I was told to take chewables. The problem with that is you have to eat like six of them a day. Do I started using calcium citrate liquid from vitamin world. Two tabledpoons a day and I'm good to go!

Two suggestions.

1. Calcium Gels (they disolve easily and not hard pill for the pouch to try to consume.)

2. Viactiv They have chocolate and calcium chews that are only a few calories and at least the caramel ones I've had taste just as good as any caramel.

(Always try to find Calcium supplements with Magnesium with them. The body needs the magnesium to be able to absorb most of the calcium, so for many people that just take straight calcium, they don't get the full benefits because they don't have the magnesium to absorb all of the calcium.) If you're chewing the Viactiv, try to eat one right after you take your multi-vitamin so that the magnesium in there will help with the calcium in the Viactiv calcium chew.

here's a good article on Calcium Supplementation

http://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/conditions/osteoporosis/qanda.htm

I do the chocolate chews and love them

Thank you so much!! These calcium tablets were part of the several prescriptions I got when I left the hospital but they look like I can purchase them over the counter. I will do the Viactiv. I didn't know that about the magnesium, thanks for the tip! I'm still on chewable vitamins; two Flintstone vitamins a day and then one chewable my doc prescribed. I think it's for kids too though since it has lions on it, lol!

I take viactive, those huge pills just don't cut it for me either!

I like chewys! Call me silly. I got some chewy vitamin d here. MN. lack of D vitamins...you are also suppose to wait a few hours to take calcium and iron.

does the viactiv contain calcium citrate or carbonate? i was told we needed citrate post surgery. i do the chewies from bariartric advantage. i like karen's suggestion and might give that a try. i'm super worried about getting any size pill down!

@FreshStart If you read the link I posted above, it explains the desrepancy that many of us have been told or not told about different kinds of Calcium supplementation. Calcium Citrate is recommended for people that are on acid reducers or proton inhibitors. Calcium Citrate can be absorbed easily without the acidity of the stomach juices, so since most WLS clients are told to use Calcium Citrate. If you're not on acid reducers, which I was only put on for 2 weeks post off, then just about any kind of calcium supplement will do and it doesn't have to be "Citrate" as the acidity that is naturally in the stomach will ready the other kinds of calcium supplements for absorbtion. With the Viactiv chews, since you are putting something in your stomach (pouch) it will automatically produce some stomach acid to digest the food that it thinks is coming, so as long as you're not taking the acid reducers at the same time as the Viactiv it should make no difference.

Chews! I love Bariatric Advantage calcium chews. They have chocolate, Carmel, raspberry and lemon chewy bites. Or Wild cherry, mint or cinnamon chewables. I'm into the raspberry and lemon chewys lately. They also have choc raspberry truffle iron chewy that is delicious!

I was told that all my pills had to be the round size of a pencil or smaller. At first I had to cut one of my pills in half.

I take the Bariatric Advantage chews also (with Vitamin D). Yes, I must consume six per day, but I honestly look forward to them since they taste like candy to me (caramel)! And I was told to wait two hours after my vitamins to take (I am on Prilosec for the first year post-op).