How much calcium?

zadyzu · 08-10-2004, 01:19 AM

I am taking a lot of supplements, which I think I need as I know I don't get enough with the small amount of food I am now eating , but, my Dr recommends 3500 mg of calcium a day (I think that is an awful lot) I am finding that getting all that down to be tough. I'm using Isotonix - 750 mg in 2 capfuls, so I try to do it 4 times a day. Are all your Dr's having you take so much? Is there another product that would give me more per dose? Can I take it all at once? Some days just getting all the supplements down is a struggle.
I am doing good about taking others, multi, C, iron but this calcium thing.........suggestions?
Thanks
Mary (down 54 lbs !!!!!!!!:D )

**Alexandra** · 08-10-2004, 06:31 AM

Hi Mary,

That does sound like an awful lot! I'm taking between 1000 and 1500 mg a day, using Viactiv chews and dairy products. Is there no dairy in your diet? Why does your doctor say to take so much?

La_madam · 08-10-2004, 08:59 AM

I'm like Alex....I'm between 1000-1500

I take the Viactive chews and the dairy products I consume daily.

baileymb · 08-10-2004, 11:41 AM

I am at 1200 mgs a day!

Baileym
___________
June 14th

zadyzu · 08-10-2004, 05:22 PM

Thanks for your inputs. My Dr says NO dairy, maybe that's why he says 3500 mg calcium, but I ignore that little "rule" I have my lattes' (he says no coffee either, there's another rule out the window!) and I also eat other dairy - yogurt, cottage cheese - so I think I will cut back on the supplement.
All of our Dr's are so different with their recommandations, I think whatever works for your ownself is the way to go (?)
Truthfully, I've gotten more info from this board than I have from the doc!! Thanks, guys :)

**Alexandra** · 08-10-2004, 05:34 PM

Mary, is there some medical reason your doctor tells you to avoid dairy? Banding is no reason to by itself, although some people report increased lactose intolerance afterwards. If you're not having problems, though, why would you be told to avoid dairy?

Remember that information you get here is in no way intended as medical advice. If your doctor told YOU to avoid dairy altogether, there might be some medical basis for that. Please make sure before you disregard his instructions.

paula · 08-10-2004, 05:57 PM

Alex, my doc only told me to take 2 chewable vits everyday... NO calcium or any other supplements (this has always bothered me).
So, just wondering what vitamins and supplements everyone takes on a daily basis?

**Alexandra** · 08-10-2004, 07:21 PM

My doctors' advice was just one multivitamin plus 1200 mg of calcium daily, but the calcium is something my PCP has been saying to me since I turned 40. It has nothing to do with being banded, just with being a woman of a certain age. The multivitamin is likewise good advice for pretty much all adults.

Banding surgery does NOT create nutritional deficiencies on its own. As we eat less and less, though, it is certianly possible that our diets become less balanced (I know MINE is). That's the reason for vitamins.

zadyzu · 08-11-2004, 01:46 AM

Yes, Alex,I know info here is not medical advice. But getting info here from a lot of people that are living with bands I feel is very useful, to get different takes from people themselves, and also what other Dr's have to say.
There is no medical reason my Dr says no dairy, and it's not just me, he tells all his patients the same. I think it is because he has done bypass surgerys for so long (25+ yrs. and as we know the band is new) My understanding is bypass people don't tolerate dairy, but that's not true for the band.
I don't just totally disregard his instructions, but some of them I feel don't make sense. He says LAP-BAND^® patients should only eat 1 oz of food 3 times a day. No more than a shot glass full - which he handed out at his seminar I was required to go to before surgery. Even Dr Rumbaut said he thinks my local Dr is too strict on amount of food, though I can't eat much at a time, but I don't measure in a shot glass, like he suggests, but probably consume more than 3 oz in a day.
The info I get from here I find very valuable, that's why I like this message board. Just because my fill Dr tells me this stuff I'm not going to take it as gospel, that's why I like to get all these other opinions.....and hearing from others about the calcium dose and not seeing that anyone else is required to take anywhere near the 3500 I was told makes me wonder...
Thanks for the replys, and I will continue to use this board, and my common sense :)

Neicy · 08-11-2004, 10:10 PM

Mary, My doctor recommended calcium supplements also. He recommended about 1500 mg daily. I would be careful taking 3500 mg daily. Whenever calcium is taken, it should be balanced with half as much magnesium. Many of the suplements are balanced, but not all of them. If you take one without the other, it could throw your mineral salts out of whack, causing muscle spasms, blood pressure problems etc. Make sure you're balanced.

zadyzu · 08-12-2004, 04:46 AM

Thanks, Neicy, yes the one I am taking is balanced with magnesium, though I am thinking that the 3500 may be too much, I do eat dairy. It may be time to have my bloodwork done to make sure I'm all in balance. How often are you other's Dr's asking for bloodwork to be done for these tests?

**Alexandra** · 08-12-2004, 06:14 AM

Hi Mary,

On another list there's someone who must be going to the same doctor as you. She asked about having to take 3500 mg of calcium and everyone agreed there, too: the doctor is treating his banded patients the same way as RNY patients. The consensus is that there is NO reason to take that much calcium or to avoid dairy.

As for blood work, I've only had it once since banding, last week in advance of my one-year checkup. The surgeon did order it once before but it coincided with my annual physical so they didn't make me do it twice. Frequent testing is a hallmark of RNY surgery, not banding, assuming all else is equal.

Janie Jackson · 08-14-2004, 12:39 AM

Mary, my doctor did not say anything about taking calcium. But I have never heard of the 3 oz. limit of food a day. That sounds crazy to me. We are supposed to have 3 oz. 3 times a day and thats way too strict for me..Good luck...Janie