Information on calcium supplements please.

[Sunseaandsand]

Hi,

Two more recent spinal fractures bringing it to a total of nine has raised quite a few more questions.

I have always been told I do not need a calcium supplement because my levels are very good.

This is questionable as we do not think I am getting enough from my diet alone, also I was told a few years ago I have kidney stone.

I really would appreciate help on which to take and the amount, I have a problem with the bowel which causes chronic constipation and take medication to help move things along the bowel so would not be able to take anything that would aggravate this condition.

Thanking you in advance.

[MollyStark]

Hi Sunseaandsand, I'm so sorry to hear you have two more fractures. I hope you are not in too much pain.

I was unable to find a calcium tablet which didn't make me feel nauseous but I finally found a chewable gel-like calcium supplement which are fruit flavoured. They are made by a company called Alive. They have vitamin D in them too but only 1,000iu so I take extra vitamin D as well.

[Sunseaandsand in reply to MollyStark]

Hello MollyStark,Can I please ask how many of them you take each day, and is there a particular time of day that you take them??

[MollyStark in reply to Sunseaandsand]

Hi, I take mine with my lunch (purely because I take another medication at breakfast and my vitamin D with dinner.) Depending on how much calcium I'm having that day, I either take one or two. I calculated my calcium intake using the ROS chart and it tells me I get more than enough from my diet. Although I don't drink milk, I have a lot of oat milk every day, which is fortified with calcium etc.

[MollyStark]

I meant to add that they are made with fruit and vegetables so perhaps unlikely to cause an issue with constipation and possibly help with it.

[Sunseaandsand in reply to MollyStark]

Hi MollyStark,

Thank you for replying so quickly, what you are taking does sound a good option for me to try.

The two new fractures came within 5 and half week of each other.

For the past 3and half months I have not been in a good place at all.

I have one more in the lumbar and another in the thoracic and I have to say life has been a living hell.

The fractures have created many other problems with my health and are still doing so.

I have lost over another inch in height and the curvature is horrendous.

Pain and sleep are my biggest problems but at least the worst of the spasms have now passed (My husband tells me they were coming every hour)

This is my biggest battle so far but I am now at times starting to feel a little stronger and as in the past will fight back against this horrible disease that is still so under recognised.

I shall write again when I have results from tests and find out where to go from here regarding treatment.

Take good care of yourself.

[Hidden in reply to Sunseaandsand]

Hi Sunseaandsand, have you looked at the calcium-rich food choosing lists on the ROS website? Generally, one pint of cow's milk will give you 700mg of calcium. They often add the calcium carbonate to the other almond, oat, etc so it is the same amount as cow's milk.

[Met00]

So sorry to hear of your new fractures and I hope they heal as fast as possible. I'm really surprised that you've been told you're getting enough calcium because your levels are very good! If everything is working as it should, calcium blood level is kept within a very narrow range, meaning that if your calcium intake isn't high enough, your bones will lose out rather than your blood. That means that a blood test won't tell you anything about your calcium intake. Calcium blood level should simply be "normal", so I wonder what's meant by "very good"? If it means your blood calcium level is high, then that could suggest a problem with your parathyroid glands. Your parathyroid level should have been tested at the same time as calcium and Vitamin D when you were first diagnosed, but if this has never been done, I would ask my doctor to do so urgently.

Are you able to eat/drink dairy? That's a particularly good source of calcium, making it easy to get sufficient calcium in the diet if you are OK with it.

[Sunseaandsand in reply to Met00]

Thank you Met00,I take Calcium from what I eat and drink.

I do not have cows milk but drink Almond milk and Oat milk with added Calcium.

I include all food which contain high amounts of calcium.

I am sure I have had all the appropriate blood tests done both when I was diagnosed and since. It is something I shall ask at my upcoming appointment.

[wellness1]

I can't advise on calcium supplements but I'm just so sorry to hear about your recent fractures. I hope you receive good care and appropriate pain management.

With constipation issues and a desire to take in calcium, you could consider dried figs, a rich source of calcium.

Best wishes, Sunseaandsand. Take care.

[Sunseaandsand in reply to wellness1]

Thank you for your kind words wellness1. I have replied once but it seemed to have disappeared!!

Good care has been non existent the hospital have made no input.

They only want to deal with scans and medications, when the fractures and side effects come along they do not want to know.

My GP has been the one to provide what pain relief he can ( which is very little owing to my low body weight ) hence I am unable to get the pain under control.

He has also been the one to arrange MRI scans and xrays for me.

