Calcium/constipation

[BamBam]

I started taking calcium pills just last week, and I also started drinking Vance's Dairy Free Milk. Should I just keep taking them and see what happens, or is there something else I can be doing to help me go to the bathroom? I get constipated when I take the calcium. I am taking the recommended pills that have calcium, magnesium and vitamin D that Tarnalberry recommended. I haven't gone for 3 or 4 days.

BamBam

[tarnalberry]

I started taking calcium pills just last week, and I also started drinking Vance's Dairy Free Milk. Should I just keep taking them and see what happens, or is there something else I can be doing to help me go to the bathroom? I get constipated when I take the calcium. I am taking the recommended pills that have calcium, magnesium and vitamin D that Tarnalberry recommended. I haven't gone for 3 or 4 days.

BamBam

ugh. I'm sorry that's happening. those have enough mag for me to not cause a problem. you could try stopping them and seeing if that's the problem (in case it's something else), adding more mag to the equation, making sure you're getting enough fat/liquid/fiber (you've probably already checked those), and try stopping the vance's. (do any of these singly, though, or you'll never know which it is...) good luck!

[BamBam]

ugh. I'm sorry that's happening. those have enough mag for me to not cause a problem. you could try stopping them and seeing if that's the problem (in case it's something else), adding more mag to the equation, making sure you're getting enough fat/liquid/fiber (you've probably already checked those), and try stopping the vance's. (do any of these singly, though, or you'll never know which it is...) good luck!

I'm gonna increase the fiber/water/fat a little bit. I need to take the calcium. My bone density test did not come back very well, so I need to improve what I still have. I started taking two a day, I will take one a day, and then see what happens, if things improve, I will increase it to 2 times a day. I have lots of fresh veggies from the farmers market, so will be eating lots of those.

My stomach doesn't hurt taking these calcium pills, it hurt really bad when I took caltrate. So for that reason I do like them. I just get too impatient. My system is so tempermental.

Thanks for all your advice you've given.

Bernadette

[Guest southgoingzax]

I have heard that taking soluble fiber can help regulate the GI tract. I take Gentle Fibers or ground flax seed in some juice at night and it definitely makes me go by the next morning. Gentle Fibers is apple pectin, citrus pith, and flax seed, I think. I eat a lot of veggies and fruits, too, but taking this sort of fiber supplement certainly gets me regular more so than the fruits and veggies alone. Other fiber supplements (Metamucil and psycillium husks) are or have insoluble fibers and are too harsh on my system - they give me D.

Anyway, something to try.

zax

[penguin]

I've found konsyl to be pretty gentle, it's psyllium, but it has nothing else in it. My gastro doc reccommended it.