Question:
Help needed finding calcium that isn't a huge pill
I am 2 weeks post op doing good. I can take Tylenol gel tabs, Biotin,etc pills.I know I need to take calcium, my surgeon wants me to take Tums well after doing alot of reading I found out that we need calcium citrate.. So after reading in the library I bought a bottle of liquid lemon flavored bile. lol..Sorry I can't drink it I gag.. where do I find calcium citrate in pill form that isn't the size of cocktail weenie? I went to GNC yesterday and spent 15 dollars on some coral calcium because the lady said it absorbs quick.. then i look in the library again and find out its not good for us either.. HELP... PLease... — hillafb U. (posted on May 21, 2003)
May 21, 2003
Angela, I use Shaklee's Chewable Cal Mag Plus- it has calcium, vitamin D,
and magnesium. It tastes kind of chalky and a serving is 4 pills, but they
aren't that big- maybe the size of a dime or a nickel. I just take one in
the morning and with each meal so I don't have to eat them all at once. I
buy mine through my nutritionist, but I think you can order them at
shaklee.com.
— Jessica B.
May 21, 2003
Well, I have found a LIQUID calcium that you can buy at Walmart or at
Walgreens. I cannot remember the name of it off the top of my head because
it is kind of a Generic sounding name but that is what I use. I just put
it in my protein drink twice a day and I am good to go. I hope this helps,
darlin.
Erika
— Egyptianeyesdiva
May 21, 2003
I went to Atkins Health food store; and they had a liquid that was
strawberry and it wasnt bad.. can put in 'drinks;. but for portablity;
Twinlabs makes a Calicum Citrate 'wafer' to me they taste like tums, so I
dont personally care for them too much; but they are better than the horse
pills.
— star .
May 21, 2003
The best I have found is a chewable calcium citrate at the health food
store. It is wonderful and I just chew it after my chewable multivitamin.
Good luck.
— Ann B.
May 21, 2003
I know that people here feel really strongly about calcium citrate vs
carbonate, but both my surgeon and pcp feel that it doesn't matter how the
calcium is complexed, as long as you get enough of it. They also stress
that it's important to have a bone density scan at a year out to determine
if you are getting enough calcium. I am 16 months post-op and have been
taking 4-6 tums/day since the beginning. Just got the results of my dexa
scan last week and it is completely normal.
— Karla K.
May 21, 2003
I use Caltrate. They are HUGE, but they are also chewable. They taste a
little like tums, but not as gritty. They are 600 per tablet. Per my
doctors orders, I only need to take 2 a day. One in the morning and one
before I go to bed. I got mine at Walgreens. Make sure to get the one
that says chewable...it comes in the pink and white bottle (I believe).
— Renee B.
May 21, 2003
I use chewable calcium citrate made by TwinLab. You can get it at the
Vitamin Shoppe. It's not too bad; it tastes like sweet tarts.
— Pat C.
May 21, 2003
Caltrate - despite the name - is calcium carbonate, not calcium
citrate...JR
— John Rushton
May 21, 2003
I get all my vitamins from www.vitalady.com. The calcium is in capsules
and can be opened and added to food or drinks. Even though I'm 7 months
post-op and can swallow the capsules now, I still add the morning dose to
my protein drink. Hope that helps!
— Want2bslim
May 21, 2003
I use a powdered type that I ordered from www.vitalady.com. It is tasteless
and odorless and you just add a very small scoop to food or a drink.
— Barbara C.
May 21, 2003
Just a note on dexascans -- it's great to have a baseline, but having one
just a few weeks or months after WLS gives you just that -- a baseline.
It's not a reflection on whether the calcium you're currently taking
"works." Only time (a year, or perhaps a few years down the road
or so) will tell you that, because it takes some time for the deficiencies
to show up on a dexascan.
— Suzy C.
May 21, 2003
MY SURGEON ALLOWS THE ONLY LEGAL CHOCOLATE/CARAMEL AND ITS A CALCIUM
SUPPLEMENT CALLED VIACTIVE
— janice L.
May 21, 2003
For my son, I bought the calcium capsules (citrate) from vitalady.com, as
well. I will be using these following my own surgery. He hasn't had any
trouble swallowing the capsules. As for the citrate issue, I think there
is going to be more and more evidence that calcium in the citrate form is
the only one usable by WLS patients. Please refer to the website upmc.com,
and look for an article written by a researcher (Dr. Penny Coates) at the
Univ. of Pittsburgh. Post-op patients were studied and it was found that
bone loss was greatly accelerated during massive weight loss. I contacted
this researcher and was told they had advised these patients to use calcium
citrate. More evidence that our docs know lots about cutting and pasting,
but not so much about what might happen after. I hope everyone will
continue to follow this crucial issue, and not take it for granted that
your doctor knows best. He/she may not always, and we are ultimately
responsible for our own health.
— Carlita
May 21, 2003
I take Citracal Plus. The pill is a little large, but is made so that it
can be broken in two, (which is what I do.)
— Cheryl D.
May 21, 2003
Oh my gosh John R. I didn't realize this wasn't calcium citrate. I was
told to take it by another post-op. I just figured, by the name, that it
was citrate. I'm freaking out here. At least I've only been taking it for
7 weeks. I'm going to order some citrate today from Michelle. Thanks so
much for the info John. You see, this is exactly why I come to this site.
As always, I have benefited from the services of Obesityhelp.com. Again,
John, thank you so much for catching that....you've saved my bones!!!!!
— Renee B.
May 21, 2003
Viactive, while yummy, is calcium carbonate, so not a good choice if you
have the RNY. Stick w/ the calcium citrate. I like the calcium citrate
from Vitalady. They go down easier than any others I've tried.