He has contacted the pain management clinic twice to get me an appointment to have help with medication and the earliest is July.

We called to ask to be put on the list in case any cancellations arise and the clinic will not even oblige in this.

This level of care has always been the same and has not changed in the 19 years since I was first diagnosed.

I could write a book on the poor treatment and lack of understanding that surrounds Osteoporosis.

A good example is when my husband called the out of hrs doctors the man on the phone had NEVER heard of osteoporosis and had to look up its meaning before telling him to take me to the nearest pharmacy for a consultantation!!!

Very good advice for someone who could not move.

I will post as and when I know more.

Take care yourself.

[wellness1 in reply to Sunseaandsand]

Your story is outrageous and heartbreaking and I'm sorry for all you've been through. I realise it will be difficult waiting until July (!), but I truly hope the pain management clinic comes through for you and you finally get some appropriate help. In the meantime, I hope the fractures heal well and it provides you with some relief.

[MWZ3]

Have you had a bone density scan? Have you taken drugs for osteoporosis? Do you know the reason for the broken bones?

Are you having vitaminK2 to get the calcium into the bones?

Just wondering background to the broken bones….

[Sunseaandsand in reply to MWZ3]

Thank you. The answer to all of your questions is yes.

Because of my low bone density I have a scan each year.

If you read some of my previous posts you will find the answers to your questions in more detail.

[Crystalbowl]

I have had two fractured vertebrae and was diagnosed with osteopenia in my hips and osteoporosis in my spine following a Dexa scan towards the end of last year. I had been taking D3 for a while but was prescribed ADCAL by my GP which is D3 and calcium combined. He also wanted me to take Alendronic Acid which I have refused. Hope you find something which works for you.

[MWZ3]

Ok I read your history. I have most on your list of health issues. I have refused prolia and other meds though. I am in Australia.

[cmoc]

Hi, I have just found out I have more fractures making 5 to 6 (one not sure of). Also same problems as you with taking supplements. I can vouch for the "Alive" its the only vitamin D supplement I have no problem with, so you get the vitamin D and the calcium. I have to take Movical every day due to a bowel operation 6 years ago and the Alive does not constipate me.I am from UK too and understand your problems with getting help.

[fraid]

You poor thing!It all sounds horrendous, especially the getting little help part.Do so hope things improve for you soon.Best wishes.X

[wisewoman108]

I'm so sorry to hear this Sunseaandsand . I really sympathise. Re calcium I take calcium citrate in powder form and add it to my daily green smoothie. It's supposed to be easier on the gut and also absorbed better than the the carbonate chalk! I am veggie so worry that I'm not getting enough calcium from my diet. I take half the recommended daily dose and keep my fingers crossed that I'm not furring up my insides. I do hope that your symptoms ease soon. Pain is so debilitating. You have already been through so much but please try to stay positive. Ann xx

[Pte82]

Sunseaandsand, calcium needs magnesium for balance and to move it to bones. Vitamin D needs magnesium to become bioactive. In addition to magnesium bone health benefits from boron, vitamin C, silica and annatto tocotrienol. Search on "Dr Jorge Flechas MD Boron and Osteoporosis Reversal Part 1" for information on Youtube about boron. The link below is an introduction to annatto tocotrienol the other is about magnesium. Always consult your health care professional before using any supplement.

dougcookrd.com/annatto/

krispin.com/magnes.html

[Sunseaandsand in reply to Pte82]

This is very kind of you thank you.

My husband and I have taken on board what you have said and appreciate the links you have sent.

[Pte82 in reply to Sunseaandsand]

Your welcome Sunseaandsand. Search on "nothing boring about boron" for more insights.

[Osteosaurus]

Hi Sunseaandsand ,

I am sorry to hear about your spinal fractures. I hope that they will heal quickly.

For calcium intake, 1000 mg a day is recommended if you have osteoporosis. You mentioned that you do not think that you are getting enough from your diet alone. What kinds of foods are you eating and drinking?

You can roughly estimate how much calcium you are taking using a calcium calculator.

Here is one from the Osteoporosis foundation

osteoporosis.foundation/edu...

Then from there you can decide if you would like to take a calcium supplement or eat/drink more calcium rich foods to top up your calcium intake if needed.

It is also a good idea to take a vitamin D supplement daily as vitamin D helps the body to absorb calcium. The UK recommended amount for vitamin D is 10 micrograms a day.

I hope that this helps and you feel better soon

[Sunseaandsand in reply to Osteosaurus]

Thank you for the information and for forwarding this link, it is very much appreciated.