Too much calcium

Have now been started on some little blue tablets for Vit. D. Will go to have a further blood test in a couple of weeks time to see if stopping the Edcal tabs has brought my calcium levels down to safety levels.

I really feel so fortunate that I live in a country and a time where I am given such excellent medical treatment free at the point of need. Today I will be getting my fourth injection to try to deal with the tumour I have (acromegaly). Drug company nurse coming - but will supervise me doing it myself - and I hope, after this will be allowed to administer them without supervision. I get more stressed waiting for the nurse than actually having the injection.

Without doubt these injections are having a good effect but will need to wait a few more months before a further MRI to see if the benign tumour has actually been shrunk.

It was one of the many tests that I have with this which picked up the increased calcium. I am being looked after so very well by the NHS .

I have been having aladronic acid infusions for eight years with two years off in the middle
No doctor nurse or write up that I read ever mentioned anything about possible side effects with jaws. I am now being queried whether my jaw has been weakened by these infusions, it cricks and creaks and sometimes aches ( left side) it can be a rare side effect, a necrotic jaw They haven’t said I have or I haven’t but it seems a possibility!
I have decided to stop the infusions and take my chances
I wasn’t even told I needed to tell my dentist ( I read that on here and did so) any future extractions I will have at the hospital

Unless you spend almost every daylight hour running around outside naked, apparently it's just about impossible to get enough Vit D from sunlight in Northern Europe.
😂😂😂
That would frighten the NDN!!

This is from the NHS site:

"For others, particularly older people over the age of 75, the risk of breaking a bone may be so high that there's no need for them to have a bone density scan before treatment is prescribed.

Interpreting the results of a bone density scan can sometimes be difficult.

For example, it may not be easy to interpret the results of a scan of the spine when someone has a degenerative condition, such as osteoarthritis of the spine (spondylosis).

Sometimes spinal abnormalities or a previous spinal fracture can give a false result.

A bone density scan will not show whether low bone mineral density is caused by too little bone (osteoporosis) or too little calcium in the bone, usually because of a lack of vitamin D (osteomalacia)."

www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/dexa-scan/why-its-done/

As far as I know, 52% is borderline. I think the NHS recommends 50% as the threshold, but most nutritionists seem to think the optimal level is 75%. Unless you spend almost every daylight hour running around outside naked, apparently it's just about impossible to get enough Vit D from sunlight in Northern Europe. I avoid direct sunlight because I've had skin cancer. I don't think a Vit D supplement at the recommended dose will do much harm and, hopefully, will do some good.

Having said that, I do worry a bit when friends tell me they're taking massive doses of such and such a supplement because they've read that it helps with certain conditions. Too much supplementation often just results in expensive urine because it gets flushed away and some overdosing can be dangerous. I believe calcium is one of them. A high blood calcium level could mean that there's not enough in the bones and contribute to cardiovascular disease because there's too much calcium in the blood system.

There are people making a fortune selling supplements to people worried about deficiencies and looking for miracle cures. I wish there were the same kind of scepticism as there is about some prescription drugs such as statins and BP drugs.

Even Vit D - well I do try to ensure that I get into the fresh air most days, and during the summer months, feel that I get more than enough of that Vit. via sunshine, (even when in the shade), direct onto my skin.

Have you had the level of Vit D checked? You might be surprised at the level. I was, and although the GP said 52% was fine, the Consultant I see did not.

I feel that my normal diet includes enough magnesium rich foods. So not looking at taking any sort of extra supplement. As with all these things, too much is as dangerous (of not more so) than too little.

Even Vit D - well I do try to ensure that I get into the fresh air most days, and during the summer months, feel that I get more than enough of that Vit. via sunshine, (even when in the shade), direct onto my skin.

I only took the Calcium tablets under direct orders of the senior partner of the GP practice.

As for a Dexa scan, as I have said two different GP practices in different health authority areas have refused this, both saying that 'at my age, a stress fracture such as I had, can only mean Osteoporisis'.

In light of now being told to stop taking that calcium tablets immediately, I have again asked for a dexa scan and am awaiting reply from GP. They have said that they now wish to continue my Alendronic Acis tablets for a further three years (total of ten years), and I am not really happy about that.

As a matter of interest (you don't have to answer if you don't want to), why do you take calcium supplements if you haven't got osteoporosis?

It does seem that advice isn't very consistent. I do have osteopenia, confirmed by two DEXA scans, but I was told that I didn't need to take calcium supplements - that I'd be wasting my money and they could be harmful. My blood calcium level is right in the middle of what's considered normal. My phosphate, alkaline phosphatase and albumin levels (also part of a bone profile test) are also normal.

I take a low dose of Vitamin D, as recommended by the NHS, but nobody has ever mentioned any other supplements to me.

Franbern the GP really should send you for a DEXA scan.

When I had the unexplained fracture it was assumed by the GP and by me that I must have osteoporosis so she sent me for a DEXA scan.
Although I have lost height, apparently I do not have osteoporosis 🤔 so did not need treatment apart from advice to up my calcium with over the counter tablets, eg Osteocare. I don't really get on with them though so don't often take them.
I'm hoping a good intake of dietary calcium, plus Vit D and magnesium will suffice.

arum

Magnesium is vitally important when one consumes any amount of calcium. We should always be taking Magnesium, no matter what our age. Magnesium is a transporter of over 300 enzymes and other substances in our bodies.

