The bariatric nurse said I should start taking calcium citrate w/ vitamin D now. I understand why, just forgot to ask her how much I'm supposed to take! Anyone know what the recomended daily dose is?

I was told to take 500mg 2 times per day, for a total of 1000.

Why is it "now" required post band?

I don't know that it's required, just that the nurse suggested I take it. She said women start losing bone mass in their thirties and since bandsters don't eat as much they are at a higher risk for not getting enough calcium in their diet. Hence, the reason she suggested I start taking it!

Probably because it is STONGLY advised for all women, but since our food intake is now so limited, especially alot of calcium rich foods (ie cheese, ice cream, etc), the best way to guarantee we maintain our calcium levels are to take supplements.

Thank you. I'm not banded yet, so I'm just absorbing all the information I can find. How are you feeling? What other supplements do you take?

I feel great. The only other supplement is a daily multi vitamin. I take flintstones.

I own a natural health store so I suppose I have a certain amount of bias, but I can tell you that 1,000-1,200 mg daily calcium intake is recommended for most adults. In order for your body to use the calcium efficiently (which doesn't necessarily happen by eating calcium-rich foods), you need to balance that intake with 500-600 mg of magnesium (a 2:1 ratio), and if you're working on bone building you'll want a supplement that also has Vit. D (unless you're already getting 400 IU in your multi) and trace amounts of copper, zinc, manganese and boron. There are a billion manufacturers and brands and formulations to choose from, so start with deciding the form that best fits your needs. There are very good liquid calcium products, for instance.

Also on that front, I'm stunned by the number of physicians who advize taking a cheap chewable multi. Personally, I'm not made out of money, but when it comes to nutrition I'm willing to pay for quality supplementation, especially if my dietary intake is so limited. There are very good liquid multi formulations as well. They cost more, but are money well spent. My personal favorite is Liquid Multi Vita-Mineral made by Trace Minerals Research. In addition to being a well-balanced multi, it has 600 mg of calcium and 300 mg magnesium -- which you won't find in most multiple formulations in significant quantity.