Does anyone know if there's blood test than can tell if the calcium supplements are in fact going to the right place ( the bones) and not being absorbed into the bloodstream, if so what's it called?
I have been diagnosed, via the DEXA scan, with severe osteoporosis, but I don't understand the explanation for my calcium level being shown in the blood test as 'normal' .
My doctor insist that I take calcium supplements, which I have been taking, but how can we know if they are actually working?
The explanation I was given was that the body adjusts the level of calcium. I read that some people on this forum, have low levels of calcium so I am more confused than ever.
I've just started treatment with bisphonates and would like to know how to monitor the effectiveness.
I also noticed some black spots in my stools since taking calcium supplements. Is that common?
Another thing that has worried me lately, my blood pressure has shot up since taking alendronic acid. I wondered if there was a link. Is that a common side effect? My GP didn't think so, said it was 'an age' thing.
I have an appointment with the specialist on Friday, and in order to make the most of this precious time, I would like to go armed with as much information as possible so that I can ask the right questions.
I would be really grateful if anyone could shed some light on this and help my frazzled brain to understand.
Thanks in advance.
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Cheerleader123
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The most important thing to ensure with calcium is that it is going to your bones and not being leaked into your bloodstream. As simple blood test can check your PTH level - that is to say your parathyroid glands (nothing at all to do with thyroid) are working properly. If the level of calcium in your blood is raised, even slightly, it can be an indication of hyperparathyroidism and no supplements or medication will do any good until the offending gland/s is removed. As soon as osteoporosis is diagnosed this should be checked for but it often isn’t. I was lucky enough for an astute GP to notice this in a routine blood test and I had a parathyroidectomy in due course. Have a read of this. I hope it helps.
Thank you so much for taking the time to reply to my question. I'm glad your GP was on the ball and that you received the correct treatment. I will read the article now.
I had the PTH blood test before starting calcium supplements and bisphonate treatment and it showed a 'normal' reading. It will be interesting to see the results now that I've started the treatment.
So have I understood correctly, the test to see if calcium is being absorbed into the bones is called PTH?
As I understand it the test for PTH is to show that the parathyroid glands are not overactive, i.e. producing too much hormone which would lead to raised calcium levels in your blood in turn causing thinning bones.
Ah I see. Yes, apparently they are miraculously working ok, as my calcium levels were deemed normal and the PTH levels were also normal, even though I've had a lobectomy (10 years ago)
I am trying to find out how we can monitor where the calcium is going. To be sure, if that's possible, that the calcium is being absorbed by the bones.
I've had all the tests to show calcium, Vitamin D, parathyroid etc, but I have never had the one for bone turnover markers. This I will ask for when I see the specialist.
I'm reluctantly taking the supplements and the treatment, but want to be sure they are really working. I'd much rather a holistic approach to treating this.
I hope you can get an answer to your query. After much deliberation I decided against bisphosphonates of any sort and opted for supplements, calcium in my diet and HRT as I have to take a daily PPI.
There is nothing wrong with calcium in your bloodstream. It is quite necessary for it to be absorbed there from the digestive tract. It can also be released from the bones into the blood. The dynamics of the systems involved in maintaining/modulating your serum (blood) calcium levels and bone density are complex. There is no one test. A picture emerges from looking at serum calcium, DEXA, parathyroid, vitamin D, bone turnover markers, etc.
It is the perfect subject to discuss with your specialist. If you want to do your homework in advance of your appointment, I would advise calling the office and asking for prepatory reading material based on this question. That material should fit the way that particular specialist thinks about and explains it to patients, which should put you a step ahead in any in-person dialogue.
Hi - you may want to look into Vitamin K2 also. There are articles out there that suggest it helps direct the calcium supplements towards the bones. Also I believe it’s ideal to take calcium supplement with vitamin d to help with the absorption. I try and get as much calcium as I can via diet (including a drink of kale/cucumber/celery/apple/beetroot juice & water - tastes better than it sounds !) plus Viridian calcium and Vit D supplement plus K2. Appreciate everyone is different though. Hope this helps & good luck with your consultant.
Will measure how much I put in over the next couple of days and let you have it. - re the vitamin K - there is K1 and K2 and it’s the K2 that helps direct the calcium to the bones. Think K1 is involved in blood thinning. It’s worth reading up on.
PTH is made by four tiny parathyroid glands in your neck. These glands control calcium levels in your blood. When calcium levels are too low, the glands release PTH to bring the calcium levels back up into a normal range. When your calcium levels rise, the glands stop releasing PTH. Measuring PTH can help explain the reason for abnormal calcium levels. PTH blood test can help your doctor figure out whether your abnormal calcium levels are caused by your parathyroid glands. If your test shows that your PTH level is appropriate for your calcium level, then there is some other cause of high or low calcium levels. Your doctor may recommend this blood test if you’re showing symptoms of hypercalcemia (too much calcium in your blood) or hypocalcemia (too little calcium in your blood). This is not a test for how much calcium is getting to the correct places in your body, including your bones. Bones are the largest "storage" of calcium in the body...but calcium is also important for blood clotting, cardiac function, muscle contraction, improving cholesterol levels, and preventing preeclampsia in pregnancy.
How can you find out if your bones are getting enough calcium? To my knowledge, there is no specific test available.
Vital is to obtain enough but not too much organic calcium through foods, Vit D3, Vit K2 and Magnesium. Vit D3 is most important in the interactions, but K2 puts it in the right places. Calcium can be dangerous if you are taking the "rock" inorganic type...Tums is an example....organic such as algae calcium is safer...but many doctors are lowering calcium or stopping the supplementation, especially if you have cardiac problems. Ask your doctor specifically if the type you take is safe.
I've had numerous surgeries in the last two years, 12...had pre-op testing, and the last one was reviewed as clean, clear arteries, "no seen" heart disease, which was the same as the last MRI and CT scan. Vit K2 is vital for those "clean" arteries as well. I learned this from my mother's cardiologist years ago...he didn't get her to stop taking the Tums 3x a day...he tried, but she was stuck with bad info from years back...She only started K2 the year she died, with 600 blocks in her 100 lb body...not enough time to work.
Thank you so much for taking the time to reply to my query. My PTH levels were ok apparently as was the calcium levels. This caused my confusion as to why I had to take the supplemts. I will bring this up with my consultant tomorrow. I'm taking calcium carbonate and I've tried asking for a different one from GP, without success. I also include enough calcium through my diet and this was another concern that I make have too much calcium now. I haven't had a blood test since taking the supplemts or treatment so will discuss this also during my appointment. Glad you've got the all 'clean' and I'm so sorry to hear about your mum.
I believe that the protocol for prescribing bisphosphonates is that calcium+vitD3 supplements must be prescribed alongside. That is because bisphosphonates can cause calcium depletion in the body (due to the slowing down of bone resorption). It's in GPs' instructions to prescribe them together.
Regarding your GP's rather dismissive response to your report of a sudden increase in your blood pressure, I don't think that age-related increase would be a sudden event. In my opinion (I should add, I am not medically trained) it would seem far more likely that any sudden change experienced shortly after starting a new drug would be very likely related to the effects of that drug.
Thank you for replying to my query and for the clarification regarding the supplemets. That makes sense now. Just need to get to the bottom of these new symptoms and armed with this new information, plus all the replies above, I now feel confident about what I need to ask.
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