And helps to prevent cramps.

Twaddle
Thank you…. I thought I had. I’m knew to thus, I’ll get there!!!

Magnesium is vitally important when one consumes any amount of calcium. We should always be taking Magnesium, no matter what our age. Magnesium is a transporter of over 300 enzymes and other substances in our bodies.

Thank you all for your very interesting replies. Yes, I meant Osteoporisis, is what my GP's say I must have - although never had a Dexa scan to prove it!!!
I have a lot of calcium in my normal diet, eat lots of salad, love cheese, semi-skimmed milk on cereal each morning, etc. etc.

Since this diagnosis of Acromegaly was confirmed, I am being looked after very well by the NHS. Lots of tests mainly to discover the damage that has been already done by this tumour - and the 4-weekly injections I am now on do seem to be helping this, although has caused me problems with my ostomy.

Will be interesting to see when I get results of next blood tests as to how much this surplus calcium has been caused by the prescribed tablets I had been taking. That will take place in two or three weeks.

High calcium can be an indication of cancer.

I was offered inclusion in a research programme for osteoporosis. I was not selected but my bone density was only (I think) 75% so. I started taking calcium capsules., At age 60 I asked GP to prescribe them but he could only prescribe tablets, powders or liquids. The tablets caused severe constipation. Some years later I started getting diarrhoea .A lightbulb moment…I now take a low dose of calcium instead of Imodium.

Deryndu

I had trouble with my shoulder for years. Cortisol injections over the years have kept the pain at bay, however they stopped working last year, which has resulted in lots of pain in my shoulder, arm and numbness in my fingers. An ultra sound scan showed severe tendinitis and bursitis! The pain has had me in tears and wakes me up several times during the night. I seen a consultant today who said that due to the level of pain that he could only recommend keyhole surgery. The success rate is 80% and rehab takes about three months. Has anyone else had this surgery?

You would be better to start a new thread.

Get your parathyroid checked, it’s not to be confused with the thyroid it’s the glands that take care of calcium levels in body. I also had parathyroidecomy and felt so much better after, I had felt unwell for years and it only got diagnosed after I had kidney stones, calcium very high so checked parathyroid . Don’t leave it calcium is very bad for you if too high .

I had trouble with my shoulder for years. Cortisol injections over the years have kept the pain at bay, however they stopped working last year, which has resulted in lots of pain in my shoulder, arm and numbness in my fingers. An ultra sound scan showed severe tendinitis and bursitis! The pain has had me in tears and wakes me up several times during the night. I seen a consultant today who said that due to the level of pain that he could only recommend keyhole surgery. The success rate is 80% and rehab takes about three months. Has anyone else had this surgery?

I was found to have high calcium levels. Calcium was going into my blood stream rather than into my bones. It was only discovered because I had odd pains above my eye. I had an adenoma on my hyperparathyroid gland which had to be operated on and removed. I recovered very quickly but was left with osteoporosis. I now take Vit D, Vit K2 and a little calcium. And I do weights and impact exercises. The osteoporosis seems to have stabilised. I was so grateful to my GP for testing my parathyroid levels.

Low vitamin D and was given a shot then tablets, worked fine, but this year I was given VitD with calcium. I was happy with that as my bone density of my upper jaw is very low - but net effect Gall stones (yes there are calcium versions) and severe pain.

Now they want to remove my gall bladder

I took alendronic acid whilst taking steroids for two years when I had Polymyalgia. I was never offered advice or a scan so have no idea if I have osteoporosis.
I take calcium and Vitamin D because I don’t eat anything except greens containing calcium. As a child I lived in countries without cows.

I was diagnosed with osteoporosis 7 years ago and put on Adcal. Three years later a GP phoned to say one of her colleagues wanted me to stop taking Adcal and just take vitamin D instead as my calcium level was at the high end of normal. I asked to have my level checked again at my biometric check last month and it was exactly the same level. Touch wood I’ve never had a broken bone and I do weight bearing exercise and take magnesium too.

I am recovering from a broken hip. I have osteopaenia and osteoporosis as well as other spinal issues. Whilst in the hospital they tried to persuade me to have a massive dose of calcium and a 100.000 dose of Vitamin D. I refused as I had tried alendronic acid and the side effects were horrendous. I spoke to my GP and he advised me of all the side effects of these superdoses of Vit D and Calcium and suggested I try taking my normal dose of vitamin D with vitamin K, apparently taking them together helps the vitamin D be utilised by the bones and not affecting other parts of the body.

I think that too often we are told this or that will solve our problems without informing us of the detrimental effects. I feel so lucky that my GP is willing to discuss everything in full before prescribing.

I only know of one person with this condition.
My close friend in the US had excessive calcium and was seriously ill .
She was going into heart failure .
She was rushed into hospital and her parathyroids were removed .
It's was a difficult operation and it took longer than the surgeon anticipated .
She took some time to recover from the anaesthesia.
But felt better and recovered very quickly .
The scarring was minimal .

twaddle

If you were born from 1941 to the 70s, you can thank National Dried Milk, if you have healthy bones. Even during the war, babies were prioritised and provided with a source of Vitamin D.

I was fed on National Dried as my DM was unable to feed me.

We used to be given cod liver oil and malt and that thick orange juice too.

I forced cod liver oil on my children 😀