For those that remember my post. Feeling deflated

[Sandidee]

Hello it’s me again. So I have now seen the specialist and she was lovely ! She wants me to try to go down by 1/2 m of pred every two months for the Polymyalgia so I will keep my fingers crossed, at the moment I am on 4 mg a day . As for the osteoporosis she said that it is very bad asked me loads of questions and decided by my answers that I didn’t need the calcium tablets anymore but surely if I was getting enough calcium in my diet I wouldn’t have osteoporosis in the first place but she wants me to carry on with the risedronate for the time being. That has worried me a bit and am wondering if I could buy calcium tablets myself.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Having lots of calcium in your diet isn't a 100% sure means of building bone, as other actors are also important - the Reclast is seen as that. It may be that she feels you have plenty of dietary calcium available so you are not going to be deficient and dietary calcium is absorbed better than supplements. If your diet were low in calcium there would be a point in continuing supplements but even supplements aren't always good for you. I had to give up calcium supplements as they were causing grit to form in the bladder leading to cystitis, that isn't uncommon.

Look at your diet - it may be you are getting plenty. I wasn't but have made a conscious effect to eat more calcium-containing foods, and it seemed to be working OK at my last dexascan. I do take a relatively high dose of vit D (4000 IU/day) because i know I need it, That maintains my blood vit D level, just the vit D in the calcium supplements isn't enough and the blood level falls steadily. You probably need vit D but possibly not extra calcium.

[Sandidee in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you so much for your reply. I eat a yogurt and cheese daily but I’ll have to see if I can eat more calcium rich food, I might put myself on vitamin D tablets as well . I think that I will be taken off the risedronate tablets soon as the specialist said that she will keep me on them for the time being

[HeronNS in reply to Sandidee]

Vitamin D (and, I must add, Vitamin K2 depending on the source of your meat and dairy foods) are probably more important than calcium intake especially for people like you who are getting plenty from their diet. Vitamin K2 (and also magnesium) are essential for directing the calcium into the bones where you want it to go.

I assume you were checked for "secondary causes of osteoporosis" before being put on risedronate?

[Sandidee in reply to HeronNS]

Hello. Thank you so much for your reply. No I don’t recall being checked for secondary causes of osteoporosis I had a scan and was told that my osteoporosis was very bad , I think that the specialist will stop the risedronate tablets soon well that’s the impression I got. I will definitely by myself some vitamin Tablets.

[HeronNS in reply to Sandidee]

I asked because something which comes up surprisingly often in the bones forums is hyperparathyroidism (nothing to do with the thyroid) which causes calcium to be leached from the bones. This means no treatment will work until that condition is corrected. Just one example I know of, and it seems to be easily treated and the process causing OP is then reversed. But you won't know if that might be an issue for you without the necessary tests. You can google "secondary causes of osteoporosis". Certainly worth asking your specialist about.

[Sandidee in reply to HeronNS]

Thank you yes I’ll mention it to my specialist when I see her .

[SheffieldJane]

I take vit D and vit K2 for absorption and eat a dairy / calcium rich diet. Adcal didn’t suit me for the reasons PMRPro gives - it was relentless.

[Sandidee in reply to SheffieldJane]

Hello Sheffield Jayne. Thank you so much for your reply. Do you take the risedronate tablet weekly ? I think that I will start taking the vitamin D tablets for absorption does vit K2 do the same as vit D ? Thank you , and I will make sure that I eat plenty of foods that contain Calcium

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Sandidee]

No, they do different things. Vit D helps absorb calcium from the gut, vit K2 directs the calcium to the bones rather than to the walls of the arteries or anywhere else in the body where it isn't needed.

[Sandidee in reply to PMRpro]

Oh wow thank you I will buy both of these when I next go into the city

[Rugger in reply to Sandidee]

Have you had your vitamin D level checked by a blood test? For many of us it has been low, even though we haven't thought it would be. That needs treating with a high dose of prescribed vitamin D before you start to take the daily supplement. Your GP can check that for you, as well as prescribe vitamin D and/or calcium supplements. We do have to buy vitamin K, though.

I have osteoporosis and am on Risedronate too!

[Sandidee in reply to Rugger]

Hi Rugger. No I haven’t had my vitamin D checked maybe I should do. The hospital sent me for a load of blood tests I am not sure what they was for

[Rugger in reply to Sandidee]

Ask your GP to check it and discuss them prescribing you the supplements you need!

Take care.

[SheffieldJane]

I was fortunate enough to have a good DEXA scan result so I am not on any of the drugs prescribed for osteoporosis prevention and treatment.

[piglette in reply to SheffieldJane]

I have a positive Dexascan result, that does not make any difference to my GP, we have a fight every time I talk to him, he says everyone with PMR should take a bisphosphonate. Each time I think I have won, but no he brings it up again the next time. I have a telephone appointment next week on some heart tests, so I will see if he brings it up then.

[SheffieldJane in reply to piglette]

One GP said “ do you want to end up in a wheelchair”.?The DEXA Scan was a kind of bargain. He’s now retired but the pressure made me weary. Nobody at the practice brings it up now. On my head be it.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to SheffieldJane]

That is just scare tactics and totally unacceptable.

[piglette in reply to SheffieldJane]

In my case the Dexascan does not count with my GP.

[SheffieldJane in reply to piglette]

Dr X Ray vision - super power.