Cortisol and stomach acid influencing calcium absorption

[Indian_Summer]

I've been wondering about the main reasons of my severe osteoporosis, and have recently come accross two possible contributions:

1) High levels of cortisol due to long term psychological stress, and

2) Low levels of stomach acid that has impaired the calcium absorption.

I took the test with natron that someone recomended here. However, two teaspoons of natron was perhaps too much in half a glass of lukewarm water, because it induced heavy diarrhea within an hour. There was only a small burp within three minutes. If a drink a glass of plain water there is a larger burp within the same time...

Have anyone gotten any useful advice regarding these two concerns?

I've found these two articles on stress and osteoporosis:

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/266...

thearthritisconnection.com/...

Perhaps being treated with Tymlos, which I am now, has less effect if stress is not reduced and calcium not properly absorbed? I add that I of course take adequate amounts of vitamin D and K2.

[josephinius1]

I'm kind of new to this discussion (any osteoporosis discussion,) still also in the "What made this SO bad so young?" stage, still getting tests done, don't have all the results. But saw your mention of cortisol, am hoping one of the things they look for with me is chronically high cortisol because it could answer a few questions if it's a thing for me. But there seem to be so many overlaps...so many things can accelerate bone loss, or inhibit bone growth, or complicate meds.

Right now I've been prescribed Evenity, insurance okayed it because my situation is "severe" too, already have had several fractures--woo hoo, I get to go to the front of the line now. But I have been on thyroid medication for 15 years, PVCs started about the same time, so I figured it was the medication. They were deemed not TOO big of a deal about 8 years ago but supposedly if they become too frequent they can cause cardiomyopathy, make you more likely to have a heart attack or stroke. They always were pretty frequent but now it's apparently constant and as bad as it's ever been.

So of course Evenity is the one OP drug that has a possibility of cardiac events (as well as all the rest of the unpleasant side effects.) People don't seem to know that much more about PVCs run amok than they do osteoporosis, certainly an endocrinologist doesn't, and Evenity is new. Am I at higher risk for a heart related side effect? 🤔 He didn't know.

If I see the cardiologist (probably SHOULD but unless someone tells me I should, I tend to avoid doctors,) he won't know that much about Evenity either.

But, back to cortisol, once that got on my radar, I looked up cortisol and PVCs and sure enough, as one might expect, it can cause arrhythmias too. So again, it's like, if THAT could be a cause...maybe we can kill two birds with one stone, assuming it's possible to fix it. That's what's unclear. (I'm already doing everything I know to do to manage stress because I could tell stress made the PVCs worse.)

And we thought getting older would be dull...right?

Can I ask what your scores were, have you fractured? Other issues?

Good luck either way.

[Indian_Summer in reply to josephinius1]

I'm glad my posting set you on the track of something that could possibly benefit you

I luckily don't have many other health issues related to my osteoporosis, that's why I want to explore these two factors. Yes, I have many fractured vertebrae. Half a year before severe back pain started, my GP put me on PPIs because of stomach pain. I probably ended up taking this for too long a time. Now that I find out that high and low stomach acid can have similar symptoms I really want to find out what is the case with me.

I agree – so many factors play together. Calcium homeostasis is complex. Must review things over and over. What is the best way of measuring calcium is another question I have. Perhaps that's where bone markers come into play? I had these done before starting current med, so perhaps next control of these will show whether Tymlos really has any effect on me, and I suppose if it does then I must be absorbing my calcium adequately...

Yes, cortisol is interesting. I am not surprised it has an effect on the heart as well. Unexplainable accumulation of belly fat over the last years also tells me my level probably is high. I will have it tested.

[TWEETYCAT]

I have also seen research on stomach acid and how as we get older, our acid is reduced. There was a couple of studies done where women with osteo were given citric acid along with calcium supplementation vit. d k2, etc throughout the day and there was much improvement over 1 year. I have switched to an organic egg shell calcium and have been using citric acid or absorbic acid with my calcium. I have started lifting weights again at gym. My scan is in April 24 and we will see.

[Indian_Summer in reply to TWEETYCAT]

Thank you for your good and thorough advice, also in your posting "Just a little rant". You gave me answers I needed as to which supplements to take together and when. So I have now t ex started taking ascorbic acid before and after meals that have calcium food/supplement. Will be looking for your recommended brands and magnesium compound - am curious if they are to be found in Europe. Finally I however managed to do the stomach acid test right - using only 1/4 tsp of sodium bicarbonate (called natron here) to a glass of water first thing in the morning. It indicated I was not particularily low in stomach acid. However I want to take ascorbic acid anyway, so why not with meals.

I am otherwise one who is very pleased to finally have had the opportunity to be administered one of those drugs that, yes, agree, are million dollar industry (but aren't supplements also?) after having been misdiagnosed and ignored and in agony with multiple vertebral fractures for many years. I translated my drug erroneously in another posting, and now see that teriparatide which I am on, equals Forteo and not Tymlos.

My experience after four months is great pain relief and no signs of more fractured vertebrae or ribs. But I won't deny that careful attention to supplements may also have helped, along with good physical therapy exercises (from what here is called the Mensendieck system). I am unfortunately not strong enough for much of weight bearing exercises, only slow walks half to one hour a day, with a hip bag weighing 1-2 kg.

I am soon to have my bone markers done, and plan to ask for a 24 hour urine calcium test to see if I am excreting too much calcium. Cause of my osteoporosis still kind of mysterious, but great to get all this good advice as to how to remedy it.