Low calcium level... not sure why

[Aly2]

Hello all,

I have had a few tests done via medihecks as i have not been feeling well, the 24 hour urine calcium test results came back today and my level is 1.2mmol which they have said is low. They suggested i should check kidney function and also parathyroid. Does anyone know why i may have low calcium levels? I have had a calcium blood test done via my GP (blood test may be more accurate) but do not have these results yet, but i will also tell my Gp about the urine result to see what they say. I was also found to be low in vitamin D from a previous medicheck test (37.3mmol) not sure if this is low enough to cause a calcium problem though. Im wondering why i am low in both and if this is the cause of me feeling unwell...

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Low calcium linked to low vitamin D

Has your GP prescribed 1600iu vitamin D

GP will only prescribe to bring vitamin D up to 50nmol. Aiming to improve by self supplementing to at least 80nmol and around 100nmol may be better .







Once you Improve level, very likely you will need on going maintenance dose to keep it there.




Retesting twice yearly via vitamindtest.org.uk




Vitamin D mouth spray by Better You is good as avoids poor gut function.




It's trial and error what dose each person needs. Frequently with Hashimoto's we need higher dose than average

Local CCG guidelines

clinox.info/clinical-suppor...

[Aly2 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks for your reply. GP has not prescribed anything yet as i did the tests myself via medichecks. I am due to see my GP this week though so i will show her these results. I have been using a 5000iu vitamin D oral spray for just over a week now so hopefully that will increase my level. I didn't realise that my vitamin D level was low enough to cause such a low calcium level though... is this a common occurance do you know?

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Aly2]

Probably more common than people realise. GP's rarely test calcium

GP should monitor to check it rises and test parathyroid levels

Good app

Calciumpro.com

Same lot make

Vitamin-Dpro.com

[Aly2 in reply to SlowDragon]

So my calcium test via my GP came back fine. This was a blood test as opposed to the urine test i did via medichecks. I told my GP that the urine calcium test came back low but she said that a blood test is much more accurate and to basically ignore the medicheck one. Has anyone had conflicting calcium results from a uring and blood sample and is blood test a more accurate way of testing calcium levels? I discussed checking parathyroid but apparantly they will only do this if the calcium blood test is abnormal which mine is not. She believes i am probably feeling poorly due to low vitamin D (i told her this was low as i had it tested via Medichecks) so she will also test this again. (I have told her i have been supplementing so it may be higher by the time they test it next week) My previous thyroid tests came back normal via medichecks, although i was told on here that TSH and T4 was low (my previous post has my results) told my Gp this but again she said they were in normal ranges but she will test again in a few months. So not really getting anywhere to be honest. Gp doesn't seem to think it is a thyroid issue, and thinks i am feeling unwell due to the demands of having a baby (he is 5 months old) and possibly because of low vitamin D levels. Im not sure what to thinkto be honest. Im glad the Gp is not concerned but also at a loss to why i feel unwell when all tests have come back fine, apart from vitamin D and calcium from medichecks. Hmmm..

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Aly2]

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

Our results indicated that patients with hypothyroidism suffered from hypovitaminosis D with hypocalcaemia that is significantly associated with the degree and severity of the hypothyroidism. That encourages the advisability of vit D supplementation and recommends the screening for Vitamin D deficiency and serum calcium levels for all hypothyroid patients.

[vocalEK in reply to SlowDragon]

"They were diagnosed as hypothyroid patients if TSH level was higher than 5.0 mU/L with lower levels of T3 and T4 than normal value" Any idea what they mean by "normal"? Anything within range? Either one below range? Both must be below range. It would make a difference, I think.

[LAHs]

Two things:

1. Drink a lot of milk and cream and eat cheese. Take a vitamin D supplement and vitamin K-M7. This will cause the calcium to be absorbed (that's the D) and it will be directed to your bones (that's the K-M7).

2. If calcium is showing normal in the blood but low in the urine then you are "loosing" it somewhere. It is important to establish that it is not being precipitated in your kidneys or your veins/arteries.

[Aly2 in reply to LAHs]

Thanks for.your reply. I have been taking a vitamin D supplement as well as MK7 for almost 2 weeks now, since i found out i was low in vitamin D.

Will up my intake on calcium rich foods aswell, as this could probably be better.

GP said my kidney function was fine according to blood test and basically dismissed the urine result, so not sure what else to do. Will obviously continue with supplements and up calcium intake, maybe retest urine in a few weeks/months?

[LAHs in reply to Aly2]

Good ideas. I forgot to add, make sure you drink some water each day as well, kidneys love that. Not lots, that can cause another problem, just make sure you don't push on through dehydration.

[Sybilla14]

My calcium and adjusted calcium came back below range on a couple of tests a few years ago. I was hypo for many years then but not diagnosed till more recently. I didn’t have my d3 tested until after I started supplementing it but my calcium is now in range, I’m pretty convinced my d3 must have been very low at the time my calcium levels were so low.

[Aly2 in reply to Sybilla14]

What is adjusted calcium? All i know is i did a urine test and blood test to check. Only urine came back as low in calcium though. I am low in vitamin D so could be linked. I haven't been diagnosed with a thyroid disorder despite TSH and T4 being low in range. GP has said they are still within normal ranges, however i have read differently on here but its so hard to convince the doctors to look into it further. I will just keep testing every few months to see if it changes significantly i guess

[Sybilla14 in reply to Aly2]

It’s the ‘free’ calcium which is available. The total calcium level does not consider how much of the calcium is free or bound to albumin (a protein). It’s similar to the FT4/FT3 versus T4/T3. If your calcium is low it may be that the albumin is low and so the adjusted calcium is in range. In my case, both measurement were below the ranges so the available calcium was too low.

[Mama196]

Hi, I’m interested in this calcium issue as I’m hypothyroid hashi and TSH is normal now but still getting stiff and weak feeling/ tingly hands with spasms for a few weeks in June but now gone. The GP is suggesting carpal tunnel but did mention calcium deficiency as a cause however didn’t suggest testing- I think I’m being put down as overanxious!

My dentist has also mentioned my teeth have white marks which is a sign of calcium deficiency. My nails are ridged but not particularly brittle and skin is a bit dry but not too bad.

I’m on a very low dairy diet but eat some cheese and drink almond milk which contains calcium apparently. Also im coeliac. I’m taking calcium and D3 but only at half dose due to trying to conceive.

Should I get tested for calcium deficiency do you think? Was thinking of Medichecks too, but if it’s not accurate perhaps shouldn’t bother.

I’m not really willing to accept this thing with my hands for the rest of my life without trying everything.

[Aly2 in reply to Mama196]

Hi,

I used the medichecks calcium urine test but also later had a blood test via my gp. Urine test came back low, but blood test was normal. Asked my Gp why my urine was low and she said basically to ignore it as a blood test is a much more accurate way of testing. Maybe insist on a blood test ftom your GP? If your calcium intake is low and they are aware of this then they should test especially if you are trying to conceive. A baby will take calcium stores from your body so i think its important to check prior to concieving to make sure your not deficiant.