The wait goes on

[Jennymary]

Was referred for my Dexa Scan one month ago, just chased it up with the hospital who said it's pending and to chase it again in the middle of May, I knew it would be a wait and at least it's going through the system, meanwhile I was in a high street pharmacy yesterday and asked if there was anything I could do about my bone health as I'm borderline osteoporosis, the advice from the pharmacist was to wait until I've had my vitamin D levels checked, I've got a blood test booked for the week after next, can anyone offer any advice for me while I'm waiting for these tests x

[MCW22]

Ring and tell them that if they have any cancellations you will go at short notice. That's what I did and I got my scan within days instead of having to wait 10 weeks as the normal waiting time

[LynneH-19]

I’m inclined to agree with the pharmacist regarding vit D. The strength of dose you buy can vary according to whether your level is low or adequate, so until you know your level, you may be buying the wrong strength, therefore wasting your money.

Your GP will probably offer you a combined Ca/D3 supplement, containing about 1000 IU of D3, or less.

I personally found this level of D3 was insufficient, so I ended up buying 5000 IU D3 to raise my blood level, then a 2000 IU one to maintain my optimal level.

You cannot safely increase the number of Ca/D3 combined tablets you take, because you would then be taking too much Ca, which is harmful.

Apart from keep pestering the hospital about your DEXA results, you can use the time to keep gathering information about OP.

Best wishes

[HeronNS in reply to LynneH-19]

Try not to take more than 400 or 500 mg calcium in a single dose. The body can only absorb about that amount at one time. Vitamin D and Vitamin K2, as well as magnesium which should be readily available in your diet if it includes lots of green vegetables, help the body to utilize calcium effectively. Magnesium is to plants what iron is to animals.

[LynneH-19 in reply to HeronNS]

Yes, I read that 500mg is the maximum the body can absorb. Each of my meals are always under this amount.

I avoid taking Ca supplements on a daily basis, I usually just about manage to get enough from food, aiming for 1000 to 1200 mg a day.

I find it’s harder on holiday to reach this, when I don’t have the same control over my diet, so I take one dose of Koact (Ca collagen chelate) which gives me 150 mg of Ca.

My main difficulty regarding diet, is my inability to reach the potassium RDA which I’ve seen stated as 4,500 mg. I’m usually struggling to reach

3000 mg. it’s a pity that prunes are so high in sugar!

Best wishes

[HeronNS in reply to LynneH-19]

Found this great list:

healthline.com/nutrition/hi...

[sweetsusie]

I'm no doctor, but please if your scan comes back that you have osteoporosis, don't let the doctors talk you into taking any of the horrible bone meds that they will try to push on you. They are really bad...study them on Google....

[Leroylincoln]

They have poison drugs

[HeronNS]

Read up on Vitamin K2. Most of us are now deficient in this vitamin owing to the degradation of our food supply, so a supplement is a very good idea. Don't be surprised if your doctor knows little or nothing about it. Japanese researchers have found it helps reduce incidence of osteoporosis.

A place to start: healthline.com/nutrition/vi...