New to this group and looking to learn

[ksblack519]

I was diagnosed with osteoporosis this summer (-2.5), and I was disappointed to see that number. It was my third DEXA scan over the last 10 years following removal of my thyroid for thyroid cancer and subsequent thyroid replacement therapy, and I've watched a continuing decrease in bone density in spite of taking calcium and exercising. It is believed that my bone loss can be attributed to the thyroid medication over the past 18 years which was kept at high levels to avoid recurrence of cancer. I am 58. I would like to follow a more natural treatment route for now so I've increased my supplements by taking a bone builder with calcium, magnesium, K, and D along with halting all caffeine and alcohol which, honestly, is more difficult than I wish to admit because I enjoy both. I've exercised all my life with running, aerobics, Pilates, etc., but have now significantly increased weight training. I am looking forward to reading about other's journeys. I am grateful for this community's presence.

[HeronNS]

Sounds like you have been working hard to improve your health. How much Vitamin K2 is in your supplement?

[ksblack519 in reply to HeronNS]

I’m taking Thorne 3-K Complete supplement which has 6090 mcg per capsule of K2 as MK-4 and MK-7 and just a bit of K1.

[HeronNS in reply to ksblack519]

I don't really understand that measurement, as mk 4 and mk 7 are very different, the first usually measured in mg and the other in mcg, but it sounds like you're getting enough! Usually we don't need K1 supplements as it's in our food. My supplement is 100 mcg mk-7 twice a day. Presumably, as you have other, longstanding issues, your parathyroid function (which has nothing to do with the thyroid except its position in the bbody) has been checked?

[ksblack519 in reply to HeronNS]

You are right about the mk4 and mk7 differences. In my supplement the breakdown is 5 mg of mk4 and 90 mcg of mk7 a day - the total vitamin K is 6,090 mcg - how they got to that, I don't know! Anyway, I appreciate your comments. I have not had my parathyroid checked in a long time and I will inquire about that. Thanks!

[Hidden]

I've just been diagnosed and have been on thyroid meds for at least 12 years. I've been trying to figure out why I have this condition as I have been a jogger for 30 years and lifted weights 3 times a week for the last 15 years. I thought I was healthy! It has to be the thyroid medication. I am beyond scared. I'm trying to get in with a rheumatologist right away but now every time I take my thyroid meds, I feel like I'm killing myself! I wonder if there's any other way to regulate my thyroid.

[ksblack519 in reply to Hidden]

It could be the thyroid medicine. From what I understand, it depends on the level of medication. My TSH was kept at an over-suppressed level by giving me a higher dose of replacement in order to keep any potential cancer from coming back. Apparently that philosophy of treatment has changed now, but likely for me the damage was done. Now I am trying to reverse it with an "appropriate" thyroid dose. Hopefully you can learn if your TSH level is in the correct range. Seeing an endocrinologist will give you the best focus on your thyroid.

[FearFracture in reply to Hidden]

I have hypothyriodism and have been taking 75 mcg of levothyroxine daily since 2017 and in 2019 I was diagnosed with osteoporosis. I've always had an active lifestyle, healthy weight, and good diet. Recently, I've started doing a good amount of research on diet and exercise to see what I can do to improve my bones.

A few weeks ago there was an online osteoporosis forum. One of the speakers a was Dr. Terry Wahls. Dr. Wahls was extremely healthy, ate a vegetarian diet, and during medical school, when they did DEXA scans she had above average bone density.

Then she was diagnosed with MS, ended up in a wheelchair, and the outlook was not good. She started doing her own research and by tweaking her diet, a lot--she now eats meat--she has been able to halt her MS. She no longer needs a wheelchair and she's even done a 30 mile bike ride.

I'm reading her book, The Wahls Protocol. One thing she talks about is adding seaweed to your diet and she specifically states that if you have a thyroid issue, you need to discuss adding seaweed to your diet with your doctor because they will need to watch your thyroid levels and possibly reduce your meds. I haven't added seaweed to my diet yet but I do intend to ask my endocrinologist about this.

[ksblack519 in reply to FearFracture]

Thanks for the resource! It must be something with the iodine in seaweed, I would think, but I'll look into it as well.

[Pte82]

ksblack519, look into adding boron and delta tocotrienol for your osteoporosis.

[ksblack519 in reply to Pte82]

Thanks Pte82! I am aware of boron but am not familiar with the delta tocotrienol - I'll definitely look into that.

[Pte82 in reply to ksblack519]

ksblack519, these links provide additional info about them, take note of the relation between tocotrienol and tocopherols.

todaysgeriatricmedicine.com...

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...