Calcium supplement

[Hel37ena]

Sine total thyroidectomy in June 2017,I have had deficient calcium readings and prescribed Sandicol and Alfacaldol in varying amounts. Also had some symptoms relating to low calcium levels. My last prescription at Boots for Sandicol was not given in full because Boots did not have any due to problem with manufacturers.They advised me to see if endocrinologist could prescribe something else. She declined and referred me to a colleague expert in calcium...I am waiting to hear (5 days ago).In the meantime can anyone provide me with the name of a substitute that I can purchase? Has anyone had a similar problem?

[SmallBlueThing]

Dietary options would include canned fish with bones (e.g. sardines, salmon); bone broth/stock; ground eggshells (the shells should be sterilized in the oven).

forefronthealth.com/eggshel...

[Hel37ena in reply to SmallBlueThing]

Thank you for your response, I think my diet is ok, the problem is disruption, I think to parathyroids during operation.I was hoping someone could suggest over the counter product I could use as alternative to Sandoval which pharmacy say they cannot obtain because of problem with manufacturers.

[SmallBlueThing in reply to Hel37ena]

Cacit appears to be an alternative to Sandocal.

[humanbean]

One cause of low calcium is low vitamin D. If it is low then you can supplement vitamin D and your body will be better able to absorb calcium from your diet.

Have you had your vitamin D level tested? Do you know your level? Are you already supplementing? If yes, how much?

Calcium (from any source - food or supplements) needs to be encouraged into bones and teeth, rather than end up lining your arteries. There are co-factors you need to make this happen - magnesium is one, and vitamin K2 is the other. These can both be bought as supplements. If you're interested, we can tell you what you could buy.

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But, having read your post again, I realise your low calcium is probably because you lost one or more of your parathyroids during thyroidectomy, so self-help is worthwhile, but might never be sufficient on its own.

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If you want to see which drugs your doctor can prescribe which contain calcium, go to this link :

bnf.nice.org.uk/drug/calciu...

and read about the drug given, then click on each of the drugs listed on the right hand side of the page and read the info that comes up.

[humanbean in reply to humanbean]

I'm sure you've investigated low calcium already, but you might find these pages helpful, if you haven't come across them before. The target audience for the first one is patients, the target audience for the second link is doctors :

msdmanuals.com/en-gb/home/h...

msdmanuals.com/en-gb/profes...

If you are already getting symptoms of calcium deficiency (hypocalcaemia) then you should make an emergency appointment with the duty doctor at your surgery. They are playing games with your life, and you shouldn't let them. If you can't get seen at your surgery then you should go to A&E.

Don't just mention that you have low calcium. Say that you suffer with hypocalcaemia as a result of a thyroidectomy. It can have life-threatening consequences if you are not treated adequately - and currently you are not being treated at all :

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypoc...

Don't let them fob you off! Oh, and take a sympathetic man with you, if possible, sickening though it is to have to say it. You need the backup, and you have to make sure that you aren't dismissed as a hysterical woman.

[Hel37ena in reply to humanbean]

Thank you for your responses. The links are very useful.I am still taking Alfacadicol and hopefully I will get a response from doc shortly, will contact GO in any event. Thank you for your advice.