Question:
Very scared and worried after reading..........

Michelle Curran's profile (I read she's the longest post-op on the website). It said her and her husband were diagnosed with osteoporosis. She discovered that they were taking calcium carbonate not citrate. Would taking calcium citrate prevent this or is this something that I will get down the road after surgery. I am sorry to be so paranoid but osteoporosis runs in my family and it is very dibilitating. I am having this surgery to live a LONG and HEALTHY life. I am not happy or healthy now but I am not willing to trade my life now for one that will possibly be the same or worse. Does anyone have any info or feel the same as me? Please, any info would be greatly appreciated. God Bless everyone!    — TP (posted on July 13, 2002)

July 13, 2002
Michelle is a great lady but also swore off all milk or milk products as a post op. Now I dont drink milk like I did pre op but I do have some occasionally along with no sugar ice cream. I believe her calcium is up now so supplementation works. <P> Sadly soe of us dont take their vitamins like we should. Calcium is bad that you only find the problem after your bones are weaker. Blood work doesnt show the problem you body steals it from bones to keep the number up in blood. Dont worry and get monuitored closely by yur surgeon and PCP,.
   — bob-haller

July 13, 2002
Have been doing more reading even tonight on osteoporosis and the true sources of calcium. Almonds are worth tewice as much as milk, for example. I was a milkaohlic, 3 big glasses with every meal. Loved all things milk, cheeses, etc. I became lactose intolerant before my WLS, but kept drinking it anyway. My doc forbids the use of it, so I quit then. My few brushes with milk since have left me begging for a knife to cut out the pain! However, the deeper I read, the worse the case looks for milk. I can't quote both articles in their entirety, but one says that dairy + carbonate contributes to poor kidney function and that the phosphorus in dairy actually leaches calcium from the bones, while preventing absorption. Makes sense since the US has the highest osteporosis rate in the world. While we did not do MILK, we did do other dairy products, along with our calcium carbonate, and a lot of it. We took the correct form and monitored our vit. D levels. I still do not believe that osteoporosis MUST be the outcome of WLS, but I do think we have to actively take steps against it.
   — vitalady

July 14, 2002
Michelle is great to help others through her experience. Some people just wouldn't even care enough to do that. Thanks Michelle! I have a question of my own to add to this. I am concerned about osteoporosis also and was wondering if there is any pain in legs, arms, etc as the bones begin to lose their density? I have pain in my calves nightly and it was because of potassium problem BUT now that the postassium is ok, I still have burning pain in my calves. I am beginning to think it may be calcium now.
   — Marilyn C.

July 14, 2002
TD, I was diagnosed with osteoporosis 2 years before I had the RNY. Because of that, I thought very long and hard about having a surgery that would make it even harder to absorb my calcium and speed along the process. Here is how I made my decision to go ahead with it...my rhuematologist told me that my heavy body would help along any breaks or fractures and he had me lose weight(several times, in fact). At the age of 47, he gave me 5 years before I could count on being in a wheelchair! I also have osteoarthritis so I felt doomed. I feel that if I am going to have brittle bones, I would rather be of a normal weight rather than 100 pounds overweight. So, I avoid as much calcium carbonate as possible, take my calcium citrate 3 X in the evening and hour apart and my hormone replacement as I am menopausal. I also contentrate on building stronger muscles with my protein suppliment and strengthing excersizes. I am doing my best to avoid debilitation as long as possible and at 6 months postop, my most recent bone scan show no more degeneration so far. Good luck with your decision and remember, we have the power to do the best for ourselves, research, make a plan and follow it.
   — Sandra E.

July 14, 2002
I just want to say a thank you to everyone who posted. I truly admire Michelle Curran. She has done everything by the book and I think that is what worried me the most. I will continue to research and learn everything that I can learn. This is in God's hands! Thank you all again! Tif
   — TP