Bone Density

grandme · ‎11-08-2011

Hi friends. I recently had a Dexa scan and my doctor said I am headed for osteoporosis. I am going to be 80 in Jan. Had hysterectomy when I was 50. I have not been very active since covid so I blame myself for not exercising etc. I also have lung fibrosis and that slows me down. My doctor said I should start taking calcium 600mg twice a day and vitamin D 2000mg once a day during summer and in winter I should take 4000 mg of D. I think this is so high. I remember reading not good things about taking calcium. I take OFEV twice a day for my lung fibrosis to slow it down and get some side effects from that. Any thoughts? Thanks for listening.

bargainsgirl · ‎01-13-2012

@grandme wrote:
Hi friends. I recently had a Dexa scan and my doctor said I am headed for osteoporosis. I am going to be 80 in Jan. Had hysterectomy when I was 50. I have not been very active since covid so I blame myself for not exercising etc. I also have lung fibrosis and that slows me down. My doctor said I should start taking calcium 600mg twice a day and vitamin D 2000mg once a day during summer and in winter I should take 4000 mg of D. I think this is so high. I remember reading not good things about taking calcium. I take OFEV twice a day for my lung fibrosis to slow it down and get some side effects from that. Any thoughts? Thanks for listening.

I have been taking Vit. D 2000 for 10 years since breast cancer. I am having another tooth implant in October. and my dentist said to double Vit. D to strenthen bone graft and implant. I also have been taking Calcium?Magnesium as well. I am 72. No problems with either.

Icegoddess · ‎03-19-2010

@grandme Make sure you're not getting your units confused, MG is not the same as IU or MCG which is how vitamin D is usually sold.

50,000 IU = 1.25 MG.

5,000 IU = 125 MCG.

Almost all calcium supplements also contain some Vitamin D, unless you get a strictly calcium powder which is what I do. Calcium Citrate aka Citrical is the form best absorbed by the body. But, if you do that, you'll need to add in the Vitamin D which helps with geting the calcium to your bones, not just circulating in your bloodstream.

You also might want to add in K2 which helps with bone mineralization.

nyc1 · ‎03-19-2010

Look into the Vit K2 MK7 supplement. That helps direct the calcium to your BONES and diverts it from going elsewhere. Andrew Lessman, whose vitamins I've been taking for over 33 years, makes a good one. I trust his research and quality. You can go on his website Procaps to learn more. HSN also carries his vitamins.
Take good care of yourself.

Shelbelle · ‎03-09-2010

I am 73, been taking calcium for over 20 years and my bone density remains stable with some osteopenia. . I take calcium, D3, magnesium and K2, you need all 4 daily.

Q-Checker · ‎05-09-2010

@grandme talk to your trusted physician. If you do not trust his competency, find another physician. It is not a good idea to seek medical advice from a website where it is likely that none of the responders spent a day in medical school. They mean well but have no clue about how much they do not know. Their recommmendations may unwittingly be medically contraindicated for you.

wagirl · ‎03-09-2010

I need a dexa scan too, but I was told by my oncologist, cardiologist to take 5,000 units of vit D3 and have since 2012. but then I don't have the issues you have. No side effects from that tho. think I do need some calcium--

ThinkingOutLoud · ‎05-01-2020

@Q-Checker wrote:
@grandme talk to your trusted physician. If you do not trust his competency, find another physician. It is not a good idea to seek medical advice from a website where it is likely that none of the responders spent a day in medical school. They mean well but have no clue about how much they do not know. Their recommmendations may unwittingly be medically contraindicated for you.

You have no idea what we know or what our credentials are. Furthermore, physicians get very little education on nutrition and supplements so they're not always as competent as you make it seem. Using a sounding board and getting reassurance from others doesn't hurt. The poster can take it or leave it.

bellaartiste · ‎04-19-2012

I have been fighting osteopenia for a couple of years now. My numbers are good now.

Besides all the supplements I returned to hand weights. I am now up to 8 pound weights that I work with them almost everyday. Start slow with very light weights. It is the one thing doctors will say over and over again to strengthen bones you need to pick up weights.

Best of luck to you!

ThinkingOutLoud · ‎05-01-2020

The dosage doctors recommend for supplements sometimes only puts a person in the 'ok' range, not even the high range so I don't think 4000 of vitamin D is too much as there are people who take more than that. Also, the price of supplements doesn't always indicate quality so don't think you need to spend more than you're able.