Question about Calcium

I've got pretty good built in alcohol addiction prevention. About 1/2 glass and I'm done. Never could drink enough, even in college, to be drunk enough NOT to remember how awful puking felt!

I'm a hard core traveler and have a difficult time slowing down enough to see what I'm breezing by. Never want to miss anything. But this trip will involve lots of walking and strolls around the cities.

About the only way I do relax is when I am away from responsibilities, both mine and those I imagine to be mine which aren't!

Sooooo, what are you trying to say there in the last para?

I know a few people that say they take carbonate and their blood work is fine.  HOWEVER  the amount of calcium in your blood does not translate to the amount of calcium in your bones.  If that makes sense.  My doctor said only a bone scan can determine if you are getting the calcium to your bones.  Blood calcium results can be misleading.  I am sure that the amount spent on the wrong meds will pale in comparison to consequences of non-absorpson.  Give them them to someone who can use them and buy the citrate.  Read the labels.  I take the petittes (citracal I think)  buy them at walmart.  Also my Vit D was very deficient when I had it tested so I don't know if that affected my calcium absorpsion (SP?) so I am requesting a bone scan to make sure I have no osteoporosis coming on the horizon.

Linda,

Thanks for letting me know!  I'm going to pick up some citrate today.  TGIF

Put that in CAPS. Blood work is not a good indicator of bone status. !!!!!

Too low means your heart is in danger. Too high (even within range) indicates calcium is being mobilized from bones to get to your heart. Primary mission: keep the heart beating.

For many years, out calcium was way over 10 and the docs thought was GOOD. No, it's a red flag. As is under 9. But docs don't have much on nutrition, so they don't red flag anything that is still "within the pegs" label "normal" on labs. That range is only a suggestion!

It has to do with the bypass. Normally the caltrate would be ok, but the part of the bowel that absorbs the majority of calcium is bypassed. Therefore to assure the best absorption the citrate is better for us to use. It makes the calcium more available to be absorbed.
As for the blood work, if it is normal be sure they are checking you thyroid. That will tell them if you have enough calcium or if you body is stealing from your bones.
These vitamin issues are important and the problems are slow in occurring. So you will not know there are issues until it is to late. Sometimes just increasing the vit or mineral will not alleviate the problem it will just stop it from getting worse.
Please follow the doctors orders an have your labs drawn on time. If you think there is a problem insist the doctor check them. If you have insurance there is no reason why they should refuse.

I bought the citrate yesterday and taking that now.  I'll probably get a lab slip in two more weeks when I go for my 6 week follow up appt.  Thanks for all of the information.  Have a great Saturday!

Thank goodness my bone density was good pre WLS as I was a bad girl about finally getting the right calcium in my system. Spent so much money on liquids, chewables, couldn't stand any chalky taste. Viactiv. . . wrong kind. . . waste of money. Finally got to where I could take the big horse pill citrates, but have recently switched to the calcium crystals in my shakes which I absolutely love! Sure cuts down on the number of pills per day and gets some extra protein in my system also. This place is a great place to learn. Some of us learn faster than others. I tend to just take in one piece of info at a time. Then I have to chew on that for a while. Then I pop in and ask another questions. . . . etc. Darlene, Michelle, many others with experience have a lot that we can learn from.

Linda B is right. The body will via the para thyroid steal calcium from the bone in order to maintain it's levels. So circulating calcium is not a good indicator. The best is a bone density and over 50 the doctor should be doing this for you.
Citrate is more bio available for WLS pts. and we need the Vit D to go with it.
The calcium is for more things then bone. Vit D is essential to the use of calcium. I have been trying to understand the difference between D2 and D3. It is my understanding that D3 is easier for the body to use, but my resource for this information had an ad to sell D3 on it, so I need more proof.
These vitamins are important and you need to realize that diseases of the elderly population many times are based in the fact that the intestines of a 70 or 80 yr old does not absorb what they eat. So, you will be predisposed to old people disease. If that is not enough to get you to pay attention to what you take I just have no further advice for you.