Question:
My nutritionist told me to take TUMS for my calcium. Is this correct?
I have not heard of one other person being told to take TUMS for their calcium and wondered if this was ok to do. I know she is a professional but I was still wondering. — [Anonymous] (posted on August 9, 2001)
August 8, 2001
I was also told to take Tums for my calcium. But after talking to various
post-ops, it seems that it won't help your bones. (Talk to Vita-Lady,
Michelle Curran - she is a wealth of information, and helped me a lot!). I
have switched to taking calcium citrate. I'd rather be safe than sorry.
Also, look under the previous posting regarding calcium. Good Luck.
— Lisa F.
August 8, 2001
My pcp, surgeon and nutritionist all advise the TUMS for calcium.
Others in my support group who had different surgeons have also been
advise to take TUMS for calcium.
— [Anonymous]
August 9, 2001
My surgeon and former pcp both recommend Tums for calcium. Both say that
the more expensive, "designer" forms of calcium are a waste of
money and offer no better coverage than plain, old Tums.
— [Anonymous]
August 9, 2001
I've heard the Tums works too. But...If you'd rather have something that
tastes a lot better, GNC makes chewable Calcium supplements in CHOCOLATE!!!
Recommended by my nutritionist and they taste great. I actually was
taking them like candy pre-surgery!
— Tracy L.
August 9, 2001
I don't know about everyone else, but I sure would like to see some studies
that prove one way or the other what kind of calcium we should be taking. I
read so much conflicting information here that I don't know what is
correct! Does anyone know if there is such a study?
— [Anonymous]
August 9, 2001
my nutritionist said tums are fine but you NEED to have them with food so
when you are done eating have a tums...also the same with the chocolate
ones that you chew..she said the calcium in them needs the acid in our
tummys to be absorbed...so good luck with it
— Sharon F.
August 9, 2001
My nutritionist (who really knows her stuff) says that Tums would need to
be taken with food to be absorbed, but that calcium citrate (not carbonate,
like in Tums and Viactiv) is more readily absorbed by the body after WLS.
For what it's worth....
— Mary Ellen W.
August 9, 2001
Casual data gathering indicates about 70% of us 2+ yrs post-op are already
showing at least thinning, if not full porosity of the bones
(osteoporosis). This is not reversible and we generally do not do well
with the meds available. I refer to us as the Tums generation. You may
not be able to be SURE the citrate will work, but you can be SURE that the
Tums, Viactiv & other forms of carbonate will NOT work. They may give
you nice blood readings for years, til every drop of calcium has been
depleted from your bones. But blood work is not an indicator of bone mass.
Of course, each person must make their choice. I made the wrong one.
— vitalady
August 12, 2001
8/5/01
That's what I was told to do, too.
— khelms
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