Question:
What is everybody taking for calcium?
Hi! I am 5 days post op and doing fine - no pain. The dietician that I spoke to in the hospital said to take Tums 500 or Viativ twice a day. When my sister went to buy them for me she said that they have sugar in them. She bought me this other type with no added sugar. It's a chewable chocolate that tastes nasty. What is everybody taking for calcium? Also - when I take my multivitamin should I take bits out of it or just take the pill whole and chew it very well. Thanks!!! — tracyr (posted on January 15, 2002)
January 15, 2002
Tums has always worked very well for me...however, I don't have problems w/
sugar like some do.
— Jodi T.
January 15, 2002
My surgeon has me on Oscal 500 chewables.. I don't tolerate milk anymore
or milk products so he has me on 2 a day..
— Elizabeth D.
January 15, 2002
My surgeon has me taking 4-6 Sugar-Free TUMS per day. You have to look a
little closer, but they do make them. The ones I have are Orange Cream, and
they are actually really good! I got mine at Target.
— Rebecca C.
January 15, 2002
I take GNC's Chewable Calcium 600. Each tablet is 600 mg Calcium (as
Calcium Carbonate, Calcium Citrate and Tricalcium Phosphate) and 200 mg.
Vitamin D. They have a great cherry flavor.
— Diane E.
January 15, 2002
I take 3 Viactives a day (the caramel flavor) and have no problems with the
sugar content at all.
— Kellie Jo B.
January 15, 2002
Having used all the products listed here and now having osteoporosis, I use
calcium citrate with magnesium & D. Mine are capsule form, 500mg per
cap. I can swallow them, no problem, but some prefer to open & dump. My
blood work was fine on the oyster shell (OScal) and carbonate forms (the
others listed), but my bones are brittle now. I had dexascan in 2000 &
again 2001, the citrate + boron + ipriflavone has halted the progress on my
osteoporosis and my husband actually experienced some regeneration of bone
from this combo.
— vitalady
January 15, 2002
Tracy: Hi. I had a lap BPD/Ds (a different surgery), but I was on
chewable pills for the first three weeks (I chose Caltrate carbonate since
I couldn't stand the Viactiv chocolate chews. I had an aversion to
chocolate for the first few months post-op). After three weeks, I could
take more solid pills -- I didn't start the citrate until two months
post-op. However, I can say that studies have shown the citrate to be more
readily absorbable. This being said, there are many whose calcium levels
are fine with calcium carbonate (TUMS, Caltrate, etc.). If you prefer
chewable, TWINLABS DOES HAVE a chewable calcium citrate wafer!!! I take 2
citrates three times a day (total of 6 pills), but I have maximum
malapsorption with the duodenalswitch. The amount your surgeon recommends
may differ. All the best, (lap bpd/ds with gallbladder removal, January
25, 2001, preop: 307 lbs/bmi 45, now: 191 lbs/bmi28/size sweet 16-14),
— Teresa N.
January 15, 2002
I take two Viactiv's a day. They have only two grams of sugar each, which
is exactly what my surgeon allows of real sugar! They're yummy and get the
job done!
— Deborah W.
January 16, 2002
It is my understanding that calcium carbonate is not properly absorbed by
RNY patients and is thereby less effective. Personally, I take Caltrate's
calcium citrate. It comes in both a chewable form (bigger than Tums but a
similar taste) and a pill form.<p>
As far as the Viactiv go, they are great for a sweet tooth (*grin*) but are
the wrong kind of calcium for an RNY patient (from what I've been told). I
wouldn't worry about the sugar content, its negligible and you aren't
eating more than one or two a day.<p>
These are just my opinions, consult your own doctor or nutritionist for an
expert opinion. Best wishes!
— kylakae
January 16, 2002
I bought a liquid calcium made by LifeTime. It is sold at vitamin world
and you can get it on vitaminworld.com. Their shops are all over the
country. One tablespoon has 600 mg of calcium citrate, 300 mg of
magnesium, and 400 IU of vitamin D. It comes in a variety of flavors, and
because it is in a liquid form, it is easier to absorb and assimilate. I
have the orange/vanilla flavor(tastes like creamsicle), and it's not bad.
The directions say you can put it in milk, pudding, or honey. One upside
to this stuff is that some people seem to have problems with pills when
their newly post-op. This might be a little easier on their new pouches.
I also got b-12 lozengers that melt in your mouth. They also taste OK.
— kyle S.
January 16, 2002
I take 3 viactiv's a day... to me they are a treat, they taste just like
candy......YUMMMMMMMMM. :)
— Carrie B.
January 16, 2002
I take CalSure (calcium citrate malate) caplets which are smaller and
easier to swallow than Citrical. (Yes you do need calcium citrate because
calcium carbonate needs stomach acids to be absorbed--this from The Natural
Pharmacist Encyclopedia.) But guess what I just found??? A supplement bar
with calcium citrate (100%)! It tastes REALLY good! It is called
CalciDelite (peanut butter chocolate flavor) by Natrol and costs about
$1.50. I found it at the grocery store. It has 190 calories, 6g fat, 4g
protein, and 12g sugar. I have started eating supplement bars mid-morning
and find that it reduces my urge to snack on empty sweets. I plan to
alternate these with the protein bars. They really taste GOOD!
— ctyst
January 17, 2002
Hi there! I am 11 weeks post op today and down 60lbs!
I do take a calcium supplement, and the one I have chosen
is Viactiv. And I do not have a problem with them
at all, as long as you keep your sugars to less than 5grams
for everything that you eat, you will not be sick!
— Antonia D.
January 17, 2002
I was told to take tums. I take three a day. I also take childrens
(flinstones) chewable vit. They work just as good! Good Luck!
Lisa Ducey
12/31/01
— Lisa D.
Click Here to Return