Osteoporosis, Labs & Vitamin Experts

oops typo
for every 500 calcium we need 250 magnesium - best magnesium citrate. But as good as you can get.
The vit D 60-100 is the blood level test - your s at 36 - is barely normal.
for easy use - i get the 50,000 IU dry D3, and take that 2 times a week. But my levels are 80-100..
Mine was low so I took 50,000 IU dry - 4-6 times a week day for 3 months. That was too much.

Even now - for normal person (not RNY) they recommend 10,000 IU daily. (and not less than 5000 per day) But if you take 10,000 daily - retest to make sure it is not too much and it is enough.

I can send you the info re Vit K I take.   I noticed bruising - when I forget to take my K... And study shows we need vit K to prevent bruising (broken capillaries) but we need much more to help with bone formation.


this is what I get :

http://www.vitacost.com/Vitacost-Calcium-Citrate-with-Vitami n-D3-Magnesium
 
and capsules for Calcium with mag and vit D:
http://www.vitaminshoppe.com/store/en/browse/sku_detail.jsp? id=VS-1123

and I also get Vit K (but you need to be careful if you have too much clothing problem - I do not - just the opposite)

http://www.vitacost.com/Vitacost-Ultra-Vitamin-K-with-Advanc ed-K2-Complex

Vit D# - dry - I get at amazon: (great price and free shipping if your total order is more than $25)
http://www.amazon.com/Bio-Tech-D3-50-000-100-Caps/dp/B000A0F 2B2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1331222667&sr=8-1

I do get my multi in CVS ( Spectravite brand - Senior or regulart multi - but I use the chewable - easy on my pouch) They are Centrum Equivalent and I buy them when they are on sale for BOGO. The multi - even chewable - cost me no more than $4-$5  per month. And they taste good, don't get stuck, can take them with no water.    So then I have more money in the budget for other vitamins and minerals - and probotics. (the good bacteria)
 

Thank you so much.  My husband and I are about to leave and buy vitamin D.  The kind we were taking was 400 IU...not nearly enough.

When you say your D is on the low end, what does that mean?  If it's below 80, you're at increased risk for osteoporosis, according to the Linus Pauling Institute.  So I'm guessing you need to take some D3 in order to start absorbing that calcium you're going to be taking.

As far as the calcium level in your blood tests, that does not really tell us if we are getting enough calcium.  What happens if we don't take in enough calcium is that we leach it out of our bones to keep the level in our blood good.  That's because if the level of calcium in our blood drops too low, our heart cannot beat properly and we die.

My vitamin D was 36, and the range on the lab sheet for "normal" was 30 - 80.  That was the first number my GYN asked about.  All I could remember was that it was at the low end.   I clearly have an issue.  I'm disappointed in and now I realize I (we) have to make sure our levels are what they should be.  I've relied on the clinic to let me know if there was an issue.

What many people don't realize (and I didn't until recently when someone that works in a lab explained it to me) is that the reference range on the lab sheet is NOT the range in which your level should be in order to have good health.  That range is an average of what a bunch of people tested at when the lab tested their equipment.  So if the test subjects were low on vitamin D, the reference range will be lower than necessary for good health.  I don't know why they do that, why they don't list the range you should be in for good health, and I think they should clearly explain on the lab sheet what that range is because of course people assume it's the range their levels should be in.

Unfortunately no one told you that we are supposed to get DEXA scans at one year out and then yearly after that because post op, we are at high risk for osteopenia and then osteoporosis.  it is imperative for you at this point to get your vitamin D way up, being at the bottom isnt' an option any more, that is part of the cause of osteoporosis and you also need to make sure you are getting in 2000mg of calcium per day.  If you said your vitamin D is at the bottom end of normal, you need to be taking atleast 50,000 units 2 times per week and you may need more but start there and then get it tested in 2 months because you dont want it to go too high

As far as the Boniva goes - the problem with the pills, they can put you at risk for ulcers just like NSAIDS.  You really should go see an Endocrinolgist - they specialize in calcium disorders and also treat Osteoporosis.  They can get your on IV Reclast or there is also another new one which I dont know the name of - they are once per year IV's - the reclast takes 20 minutes and you are done until the next year.  It is supposed to work great.  You can only take it for 5 years but you want to take it  before the damage gets too bad.  I am at the beginnings of osteopenia and they said it is too soon to start.

Thank you....I have a great Endocrinologist.  Do I take the 50,000 all in one day twice per week, or can I start supplementing my D making sure I get the total for the week?  I also did not know that about Boniva.

First off, it has to be dry D3 - so you can't just buy any vitamin D - you want to make sure it is good stuff.  YOu can get the best stuff at vitalady.com it comes in 2 strenghts - 5,000 or 50,000 units - the 50,000 unit capsule, you take one 2 times per week, the 5,000 unit capsule you would take 3 of them daily, so it is much more cost effective to take 1 of the 50,000 unit ones 2 times per week.  It is going to take a week or so to get your order, so in the meantime you can go to a vitamin shoppe and get some Dry D3 - 5,000 units - I think walgreens last time I was there had 10,000 units - just make sure they are either  a capsule or tablet not a gelcap - capsules are the best.  You want a total of 100,000 for the week.

As far as the boniva - all the osteoporosis pills are same - you have to take them first thing in the morning 30 minutes before any other pills and you have to stay upright - you cant lay back down because the pill can cause damage to the esoghagus.  They have caused ulcers and erosions in the esophagus and also in the stomachs and with our tiny pouches - it puts us at higher risks.  The IV reclast is a much better option - I believe there is also a type that is an injection but I am not sure - I think that is new.  talk to your endocrinologist - I am surprised she didn't have you go for a DEXA sooner.  Mine has one in her office and is now having me do them yearly - make sure now that you are diagnosed - you must go yearly

Thanks...I have to stop this before it progresses....

why are your posts always blacked out?  I have finally figured out how to read them by highlighting them but it took me awhile - I have never seen this before