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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009 Posts: 331 Location: South London
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I am such a greedy person I dont chew ... I eat them. I couldnt chew if I tried. Well chewing is the same as eating breaking it down and then swallowing - isnt it. I agree they are huge and i find them filling. I think i would prefer an injection. Doctor said i only need to take them as my diet doesnt have enough calcium i suppose they see this in the blood tests? With regards to Vitamin D - sunshine makes vitamin D and it was sunny today so I got at least a weeks worth. Roll on summer and more sunshine. By the way craziest thing it was like a summers day today and now its snowing! 
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Rank: Newbie
Groups: Registered
Joined: 1/13/2010
Posts: 4
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Hey White horse (Christine?)
I haven't worked out how others know your name is Christine when your sign in as White horse...?
Anyway, Calcium tabs.
Sorry to hear you have been diagnosised with R.A., eight years on and many altered drug therapies later I am still trying to come to terms with this reality.
When I was first prescribed calcium I found them very unpalatable, so my chemist suggested I switched the prescibed tab for indigestion remedies, Tums, Rennies etc as he noted they contain the a high amount of calcium.
Recently, I have returned to taking them but this time the tablet contains vitamin D so I thought I should persevere with the torture of sucking or chewing them... After two doses I came up with an idea which seems to work for me...
At about 9pm I crush two tabs using the back of a teaspoon in a teacup. Then I mash a banana and sprinkle the chalk dust over it. Mix it in, then spoon the mixture in and suck/swallow avoiding any grittiness.
If you don't like bananas, may be you could think of an alternative food to mix it with?
Lastly, the chemist also told me that the calcium can interfer or cancel out the effectiveness of other drugs if taken at the same time of day. I note on the drugs I am currently taking it says avoid taking with indigestion remedies.... BECAUSE they contain calcium? My eight years of R.A. hasn't been wasted after all, I've picked up a few tips!
In my experience Consultants, nurses and G.P.'s prescribe but they don't spell out the detail of how to take meds. Befriend a chemist, this is their specialised field and they can be a great support.
Hope this helps, good luck.
Anne
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 690
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If you are not able to get a vitamin D jab from your rheumy team and have to take the awful tablets, I've thought of another way to take them. Although I have a jab every 6 months I still have to take vitamin D drops and calcium in a powdered form. I mix everything in with my daily smoothie, which disguises the chalky taste of the calcium; a good blender will also crunch up any tablet you throw in with your fruit or veg.
love,
Barbara
XXXXX
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/5/2009 Posts: 48
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Hi, I used to take the tablets but they upset me so I now take the soluble ones which are like a lemon drink. My chemist told me about them. If you don't pay for your perscriptions or you are on prepaid you can get them from your doctor. Hope this helps. Jayne 
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 838 Location: Nottinghamshire
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Hello Everyone
Does everyone with RA take them?
I've not been told me to take them.
Paula
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 1/23/2010
Posts: 100
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Hey Anne
Thanks for the tip. I love bananas so I will try that. By the way I'm a white horse calles Christine. lol Long story. (Always is with me lol)
I never know when to take each tablet but I think I'm doing ok with them. I've gone from someone who never took one for anything to about 6 different ones now. shocking but without them the RA would progress even faster so I aint complaining.
How do people afford them all? It's £7:20 per tablet on prescription so that's £42:00 or more for all of them. It's costing a fortune.
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009
Posts: 351
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Lots of us buy an annual prescription card Christine. I think its about £104 a year. If I had to pay for each individual item I wouldn't be able to afford to eat! Carol
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 1/23/2010
Posts: 100
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Tabbycat wrote:Lots of us buy an annual prescription card Christine. I think its about £104 a year. If I had to pay for each individual item I wouldn't be able to afford to eat! Thanks Carol. And do you get them from the chemist? silly question I know. That's a lot better than £42 every time you run out.
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 3,157 Location: Huddersfield
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Hi Chris, Just google Prescription prices an you'll find the website where you can order one online. They save an absolute fortune! Well worth getting. Doreen xx Found it for you http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/1127.aspx
Hope it helps.
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,740
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aww no yes i also got yearly pre payment thingy and did it online came threw quickly pay 10 a month direct debit foryear saves loads. t care melly cuddly cats make my world seem so much more fun
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 1/23/2010
Posts: 100
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well thanks you two. I will get onto that right now Doreen thankyou. xx
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