Too much calcium in blood

[Pongo13]

Another blood test next week a) cholesterol (they forgot this time) and b) deficiencies in diet - to see if same excess calcium result comes up. Wish I hadn't googled but saw hypocalcia (spelling wrong) and that racing heart, anxiety, sore muscles, and other symptoms are all ones I've experienced! Keeping calm till next doctor appointment. Anyone else had this? I've been so good with my healthy eating I've gone the wrong way!

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Hypocalcaemia is LOW calcium.

[Pongo13 in reply to PMRpro]

Hypercalcemia - sorry spelling was erong

[Longtimer]

I certainly have the s ore muscles, and occasional racing heart, I had a cholesterol test today because doctor wants to put me on stati ns for gall bladder symptoms, but I think the Adcal I take twice a day is contributing to my problem, when I stopped taking them to see a few days ago, the tummy pain pain is better to some degree....so is that too much calcium?, My doctor won't test me for it....and so it goes on. Could do without this added problem with PMR!😕

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Longtimer]

Your doctor won't check your calcium? Stingy creature! Isn't there another?

[Longtimer in reply to PMRpro]

Doctor rang me last Friday to say she wanted me on statins, my reply was not unless I have a cholesterol test first to see the result, she agreed, I then said I have read some gallbladder stones can be made up of calcium, her answer, no nearly every time it's cholesterol!.....but today got letter to make appointment with gastroenterology, so will ask them for it!......doctor said, no fat in diet....so it's no sugar, low carbs, no gluten, not much left is there, I cook all from scratch, so no fat most of the time anyway.......

I presume it's a more expensive test maybe......

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Longtimer]

medicalnewstoday.com/articl...

Yes, cholesterol is involved in 80% of stones in the USA but calcium imbalances contribute too.

And read the Risk Factors - wonder what she'll say to this one:

- people who take cholesterol-lowering drugs called statins

Though a broader search does suggest that this is rather disputed!

[Marijo1951]

I'm not an expert and not sure if this is relevant, but one thing I've learned through this forum is that one should also take vitamin K2 when taking calcium/vitamin D supplements, as it helps the calcium to go to the bones where it's needed, rather than staying in the arteries. What I would like to know is why the doctors don't tell us these things? If I hadn't read on here that calcium shouldn't be taken at the same time as pred, I'd still be taking them together in the morning.

[SnazzyD in reply to Marijo1951]

My various hospital doctors hadn’t heard of taking Vit K2.

[Marijo1951 in reply to SnazzyD]

In view of the risk, it seems fairly basic knowledge, though I understand that even today medical students get very little education about nutrition.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to SnazzyD]

Probably because it wasn't known about pre-2007:

kresserinstitute.com/vitami...

[Hidden in reply to PMRpro]

A good read, but how reliable is the info? However since I developed PMR my research did suggest taking K2 when given vitamin D and calcium. When I asked the rheumatologist I saw and asked about taking vit K2 he wasn't keen. But I decided to take it anyway.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

Not too bad I think until the last couple of paragraphs!!

[HeronNS in reply to Hidden]

Try to get hold of this book: Vitamin K2 and the Calcium Paradox by Kate Rheaume-Bleue.

A pretty good description of Vitamin K2 is: healthline.com/nutrition/vi...

My daughter, who is a registered dietitian, didn't know about Vitamin K2 until I told her about it. So if the dietitians aren't (or weren't ten years ago) being taught about Vitamin K2 I think there's no hope for any doctors to have learned about it. The one rheumatologist I've had the misfortune to encounter didn't seem to know the difference between K1 and K2.

[Hidden in reply to HeronNS]

Hi HeronNS, yes I bought a copy of this book a few years ago and have a feeling that we had this conversation then. That's one reason why I take K2-7

[nickm001 in reply to PMRpro]

from link... "many drugs inhibit the conversion of vitamin K1 to K2, including cholesterol-lowering drugs (statins)" - imagine that!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to nickm001]

Didn't it mention AA too????????

[Pongo13 in reply to Marijo1951]

I've been taking vitamin K.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Pongo13]

K1 or K2 ?

[Pongo13 in reply to PMRpro]

Not sure - need to check but in Wales and didn’t bring with me! Will let you know! And thank you for help as usual x

[Floridafan in reply to Marijo1951]

My doctor knew nothing about K2 supplements, I ask my Rheumy yesterday but she wouldn’t commit either way. She seemed to think it was another ‘fad’, just like tumeric was a few years back. I don’t think there’s been enough studies or evidence to show that it benefits people taking calcium tablets.... well not for the NHS anyway. So I’m left not knowing which way to go..... take it or not take it. I believe that there aren’t many foods which contain vitamin K2.

[Marijo1951 in reply to Floridafan]

There's enough evidence out there to convince me. If you Google 'Vitamin K2 to help calcium absorption' lots of serious articles come up. As PMRpro has pointed out, it wasn't known about until 2007 (though I think 12 years is enough time for it to have reached our doctors). I just tried to search 'Vitamin K2' on the NICE website and nothing came up, so it will probably be a very long time before it's 'standard issue' on the NHS.

The best food for K2 is apparently natto, a fermented soya product. I have a real problem with tofu, so can't imagine being able to cope with natto, which apparently stinks appallingly. I'm happy to take my K2 tablets as long as I'm also taking calcium and vitamin D.

