Re: the calcium thing... not a thing really

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/9/2002 4:33:08 AM Pacific Standard Time,

datwell@... writes:

> why is it always Calcium that is discussed in this manner?

>

Just switched to the new PCP, who I love, and who is really on top of the

entire nutritional issue for weight loss patients, and now gastric bypass

patients. She believes the calcium deficiency issue is the most critical one

facing GB patients. She is seeing more than 50% of her female clients with

serious deficiencies, and no real help in sight. She said she recently spoke

at a Harvard Medical School symposium and the vast majority of physicians

were clueless about calcium supplements and the deficiencies.

So, we talk about calcium, because it is proving to be a particularly

difficult area to correct in many, many patients. At least, that is, for

women!

It seems to me that I see just as many discussions about iron and protein

though, the other two biggies. This is just calcium week!

KAte

[Guest guest]

> What I know is that Sue got bad results on her bone scan taking X calcium,

she posted " HER EXPERIENCE " and changed the " TYPE " of calcium she is taking

and got much improved results -- that's all I need to know

>>>

I will say it again for those who missed it at some point in the last three

years. at about 17mo. post op I had a bone density scan done as my surgeon

believes that osteoporosis is the only know long term side effect of wls.

most surgeons are not telling their patients this - they are saying there

are no long term side effects. so I have my bone density scan done and damn

if I don't have osteoporosis! I couldn't believe it, I was truly in shock. I

had never drank soda or coffee or tea [the bad phosphates] and I absolutely

lived on milk and ice cream [my dad worked at a ice cream plant]. according

to all the milk commercials and propaganda out there I should have had the

bones of a 18yr. old for petes sake. during the 17mo. of post op life I was

using viactiv which is calcium carbonate. my multi also had calcium but it

too is carbonate which is pretty typical.

I immediately switched to calcium citrate after reading and researching and

seeing an orthopedic doctor as well. 12 months later I had another bone

density scan done and was out of the osteoporosis range and into the

osteopenia range. my orthopedic had me taking 2000mg. daily. 1200-1500 is

for a normie he says with no or borderline osteo.

anyhow the following year I added a walking program and was more serious

about taking my citrate - for some reason if I miss a dose of pills during

the day it always seemed to be the calcium - not any more. now at 24mo.

since that first bone density scan I am borderline osteopenia - just a hair

above normal.

so my point is that for me and probably you - taking citrate and taking

1500-2000mg. daily and adding some weight bearing exercise could be enough

to prevent or change your bone density.

your blood labs will not tell you squat about your bone density so you need

more than regular blood work to determine your bone health.

sue

[Guest guest]

> What I know is that Sue got bad results on her bone scan taking X calcium,

she posted " HER EXPERIENCE " and changed the " TYPE " of calcium she is taking

and got much improved results -- that's all I need to know

>>>

I will say it again for those who missed it at some point in the last three

years. at about 17mo. post op I had a bone density scan done as my surgeon

believes that osteoporosis is the only know long term side effect of wls.

most surgeons are not telling their patients this - they are saying there

are no long term side effects. so I have my bone density scan done and damn

if I don't have osteoporosis! I couldn't believe it, I was truly in shock. I

had never drank soda or coffee or tea [the bad phosphates] and I absolutely

lived on milk and ice cream [my dad worked at a ice cream plant]. according

to all the milk commercials and propaganda out there I should have had the

bones of a 18yr. old for petes sake. during the 17mo. of post op life I was

using viactiv which is calcium carbonate. my multi also had calcium but it

too is carbonate which is pretty typical.

I immediately switched to calcium citrate after reading and researching and

seeing an orthopedic doctor as well. 12 months later I had another bone

density scan done and was out of the osteoporosis range and into the

osteopenia range. my orthopedic had me taking 2000mg. daily. 1200-1500 is

for a normie he says with no or borderline osteo.

anyhow the following year I added a walking program and was more serious

about taking my citrate - for some reason if I miss a dose of pills during

the day it always seemed to be the calcium - not any more. now at 24mo.

since that first bone density scan I am borderline osteopenia - just a hair

above normal.

so my point is that for me and probably you - taking citrate and taking

1500-2000mg. daily and adding some weight bearing exercise could be enough

to prevent or change your bone density.

your blood labs will not tell you squat about your bone density so you need

more than regular blood work to determine your bone health.

sue

[Guest guest]

Thanks for that extremely thoughtful post on the calcium controversy. Somewhere

along the line I had missed that Ray had something to sell, and I thought he

just had a personal grudge against the product. It makes a huge difference to

me. As to this question:

> I have to ask myself...

> why is it always Calcium that is discussed in this manner?

I think it's because we fear osteoporosis, and know more about it, than we know

about the effects of other vitamins (or lack thereof). We've all had mothers or

grandmothers or aunts with fragile hips or humped backs, and we don't want to go

there as a result of our own unwillingness to get in that calcium. We've seen

all the commercials telling us we need calcium, but who ever tells us " you need

X amount of Vitamin B-1 to do this... " -- we never hear it.

Heck, until I joined a few lists, I never thought to NOT make my protein shakes

with water instead of milk -- figured milk would help the calcium intake, and

only stopped doing that because (a) I like the thinner shakes with water better,

and ( I got to looking at the calories, not the carbs or sugars, and figured I

could cut back there. My surgeon recommends a calcium-magnesium-zinc combo, and

I always took one, but I never paid attention to what form of calcium it was,

and I still don't understand why every ad I read says that carbonate is the most

concentrated form, but folks here say citrate is much preferred. (I figured,

like you, that experience says more than advertising, so I switched to citrate

on recommendation of folks with more years out than I.)

Anyway, I would enjoy learning about the OTHER vitamins we take, and why, and

what they do, so if someone here has that knowledge to share, by all means,

bring it on! Maybe a vitamin-a-week lesson? Alphabetical or otherwise?

Still learning after 2-1/2 years...

~~ Lyn in Washington State

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/9/02 10:04:29 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

rudnicki@... writes:

> my orthopedic had me taking 2000mg. daily. 1200-1500 is for a normie he says

> with no or borderline osteo.

Now, I don't know about the rest of you, but when my PCP put me on calcium,

he said to take 500 mg of calcium 3 times a day. (He also said to take 2 Tums

thrice daily; but we won't go there!!!) He did not say take 500 mg elemental

calcium. Even Sue is not saying " elemental " above. So, when the Dr. says

" Take X amount of calcium daily " is s/he telling us the overall compound or

elemental? It does make a BIG DIFFERENCE in the amount of tablets/pills we

take daily.

Just wanted to add fuel to the fire. I was beginning to feel left out! ;^)

In Charlottesville, VA

RNY w/ gall bladder removal, 3/31/99, 318