Julie R., Gina and anyone else struggling with bone loss/vit D problems long-term

Julie,

I take 3600 mgs of calcium citrate a day and it feels like all I do is take calcium.  How is it possible to take 6,000?  How many separate doses a day is that?  Like 12?  How far apart do you keep your doses?

I'm anxiously awaiting my 18 month lab results.  I pray I don't have the problems you've had.  You are such a trooper. 

~Becky

At my endo's suggestion, I take 1,000 at a time, in the hopes that I'll "snag" 600 mg of it.    I will also split up doses.  So for example, this morning at 5:30, I took 500 with my tea.    I took 1,000 with my breakfast at 8:30, and I'll try to pop another 500 something this morning while teaching.    I'll take another 1,000 at lunch, etc, etc.     I really shoot for 7,000, but usually am happy if I get 6,000 in.    I try to take it every two hours, but if I don't, then I take 1,000 six times a day.     If I get up in the middle of the night, I'll take another 1,000.    With the bone booster complex, that's 6 capsules in one shot!   I'm a champion at swallowing large quantities!  

Hey Jenn,

I have had major osteo issues. Get to an endo who specialized in bone issues and the understanding of WLS malabsorption. I have no been on Forteo for just over a year with slow but steady improvement. Testing showed at the end of the first year a 20% increase in bone mass on the dexascan. Endo Doc was very happy. He said that was excellent results from the Forteo and must be all the calcium and D3 I am taking... although he even thought I was taking a lot. LOL 

He was NOT happy that when I first started to see him as I was not on hormones since I am post surgical menopausal and  the fact that I had been on Prednisone for some length of time freaked him out. So that was changed fast.   Other vits I take include 3000 mg calcium citrate, 1700 mg mag citrate, Vit K, not sure how much, would have to look and boron and 100,000 IU of the D3, plus all the other normal WLS vits that are on Vitalady's schedule for a DS'er....

You can only be on Forteo for 2 years. It is the daily injectible. .. then he said we will change to an IV every 3 or 6 months depending on where the dexascan and labs are at at that point in time. So that will not be until December of this yr. 

Oh my endo is not impressed with Strontium either. I think it was Julie that mentioned that as well. The false positive thing I have heard somewhere before.

Hope that helps some. Good luck. Let me know if you want me too look up all my vit amts.

From what I've read (european studies pt taking 6.8-2.1 gm strontium a day), bone density increases an average of 8-13% in 3 yrs. However, bone density is not bone strength, whi*****reases abt 4-7%, therein lies the false perception of increased bone strength. I'll still take that 4-7% increase! Osteoblast and prevention of osteoclastic activity sounds good to me. I take 680 every day, and try to get a second dose in as well. My endo is aware and supports this.
I am curious abt Vit K2 MK4 vs MK7 . (read yahoo / vitalady osteoporosis group #1382 controversy). Bone elasticity is so important. I am currently looking for a source of dry MK4---anybody know where to get it? The local health food store scratch their heads.
I also take 4,500 Cal citrate, 200K Vit d3 (all fat sol dry formulation at noc with my T3,T4, are compatible per Endo), boron 3mg, Mag citrate 250. with each of 5 calcium doses.
My darn PTH is still over 100, Vit D 43, however my DEXA has shown improvement! Yahoo!

Indoor Tanning is great for Vit D! Look into it