[Joydeck in reply to Marijo1951]

There's not enough evidence out there to convince me. Still, expensive K2 supplements are unlikely to harm.

I researched vitamin K2 at length, a year ago, and concluded that more research is needed for me to bother. Dietary sources are very hard to come by, and there seems to be confusion over the body's ability to convert K1 to K2.

[nickm001 in reply to Joydeck]

try natto .. it is cheap and can be found in Japanese stores... See my comments bellow on how to eat it.

[nickm001 in reply to Marijo1951]

You are right, natto has "distinct" flavor and smell... It took me years to get used to it. First you have to mix it, to create sticky fluid ( you will understand when you try). To cover the taste I add strong horseradish ( actually wasabi ) or any hot mustard would do also. It is the best natural source of K2.

[Marijo1951 in reply to nickm001]

Thanks for that information, but frankly you're not selling it to me... The vitamin K2 supplements are derived from natto and I'll stick to them - it's easy to swallow them down quickly.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Floridafan]

There never will be enough studies - it is a food supplement, it is not produced by a high profit agency and it won't benefit anyone spending money on the sort of clinical trials that would be required.

I have never taken K2 - I baulked at the price when I did enquire - and my bone density is fine. You do get some from grass fed meat and derived dairy products and if you eat that type of food you should be fine. I know it isn't that easy in some places but for me it is - my butcher sources meat from within 30km and that is almost exclusively fed on grass, either grazing in the summer or hay through the winter. Egg yolk and hard cheese are also valuable sources.

Yet again the fact is that the best diet we can manage is what to aim for.

todaysdietitian.com/newarch...

[SheffieldJane]

I had to stop Adcal, it was giving me digestive symptoms and bladder irritation. I have a calcium rich diet and take vit D and K2. My levels are fine at the last count and Dexa Scan fine too.

[Longtimer]

I have a calcium rich diet, but will have to start with K2, I never see it in chemists though....I presume it is only bought online...Adcal has certainly made my gallbladder symptoms worse. I will have a big battle on my hands now though (as usual) with the doctor....I have Osteoporosis, and she wants me to have the infusion which terrifies me I must admit. Doctor says I won`t be able to digest the tablets......the decisions like yourself having to make we could do without.....and I`m really not feeling up to a battle right now....

[Pongo13 in reply to Longtimer]

I get vit k in Holland and Barrett in uk. (Will look next time for k2).

[Longtimer in reply to Pongo13]

Thank you, will venture out to the city when I have the energy!

[Marijo1951 in reply to Longtimer]

Nature's Best (naturesbest.co.uk) sell Osteoguard Ultra which has calcium, magnesium, vitamin D3 and vitamin K2. The current price is £11.95 for 90 tablets and the suggested dosage is 2 tablets per day.

[Longtimer in reply to Marijo1951]

Thank you for that...

[cezzie5 in reply to Longtimer]

Hi Longtimer, please don't be afraid of the infusion. Apart from finding a vein this infusion doesn't hurt. Its yearly which is far better than taking adcal orally. Infusion done in 30 mins then bye bye hospital for another year. I have had a number of fractures through osteoporosis so this for me is an easy route to take. I also take K2 as my pain consultant and an independent nutritionalist both said they felt it would be of benefit. I buy Solgar products at Holland and Barrett, sale on atm buy one get one half price. Hope this helps a little xxx

[Longtimer in reply to cezzie5]

Thanks for that, what worries me is that I react badly to medication, even 1parcetamol.....and as I have said once in, it's too late...with tablets they can be stopped..if it was a week or so that would be fine but I have enough side effects from Pred!..,....what a battle. Gl ad it worked for you....

[cezzie5 in reply to Longtimer]

It's a difficult balancing act when we are taking so many drugs that all interact with each other. I'm on permanent pred and methotrexate injections which as you know have some horrible side effects but hopefully some of them work. Good luck xxx

[Jackoh]

I have cut my Adcal down from 2 to 1 on doctor’s advice and I have taken K2. I don’t know if it has any connection but have had less UTIs since this regime.

[Wenben]

I received a letter recently from my surgery saying they are no longer issuing prescriptions for Calcium but I can buy it. I am on 4mg Pred and have two Dexa scans with good results. I asked GP recently if he thought I really needed to take Calcium and he replied....." no not really ". I sometimes feel he just agrees with anything just for a quiet life !!

[PMRdaughter]

If you are taking vitamin D, make sure you take a combination of Vitamin D3 with K2. K2 helps keep the calcium in your bones and from depositing elsewhere in your body. Consider seeing a Naturopathic dr as well to get an understanding

[Pongo13]

New daughter in law to be is dietician! I will be seeking her guidance as well as all the great help from forum - thanks to all x

[Marcy47]

I had slightly high calcium result last year, it was decided I have Hyperparathyroidism. I have to have Calcium level checked every 6 months, if it gets to 2.9 I will be referred back to specialist for possible surgery. I take vitamin K2 as this helps the bones absorb the calcium.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

To add to the K2 discussion above you might like this:

cheeseslave.com/sources-of-...

Not sure about the emu oil - but Kerrygold and Brie sounds fine to me! Brie is easy - the Kerrygold not so good. But the butter we eat is from grass-fed cows.

[dancersize in reply to PMRpro]

Butter, cheese and icecream. I can do that.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to dancersize]

Me too ...