Do you use Tums?

[Bajanne]

I have decided to use Tums instead of the expensive Phos-Lo prescribed.  I wanted to ask those of you who use Tums to tell me how you use it.  After every meal?

[Epoman]

I have decided to use Tums instead of the expensive Phos-Lo prescribed.  I wanted to ask those of you who use Tums to tell me how you use it.  After every meal?

I have tried using tums before however I would have to take alot (like 8-10) . I would take them after meals however it is recommended that you take them during the middle of your meal which I would not do because it was gross.

[susie q]

   I take tums... 2 at every meal usually.. depends on what or how much I eat..
If I have something like a glass of milk with a snack I'll pop one then too...
I usually wash them down with a little water also..
It is best to take them while you are eating but I do it right after... don't wait.. even 10 mins you may as well not bother...

[angieskidney]

  I take tums... 2 at every meal usually.. depends on what or how much I eat..
If I have something like a glass of milk with a snack I'll pop one then too...
I usually wash them down with a little water also..
It is best to take them while you are eating but I do it right after... don't wait.. even 10 mins you may as well not bother...

I do the same .. but I take mine directly before the meal .. but if it is like a big meal that is something that will take me longer than 1/2 hr to eat I will pop another one midway .. just to be safe ... but NEVER exceed the recommended dosage. My dietician has me on the Tums ULTRA 1000mg. Max is 8 tabs a day of those.

[kimcanada]

I an supposed to take 2 tums before every meal, but here is my problem....

I always forget, or I am never around the tums, I am always on the run, I think if I were home more it wouldn't be a problem, does anyone else have this problem, and how on earth do you remember to take them?

Kim

[boxman55]

Hi Kim, I keep a bottle in my glove box in the car and a bottle on the kitchen table, to help remind me...Boxman

[MelissaJean]

Kim,
I have taken pills all my life and what I found is keep some everywhere!  (I have some in the car, at my house, my friend's house, my parents house, my work, my purse(s), my coat pockets.. I think it's gotten to be a little ridiculous.. but at least I remember.  The only thing is changing out the pills in my car in the summer so they don't get too hot!  Hope th at helps.

[LightLizard]

i use tumes. one before every meal. (3 per day)
in the beginning i was told to increase my tum intake to two per meal.
a few weeks later, after having bloodwork done, i was contacted by
the hospital. they informed me that my calcium levels had become
dangerously high and i needed to report to emergency, immediately.
after that little dance, i was told to go back to one per meal.

i also take basalgel, (one per meal) but have been advised that
i won't be able to use it for very long as it puts too
much aluminum in your system, which eventually, can
cause dementia.
how could they tell??

[kellyt]

I was told to take two with every meal, as well.  That was maybe a year or so ago.  I usually forget and don't take them regularly.  However, even though my GFR has dropped my phosphorus and potassium levels are good.

I need to go find my Tums....

[goofynina]

I miss taking my Tums, i am currently back to taking them nasty, chalky Fosrenol    Tums was the only thing that got my Phos. under 6 (my lowest ever was 3.3 and that was when i was taking Tums) but due to my calcium, i had to stop tums and go back to Renagel (which hasnt done a damn thing for my Phos) so they added it with the Renagel, 

[thegrammalady]

before the medicare kicked in i was taking tums. the problem was they put too much calcium in my system (my pth is/was also high) now i use renegel. (expensive, yes, but it works well) i take it with meals and snacks. i have it in my coat pockets, the car, at my daughters house. otherwise i would forget to take it and besides when i leave the house i never know if i'm going to eat or not.

[Bajanne]

I was so glad to see this thread.  I had a meeting with my new dietitian.  I was hesitant to chat with her since I knew my phosphorus would be a bit high.  and it was.  I hadn't taken any binders for the last month and a half (and i had been doing so well).  I have started again.  Hope to get myself back in shape.  My phosphorus is just over the accepted level and my calcium is just under, so I need to do something about it.

[Wattle]

Along with the coat pockets and car, have them in all your handbags. Buy a few pill boxes or mini m&m canisters are good too, and have them in your bag. I am sure we all forget from time to time. It has taken me awhile but I usually remember now. I just have to remember to fill the empty boxes in my handbag.   

[LightLizard]

i was advised that it is most effective to take the tums at the beginning of a meal.
so, i got into the habit of keeping them in a cupboard above the kitchen counter, where i usually get my plate to eat. its just a relfex action now, and i barely think about it. i just open the cupboard, grab the bottle and down a tum, take my plate into the living room and eat .
going out to eat is a different story, of course, but i rarely do that, these days.

[kitkatz]

I put Tums in a baggie and ziploc it into my purse that way I always have them with me.

[KR Cincy]

I take Renagel but was told to avoid Tums because of the aluminum...same reason I had to switch to an all-natural deodorant.
This no kidney thing is some funky sh*t sometimes!