Replace calcium with vitamin d

[Alex_p]

Hello! Ever since my thyrodectomy, because some of my parathyroids were removed/damaged, I’ve had low PTH which means I need to permanently supplement my calcium. I’ve read about people that take large doses of vitamin D every few months instead of taking calcium daily. My question is: is there someone that has low PTH and has replaced taking calcium with taking vitamin D? If so, how much vitamin D do you take and how often? Just to mention, even though I supplement daily, my calcium is still below the lower limit, but my endo said that’s good because I won’t have calcium deposited where it shouldn’t. But I’m still concerned about my calcium level, which tends to fluctuate to the point where it was at one point above the limit.

[Hedgeree]

Hi Alex_p,

Recently I've been reading around parathyroids as I'm soon to have a partial thyroidectomy. The ENT has said that she will try not to remove them but they could get damaged during surgery.

Did they not prescribe vitamin D for you post surgery?

Are you aware of this organisation? Hope this link works.

parathyroiduk.org/

It may have some useful information for you.

Also when you supplement with vitamin D3 you have to take K2 alongside.

Apologies if you know this already.

Best wishes.

[Alex_p in reply to Hedgeree]

I’m not sure what went wrong during the thyrodectomy or why my paratharoids couldn’t be saved, it was 4 years ago and I didn’t know enough then to even ask my doctor. Thank you for the link, I’ll check it out. I didn’t have vitamin D prescribed but I do take it along with K2.

[Hedgeree in reply to Alex_p]

Hi Alex_p,

I've only been reading around thyroidectomy over the last few weeks.

I was taken by surprise at my last ENT appointment as they've said my nodule is now suspicious and that it has to be removed so I would need a partial thyroidectomy.

At the time the surgeon did discuss parathyroid glands with me and the possibility of them getting damaged and the need for vitamin D.

If I can find where I read it I'll post a link. I believe you should be prescribed a very potent form of vitamin D depending on levels after thyroidectomy but I'll have to find the information.

Take care.

[Brightness14 in reply to Hedgeree]

The most important thing is finding a surgeon for whatever procedure that has lots of experience in that operation. A good surgeon would remove and replace the parathyroids elsewhere in the body. My surgeon was a professor in Poitier France I choose him because of age and experienced. Mine were all carefully removed and replaced and they started working more or less straight away.

[Hedgeree in reply to Brightness14]

Hi Brightness14,

I feel like I trust the surgeon. She is very experienced but also approachable and has answered my questions taking considerable time to do so .

She is fairly young but is also the clinical lead in her specialism at my local NHS hospital. I would rather avoid surgery but I think the speed in the changes of my nodule are quite scary so hence I decided to go ahead.

Best wishes.

[Brightness14]

My vitamin D was very low and it caused a good deal of damage to my body. When my gallbladder was removed it was full of calcium stones, caused mainly by low Vitamin D. My groin is also full of these but it's only when I am walking long distances that they hurt.I make sure my Vitamin D is up to the correct level now.

[Jeppy in reply to Brightness14]

Hi May i ask. Does groin area get very stiff when sitting. I was deficient in vit D when my groin started I knew nothing at that point of time and was only ever offered antidepressents

[Brightness14 in reply to Jeppy]

No it doesn't, it only hurts a bit after a good five mile walk, which these days I never do.I only found out about vitamin D. after my TT when I joined this site. Mine was very low when I had my first test. Back in 2006 when I had my gallbladder removed it was full of only calcium stones which looked like mini rugby balls.

[Jeppy in reply to Brightness14]

Thanks. Just in case, something I didn’t know ofBest wishes

[Cavapoochonowner]

hello there, I had a total thyroidectomy 7 weeks ago.I had symptoms of calcium deficiency straight after my operation and had to take calcium tablets.These were reduced when I came home but I just had my 6 week post operative check last week and I've got to continue on them as my calcium is still low.My parathyroid glands were not removed but she said they could be bruised.They are checking me again 3/10/22.I ran out of the calcichew they gave me in hospital and my doctor wouldn't prescribe without a letter so I bought my own which have calcium , vitamin D and K1.My endo said to take 2 a day(I showed her the packet and dosage).I will follow this post with interest.

[Alex_p in reply to Cavapoochonowner]

From what I’ve read and from my experience, with calcium you also need to take alfacalcidol which is a very potent form of vitamin D and you can’t get it otc. I have been taking it since my thyrodectomy. You should probably talk to your doctor for them to prescribe it.

[Cavapoochonowner in reply to Alex_p]

Thankyou for your reply.They are not certain yet whether my low calcium is a permanent thing or not.I am to see them again in October and having another blood test. I am taking calcium in the meantime.If it turns out to be a permanent thing it's good to know this information so I can ask about it.

[Jeppy in reply to Cavapoochonowner]

Iv read its not just about calcium eg for bones there are many contributing factors i like dr S Myhills joint mix with all in

[humanbean]

Vitamin D increases absorption of calcium from the diet when combined with vitamin K2 and magnesium. You definitely need good levels of vitamin D. I have no idea whether you would need calcium too and you need to experiment to find out.

I would suggest supplementing to increase your vitamin D (if it is low) and then testing your calcium level when your vitamin D is optimal. If your calcium is too high then you should lower your dose of calcium, not vitamin D. But it is your calcium intake you need to get right once your vitamin D is optimal.

You might find this link of interest (it's only an abstract) - it is approaching the topic from the point of view of people with osteoporosis but I still think it applies to everyone else.

Title : Calcium, vitamin D, vitamin K2, and magnesium supplementation and skeletal health

Link : pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/329...

Calcium isn't the only thing people need for good health, and too much without the co-factors ends up in people having weak bones and calcium depositing where you don't want it to be. Think of a stick of chalk and how easy it is to break.

The link above also has a list of similar articles that might be helpful.

[Jeppy in reply to humanbean]

When magnesium is mentioned would you know please which one🤔 as I have a bit of a block re the types of magnesium’s

[humanbean in reply to Jeppy]

I don't know of a specific magnesium which is good for bone health, so I would just go for one which has a good absorption rate.

For many people (including me) that is magnesium citrate. But read these links for more possibilities :

naturalnews.com/046401_magn...

drjockers.com/best-magnesiu...

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

I buy magnesium citrate as a powder and put quarter of a teaspoon in orange juice to make it drinkable (it doesn't taste very nice). I think I could probably double my dose. But if you get diarrhoea then you are most likely taking too much.

If you want to do more research on magnesium and bones, you could user the search function on these websites :

saveourbones.com/

betterbones.com/

.

[Jeppy in reply to humanbean]

Many thanks! Yes. Muscle power too il have a good read. Better bones is great