How much calcium?

[Jontie]

Evening All.

I've been taking pred for 20 months now and I've just found out I should be taking calcium supplements. My consultant just asked if I ate dairy and left it at that! Presumably I can just buy calcium at Boots, but how much should I take each day? Until a couple of weeks ago I was doing really well on the DSNS system. But when I hit 3mg all the symptoms returned. I'm now on 6 and still feel bad) but better than 3). I don't want to go any higher because, as you know, it takes ages to get back down. Best wishes to you all.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi

You should have been prescribed VitD/Calcium supplement from the get go! Usually Adcal in UK. Ask your GP.

[Jontie in reply to DorsetLady]

I was prescribed vit D to be fair. I guess he thought I was getting enough calcium in my diet. I'll ask the GP.

[SuziCutie in reply to Jontie]

I have Calcichew D3 Forte from Dr.

[Jontie in reply to SuziCutie]

Sounds like it kills two birds with one stone. Thank you.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

But you need what you need - and either you take what you need or the inflammation will build u pand sooner or later you will be back where you started,

Your GP should be able to prescribe AdCal or Calceos or the like. But you also need your vit D level to be checked - to see how much of that you need.

[Jontie in reply to PMRpro]

True. Thanks.

[SheffieldJane]

You can be prescribed Adcal with our condition, I should ask. My GP took me off it because of bladder irritation and put me on vitamin D to help extract calcium from my diet. I eat dairy too. Doctors maybe back pedalling a little on giving out Calcium willy nilly.

[Jontie in reply to SheffieldJane]

That's interesting. Didn't realise vit d facilitated calcium absorbtion. Maybe that explains why I wasn't prescribed calcium.