Obesity Discussion Forums

[sassyfras]

I had a gastric bypass in October 2001. I also have IBS, so I have not been able to 'stomach' taking calcium supplements. I have taken Boniva, but I got to thinking that calcium is absorbed in the stomach. I only have the surgically created pouch and I wonder if Boniva or any of the same type medications are absorbed correctly and help reverse osteoporosis ?(which I have) I even emaile the company that makes Boniva and they could not tell me. Does anyone here had any experience with these type of medications?
Thanks
Sassy

[Merle]

Can you drink lactaid milk and get your calcium in other ways? Have you tried any other IBS medicine besides Zelnorm (which is highly debated for it's health risks)?

I have a sensitive stomach but get my calcium through lactaid milk and multivitamins.

[sassyfras]

No I have a lactose intolerance Even as a child I could not tolerate milk. That is when I found out I had IBS as well. Although then they had not formally named it. That is why these medications for osteoporosis seems so promising. I don't want to have a spontaneous fracture of one of my bones because they are brittle. My doctor moved to Montana (and I live in Tennessee) or I would ask him. Maybe someone else has some information and can post as well. But thanks for your help.

[Obesity Discussion]

Originally Posted by sassyfras

No I have a lactose intolerance

I think Merle was asking about Lactaid milk because Lactaid milk has no lactose in it. Have you ever tried it?

Originally Posted by sassyfras

Even as a child I could not tolerate milk. That is when I found out I had IBS as well. Although then they had not formally named it. That is why these medications for osteoporosis seems so promising. I don't want to have a spontaneous fracture of one of my bones because they are brittle. My doctor moved to Montana (and I live in Tennessee) or I would ask him. Maybe someone else has some information and can post as well. But thanks for your help.

Do you take a multivitamin or can you stomach it?

As far as other ways to get some calcium, maybe these foods can help if you can stomach some of them?

Black Beans 1 cup, 120 mg calcium
Navy Beans1 cup, 130 mg calcium
Fortified Cereal1 cup, 300 mg calcium
Soybeans, cooked 1 cup, 180 mg calcium
Spinach, cooked 1/2 cup, 130 mg calcium
Bok Choy1/2 cup, 80 mg calcium
Kale, cooked1/2 cup, 90 mg calcium
Corn Tortilla1, 6 inch, 50 mg calcium
Greens, mustard 1/2 cup, 100 mg calcium
Fortified Orange Juice1 cup, 300 mg calcium
Canned Salmon w/bones3 oz, 180 mg
Fortified Cereal 1 cup, 300 mg
Waffle, fortified1, 150 mg
Soy milk, fortified1 cup, 400 mg
Greens, mustard1/2 cup, 100 mg
Tofu 1 cup, 40 mg
Almonds2 oz., 150 mg
Oysters3 oz., 80 mg


Here's a few more:

Calcium content of foods (per 100-gram portion) (100 grams equals around 3.5 ounces):

1. Human Breast Milk 33 mg
2. Almonds 234 mg
3. Amaranth 267 mg
4. Apricots (dried) 67 mg
5. Artichokes 51 mg
6. Beans (can: pinto, black) 135 mg
7. Beet greens (cooked) 99 mg
8. Blackeye Peas 55 mg
9. Bran 70 mg
10. Broccoli (raw) 48 mg
11. Brussel Sprouts 36 mg
12. Buckwheat 114 mg
13. Cabbage (raw) 49 mg
14. Carrot (raw) 37 mg
15. Cashew nuts 38 mg
16. Cauliflower (cooked) 42 mg
17. Swiss Chard (raw) 88 mg
18. Chickpeas (garbanzos) 150 mg
19. Collards (raw leaves) 250 mg
20. Cress (raw) 81 mg
21. Dandelion Greens 187 mg
22. Endive 81 mg
23. Escarole 81 mg
24. Figs (dried) 126 mg
25. Filberts (Hazelnuts) 209 mg
26. Kale (raw leaves) 249 mg
27. Kale (cooked leaves) 187 mg
28. Leeks 52 mg
29. Lettuce (lt. green) 35 mg
30. Lettuce (dark green) 68 mg
31. Molasses (dark-213 cal.) 684 mg
32. Mustard Greens (raw) 183 mg
33. Mustard Greens (cooked) 138 mg
34. Okra (raw or cooked) 92 mg
35. Olives 61 mg
36. Oranges (Florida) 43 mg
37. Parsley 203 mg
38. Peanuts (roasted & salted) 74 mg
39. Peas (boiled) 56 mg
40. Pistachio Nuts 131 mg
41. Potato Chips 40 mg
42. Raisins 62 mg
43. Rhubarb (cooked) 78 mg
44. Sauerkraut 36 mg
45. Sesame Seeds 1160 mg
46. Squash (Butternut) 40 mg
47. Soybeans 60 mg
48. Sugar (brown) 85 mg
49. Tofu 128 mg
50. Spinach (raw) 93 mg
51. Sunflower Seeds 120 mg
52. Sweet Potatoes (baked) 40 mg
53. Turnips (cooked) 35 mg
54. Turnip Greens (raw) 246 mg
55. Turnip Greens (boiled) 184 mg
56. Water Cress 151 mg


In general there are quite a few foods that are fortified with calcium.....maybe taking small amounts a little at a time might make it more tolerable? Have considered grinding up calcium supplements into a shake or fruit drink of some sorts and drinking it very slowly throughout the entire day? Maybe some calcium fortified V8 vegetable drink? I wonder if breaking up the doseage of calcium could help?

[mrsreveal]

I like all of the suggestions. I am not very well schooled in GB surgeries, but I have one suggestion that may help. Tums with calcium is a good source of calcium, settles your stomach and when chewed completely, dissolves easily in your mouth and can be swallowed without much consequence at all. Also, exercising with weights is a great way to fight osteoporosis. Muscle tension forces the bone to strengthen. You don't have to look like "Arnold" to grow bone strength.