I have, and finally the chalkiness got to me. I found a fruit flavored gummy calcium chew that I am liking right now.

I do. It's easier. I'm supposed to use the Caltrate because it is upposed to be best, but I usually get one stuck in my throat. I also take vitamin D separately.

For many years I took Tums at bedtime for calcium. Last year my doctor said I no longer need them because I eat 3 Greek yogurts everyday. My last bone density test showed I have only a 2% chance of ever breaking a hip.

I have a bone density test scheduled for next week, but my last one showed some osteopenia, so I'm hoping my bone density hasn't decreased too much. I drink about 4 glasses of milk per day, and eat foods high in calcium, aside from my Calcium/Vitamin D supplements. Although my mother had severe osteoporosis and arthritis, I still have no symptoms of arthritis at age 58, so maybe I inherited my father's genes on that and won't develop it.

Picky, have you tried the Viactiv chews? Costco, Rite Aid, probably Walmart have their own brand not quite as expensive. That's the one my doctor had recommended as well as the tech at the bone density scan lab...but, I'm not taking a calcium supplement now trying to get it through foods. There was a study about a year and a half ago that was showing a possible link between calcium supplements and heart disease, and I have heart issues in my family history.

My endocrinologist thinks the Vit D is at least as important as calcium, and yes, she knows I'm not taking the calcium but eating yogurt, cheese, drinking milk twice a day. And we regularly have kale (sautéed), spinach (in place of lettuce in salads)

morz, I know our Walmart and Costco have some kind of chews, which are round and pastel colored, but I don't recall the brand. I do remember that I'd have to eat about 4 of them a day, and they were a lot pricier than Tums.

We have terrible heart disease in my family, so I'm not thrilled about taking calcium supplements after hearing of that study. At my age (58) I'd rather break a bone than do anything that might promote heart disease. If I live to be in my late 70's or so, I'd be more concerned about breaking a bone at that age, as I know hip fractures are very dangerous. I guess I'm darned if I do and darned if I don't!

The missus was told to take those calcium enriched Tums after her thyroidectomy. Then, a follow up appointment indicated that she didn't need them after all. She was grateful.

The Viactiv chews are 500 mg calcium carbonate along with Vits D and K. They are shaped like a square Kraft caramel and individually wrapped, come in chocolate, caramel, strawberry cream, orange cream - I especially liked the orange cream when I was buying them.

Maybe by the time you feel you need to look into the heart connection farther there will have been more research. The study wasn't large enough to be definitive, it was just enough to warrant further investigation so it wouldn't be appropriate for everyone to make their supplement taking decision on it, just one I am trying and I have my bone density checked every year so I'm monitored more closely than some.

Here is a link that might be useful: Study calcium heart link

The chews or gummy type are great if you have trouble with large pills. And the vit D is included.

Thanks for the link, morz. My mother, who died suddenly at 70, took daily calcium supplements, as she had severe osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. I guess I'll never know whether the calcium supplements played any part in her death of a stroke at a relatively young age. She was the youngest of 10 siblings, all who died of heart attacks or strokes between the ages of 50 and 76, except one brother. I have no idea if any of them were ever on calcium supplements.

I know my Doctor is just trying to ensure I won't get osteoporosis/arthritis like my mother. But my mother never needed a cane and had never broken a single bone, despite her low bone density, when she died of a massive stroke.

It's hard to decide if there is a strong enough risk of accelerating heart disease by taking the calcium supplements, or if I should just take my Vitamin D and continue my high calcium diet but ditch the calcium pills..