Caltrate? Is it the same as calcium citrate?

I am almost 5 weeks post-op and I've been taking Caltrate with vitamin D and now I've read that some of you say you can't fine calcium citrate anywhere but online. I buy all of my vitamins at Walmart, now I'm thinking that I am taking the wrong stuff.

No.  Caltrate is calcium carbonate, which we cannot absorb.  We need calcium citrate.

Oh, and you can find calcium citrate in pills to be swallowed at any store that sells vitamins.  It's chewable calcium citrate that most stores do not carry.

I buy my calcium CITRATE at Costco ... cheap but they are pills and not chewables.

Caltrate is calcium CARBONATE and so is not good for us.

Oh No Have I done damage by taking them for the past 5 weeks?

I love my Upcal-D powder you can mix in foods.  Many think it's too gritty, but I mix it in my yogurt and Kelly is the one who turned me onto this right from the get go before surgery.  I haven't tried the pills as Sin Kim said and I suppose I need to try them.  I don't have a problem taking pills at all so it's mainly I just have stuck with Up-cal-D.  I order it off of Amazon and find it very reasonable.  Jane

I buy citracal petites at walmart-they are reasonably priced.