— mom2jtx3
May 21, 2003
I get my calcium from vitalady.com...I get the big bottle of 240 Cal.
citrate with Vit. D and magnesium. I've tried all the others, and these
are high quality, easy to take, and a decent price. They're a gel cap with
powder inside. I just ordered 2 more bottles today in fact. I don't work
for Vitalady (Michelle Curran), but Michelle has a great company, is a
post-op WLS patient herself, and I find her info on this site to be
extremely helpful. Thanks, Michelle...we love you around here. Hugs, Joy
— [Deactivated Member]
May 21, 2003
Vitaminworld.com.....They have a liquid calcium citrate
(strawberry/lemon/peach)that tastes just like yogurt ($9.95...30 day
supply). You take 1 Tsp daily....it tastes "GREAT"
— willcra
May 21, 2003
In case you didn't know, take your bottle back to GNC. They have a
guarentee policy and will refund your money.
— Helen C.
May 21, 2003
Well, thank you, Joy and all. I want to add that I also believed that if
you took an inadequate calcium, but just more of it, that would be fine.
Today, with loffah for bones, I use this analogy. I have a nice lil
Subaru. I have a place in teh side where I put gas. I can also hook up my
garden hose to that spot. I can even mix gasoline with the water from
those. I can add it every single day, or by the hour. But you know, my car
only runs on gas. More water or even water mixed with gas simply will not
run that motor. And um, I cannot recover the motor that I fed gas.
— vitalady
May 21, 2003
Oops. Let's make that water. My car likes gasoline in the motor. Not
water. Ptui. Won't work.
— vitalady
May 21, 2003
Another vote for the calcium citrate capsules at www.vitalady.com! For the
first few months I was taking Citrical Plus, cutting or breaking each
tablet in half, so it appeared I was taking twice as many, but it did make
them easier to swallow. Problem is, I was taking 6 a day, which comes out
to 12 pieces, in addition to my other "stuff." I also did a lot
of online research about our post-op needs. Good thing since I recently
found out I'm quite distal (200cm bypassed!). I searched high and low
locally for DRY vitamin A & D and DRY vitamin E. Finally found a local
merchant who would special order them for me. Ha! The guy wanted to charge
me 3 times the amount of the suggested retail on the company's website!
OUCH! So I talked hubby (the old codger) into trusting me and the World
Wide Web with his credit card number, and ordered my vits from Vitalady. I
also got some protein samples. I swear it was like Christmas when that box
arrived! LOL And they even include a beautiful silk rose with each order,
which looks lovely in a little bud vase, next to my new Thomas Kinkade
family bible. Sorry, I digress. DISCLAIMER: I am not a compensated endorser
of Vitalady. Just a satisfied customer :) :) Congrats on your recent
surgery and best wishes to you!
— Anna L.
May 22, 2003
Another vote for Calcium Citrate. For the life of me I cannot take Citral,
though. Every time I take one I throw up. But I did try the brand from
vitalidy.com and it's great. I found a gel capsule that's almost identical
at Vitaminshoppe that pretty economical. I think I paid about $15 for a
bottle of 250 last time I bought some. I've also tried the chewable wafers
that SciFit. I much prefer the capsules.
— Cathy S.
May 22, 2003
my doctor recommends Citrical w/o vit D. These pills are not much bigger
than the Tylenol geltab.
— Wendy S.
May 22, 2003
I have a really hard time swallowing pills, so if I can take it chances are
you can! LOL The best I have found are the capsules, but I have to order
them online. They are easy to swallow and if you are diligent you can find
the ones that are bigger so you don't have to take 6 a day. What I take now
is the Target brand calcium citrate + D. It is supposed to be a generic of
Citracal but they had the good sense to taper the pills a little at the end
so they don't get stuck going down. I have only had ONE "hit the
side" going down--and I have been through 4 large bottles. I also
cannot get the Citrical down. I tried breaking them but that only got me a
chalky mouth and more jagged sides to catch in my throat going down. The
Target brand work for me--and if doesn't hurt that they are cheaper, too!
— ctyst
May 23, 2003
I use Viactive Chews. My doc is ok with it, and they are easy to get down
— mellyhudel
May 23, 2003
Melloney - your doc may be OK with it, but he's not the one that is going
to end up with osteoporosis from taking the wrong type of calcium as an RNY
postie...JR
— John Rushton
May 23, 2003
Liquid Calcium citrate and magnesium by Tropical Oasis...buy it locally at
Whole Foods Market or online at www.tropicaloasis.com ... it is
delicious... one tablespoon at night before bed when it is best absorbed
gives you 1500 mg of calcium citrate... tastes like fresh orange yogurt.
Done deal. This stuff is $20 a bottle, lasts 30 days... the cheaper ones
are half strength and you must take twice as much, so it ends up being the
same price... I would rather take just one spoonful rather than two. You
wont regret trying this one. I wasted so much money on all kinds of wafers,
pills, capsules... this one is a sure thing because I actually take it.
ciao, Suze
— SusanMaria
May 23, 2003
Susan Maria...we only absorb 500mg of calcium citrate at one time. So
taking 1500mgs at one time is like throwing 1000mgs in the toilet. And it
doesn't matter what time of day you take your doses; you don't have any
better absorption ability at night. Our absorption is compromised because
of the bypass of the duodenum which is the major site of absorption for
calcium.
— [Deactivated Member]
May 27, 2003
Thanks to you folks, I just threw away a large box of Rite-Aid Calcium Soft
Chews. My post op dietician told me to get calcium citrate. So I went to
the drug store and got the above. Yikes! Its calcium carbonate. What a
dummy!
— Bob L.
August 4, 2003
I buy chewable calcium citrate online at vitacost.com. It doesn't taste bad
at least not too me. Sort of like a citrus candy or something.
— Ishmael E.
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