Question:
Any long term post-ops on prescription calcium?

Just had repeat bone density and my doctor wants to put me on perscription calcium replacement, I am not sure what will work for 'RNY' any others out there on fosamax or the nasal spray types? open RNY 11/02, and maintaing goal wieght!    — cathy G. (posted on August 2, 2005)

August 2, 2005
Hi, Have you been taking calcium citrate? Viactiv has calcium carbonate and is not as asorbable as calcium citrate. The stomach needs the acid to absorb the calcium carbonate and other forms of calcium. Hope this helps.
   — monymony

August 2, 2005
Fosamax is not exactly a calcium supplement. to understand , first you have to know that our bones are constantly "remodeling" we lose bone cells and rebuild them all the time. With inadequate calcium intake or malabsorption or menopause the loss starts to exceed the rebuilding. Fosamax stops the loss so that we can rebulid the new cells and increase our bone density. It is usually used along with calcium supplements. If I had osteoporosis, I would want something like this before my bones got really bad. www.fosamax.com
   — **willow**

August 2, 2005
I was put on calcium by a doctor for re-occuring kidney stones due to WLS. I had to have them surgically removed and where a stent (sp?) for 6 weeks. Not fun, haha. I never miss taking my calcium due to that little nightmare. I take 1500 MG a day.
   — Carey N.

August 2, 2005
I use the nasal spray called Micalcium. It is easier on the pouch.It is not a calcium replacement.
   — imaginec

August 3, 2005
I sed the miacalcvin Nasal spray for a while but I found it irritating to my nose. I was told by my doctor NOT to take fosamax since my bypass as it is hard on the pouch. I am now trying to find an alternative which is intravenous medication but my insurance won't cover it. I just found out recently that my calcium carbonate wasn't working right so I started on calcium citrate yesterday. My bones are brittle and my ribs even popped out last week from my husband hugging me a little too hard. I hope you find your answer. I would say the miacalcin NS is the best way to go for you.
   — bzerm01

August 3, 2005
Which do you mean as rx calcium? Miacalcin is the nasal spray and it's known to be more effective for men than women, and the docs usually say it is most effective in the first 6 months and then move on. Fosomax and family are irritants to the esophagus for many. I resisted for many years and my endo finally convinced me to try Actonel as it is the most GI friendly of the batch. If anyone would be irritated by it, it'd certainly be me, as I think I was born with ulcers! Can make them out of thin air, always could. However, I've been using 35mg per week for 20 months now, saw improved BMD after the first 11 months and due again in Nov to see if it is still improving. We need huge amouints of calcium citrate and vitamin D3, and those levels, as well as parathryoid need to be followed regularly. Although there has not been much agreement in the past in the WLS world, there is starting to be more now on calcium citrate and dry form vit D3 as the best ways to get these into us. The amount is somewhere between 600 and 4500mg, so you see, that has some work yet to come. If you are already diagnosed with issues, certainly consider the much higher levels of calcium citrate. I take 3000-4000, depending if I am using UpCal D in addition to my pills forms. I also use boron and ipriflavone, one helps absorb, one helps us not excrete calcium. I would hope any WLS person, even bands of any kind, would not consider using less than 2000mg. We lose bone mass with every pound lost, Fat, bone and muscle, malabsorption or not, the bone mass has gone with EVERY diet, every lb we've ever lost and we never put it back!
   — vitalady