Calcium ..does it matter which type?

[softlights]

Which calcium is easier on the digestive system,, and which is less likely to cause kidney stones? Also
It seems that it is constipating, Anyone have suggestions.??? Are all calcium supplements basically
the same?  Thanks  PS.  BRAND NAMES? vs GENERICS?? Also, re SYNTHROID.. brand names or generic?.. does it matter?  Appreciate the feedback.... will be on these forever!!

[redheadaussie]

Calcium carbonate, or calcium citrate is what you need to be taking as it is the best for the body to digest. Unfortunately all calcium supplements like iron supplements do tend to cause the old bowel to seize up. Best to drink a ton of water through the day to counter balance that. I take 5 x 600mgs tablets per day so I know what you mean!
   Brand versus generic is really no contest. In fact many brand name companies also supply the generic. (Eutroxig Brand name thyroxine and generic Oroxine thyroxine in Australia are both made by Sigma)
You ought to make sure it has Vit D added as you need extra Vit D to aid the absorption of calcium in the gut ( that is Vit D's only role in our bodies!).
  I too am on Vit D 2,000 Iu per day...and believe me it has helped!
Cheers!

[softlights]

Thanks so much... I just posted to you regarding your  post/journal entry re leaving the USA..!!!..  so sorry you have to go!!!
I had parathyroid surgery recently.. thus my question.. thanks for the answer.. Just curious are calcium carbonate and calcium citrate one and the same?  I have been taking 500mg of the calcium 2xday and each pill has the vitamin d 400. Thanks for that advice... I had hyperparathyroidism,,, and thus had the surgery and now am on this.. I was considering colace...for the old bowel problem....as I really feel the calcium is the culprit of that... Will up my water intake too.   Thanks again      safe trip!!    .. Softy

[nissah46]

I use calcium(Jamieson) that contains magnesium.  The magnesium helps with constipation.  
Trish

[lilypad300]

I take calcium carbonate.  At first, I was taking plain calcium w/o Vit. D because I was on large doses of calcitriol as well.  Now that my levels are stabilizing, I am taking calcium w/ magnesium (from whole foods) and a multi-vitamin that has vit. D as well as the plain calcium.  I also have viactiv chews w/ D & K if I feel like my levels are a little low.

I went from 8 calcitriol & 16 calcium pills a day to only 2 to 3 calcium pills a day plus the multi-vitamin. so now I'm at 1000-1500mg of calcium a day instead of those mega-doses.

As for the Synthroid, everyone is different.  I choose to take the brand name, because it's not that expensive and I like the consistency.

[Piano3]

I would like to know if "oyster shell" is good source of calcium supplement.  I tested some chewable calcium carbonate tablets, and also some oyster shell tablets, with vinegar- to do the absorption test, and in the 30 minutes of testing to see how well both dissolved in the acidic environment, the oyster shell calium tablet absorbed completely in about 10 minutes, where as after 30 minutes, the calcium carbonate chewable ( with one of 2 minerals) hardly absorbed at all.  The info pamphlet said if it had not disssolved in 30 minutes, it most likely was not being absorbed by the body