form calcium chloride which is well absorbed in a
person with their FULL STOMACH! After RNY, this is unlikely to occur. A
small comparative study between the two forms was conducted in
post-operative RNY patients and also concluded that calcium citrate was
significantly more bioavailable (absorbable) in RNYers. For this reason,
calcium citrate is the preferred form after RNY surgery. Calcium
deficiency is also secondary to vitamin D malabsorption in RNY patients.
PLEASE do not take calcium carbonate just because you think they have
better tasting supplements! It's a really bad choice ofor preventing
problems for yourself later. So find a different calcium citrate but do not
go to calcium carbonate! By the way...when those taking calcium carbonate
learn they are calcium or Vit D deficient, most likely it will be after
their teeth crumble in their mouth or they have frequent bone breakage and
their doc decides to check their calcium levels...You can prevent that by
taking the right form of calcium for your anatomy!!!
— .Anita R.
March 22, 2009
I'm not sure what surgery you had. I had the VSG. He treats his VSG
patients just like his RNY patients. I had to crush my all my pills, have
chewable pills or liquid medication for 6 weeks. Before you take a regular
pill, make sure you can.
— Corina C
March 22, 2009
For anyone that needs to crush tablets, there is a nifty product out there
that does the job for you. It is a clear cylinder about an inch deep with
a lid that screws on, except the inside of the lid goes down into the
cylinder. So, you drop in your pill, then screw on the top which crushes
it as you screw it on tighter. Works great! I bought mine at walmart in
the pharmacy area near where they sell pill holders and pill cutters.
— Libby R.
March 22, 2009
Look on vitaminworld.com I buy mine through them,and I make a protien shake
and ad it to it and that way it is not too bad they have strawberry,
blueberry and pina colada, oh they also have Orange (not to good
though).The price is about $10.00 but if you don't need to take alot it
will last a month, but I need too take sooooo much that it will only last
me a week.
— pam74
March 22, 2009
I use UpCal D. They come in 2 flavors, cinnamon and fruit punch. The
cinnamon actually tastes more like clove. But anyway, they are chewable
and very smooth. I would recommend these for anyone. I got them from
colonialmedical.com
— ragan
March 22, 2009
Hello, I was told that "calcium must be in the citrate form while
taking any antacid. Do not take calcium with multivitamin or iron
supplement. Take no more than 500 mg at one time." Also bariatric
patients need btween 1200-1500mg Men, and 1500-2000 mg women. I get most of
mine from food just by drinking milk and taking my multivitamins. I seldom
have to take a supplement. Hope that helps.
— Fircrkr64
March 22, 2009
I found one at Rite Aid that isnt the best tasting but atleast it is liquid
and goes down fast as it has 1000mg of calcium citrate in 2 TBSP. It isnt
disgusting but not wonderful, I tolerate it. It is made by Wellesse it has
calcium and vitamin D which I was told I needed, so that is nice. They
also make a bottle of just vitamin D if that is needed. Hope that helps.
— hope78
March 23, 2009
I hate to be an advertisement, but www.bariatricadvantage.com has the best
calcium citrate, comes in several flavors, my personal favorite is cherry,
but the chocolate was OK and the mint is kind of like an over grown altoid.
I have just ordered their multivitamin to give it a try. If you go to
their website and then say yes when the popup box shows up about chatting
with an advisor or something, you can request samples and they will ship
them right out to you. I have never been able to find calcium citrate
anywhere else in chewable form and this is almost like having a little
treat (I take 3 per day). Good luck hope this helps. Cathy
— brindledanes
March 23, 2009
At this point I just take the Citrical Plus tablets. I try to take 3 a day
as I have kidney disease and will need extra calcium to combat possible
future elevated phosphorus levels. I am almost 2 years out from RNY and my
levels have remained normal. It appears a lot of people are still needing
to crush their pills but I have never had to do that. (For my iron I do
take a chewable.) Be sure to separate your iron and calcium by at least an
hour. :-D
— MAG
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