supplement problems

5000 is a lot. Is your vitamin D level that low? Mine was 27, then I started on 3000 IU a day, and within three months it was over 50.

One thing you can try is to split the dose. Get a smaller pill, say, 2000 IU. Take one in the morning and one at night. D3 absorbs better if taken with food. Don't take it on an empty stomach.

If you take 2000 twice a day, plus a glass of milk, you're already at 4500 for the day. And, if there's a day when you get some sunshine, you can skip a pill.

I gave up calcium supplements. It makes my stomach hurt - doesn’t matter how much water I drink after, eating a snack doesn’t help either. I do take 2000 iu of D. I’d take less but it’s hard to find a lower dose.

I have a rheumatologist at MD Anderson following me for bone issues and he said he’s fine with the calcium I get from food. Locally I have an endocrinologist- not sure she’s happy with my choice, but she doesn’t push calcium. I see her next week.

I eat non-fat Greek yogurt every day, at least once. I microwave some frozen blueberries (it makes them release sweet juice) and then mix in yogurt. I also put lemon juice, vanilla, and a little sugar - it tastes like cheesecake. Or I mix in stuff I’d put in an ice cream cup, a little choc, nuts, etc. they say the body absorbs vitamins from real food better.
My DEXA is pretty stable, although not making great gains- I guess it’s working.

I refuse osteoporosis meds. Calcium citrate doesn't seem to bother me but I take 500mg. and make up rest with diet. Vitamin D and collegan peptides daily. My dexa is also stable but my Dr. scares me. He said if I break a hip I'll be dead within a year. I'm very sensitive to med side effects and am refusing reclast infusions. I'm afraid of drug interactions since I already receive Entyvio infusions for ulcerative colitis. Do you know of any other natural steps to better bone health? I have bad feet but walk 30 minutes a day. Thanks.

Estrogen, estrogen, estrogen. I can’t take it, but I would if I could. From perimenopause on, the loss of estrogen affects our bones.
I believe keeping muscles strong supports bone. Physical therapy research I had read stated jumping from a 14” height will stress bones enough that new bone will develop to strengthen the bone. But those of us with osteoporosis may do more damage by jumping from that height, so I don’t.
Working on balance is really important. I think loss of balance is one of biggest causes of falls leading to a break in the hip.
Your doctors right about broken hips. Typical scenario is, broken hip, bedridden, pneumonia, end of life. I have to say, I can think of worse ways to exit, but we’re too young to go there.

We are following the exact same routine. I had a DEXA scan recently which showed improvement from a year ago with no drugs. I had three different doctors say the exact same words to me…I recommend you take an osteoporosis drug because “you could have a fracture just by sitting down too hard on the toilet.” I found that quite bizarre and wondered if those were the words recommended by the pharmaceutical salesperson in this area.

Thank God I've never had fractures. Wish we could combine Eastern and Western practices but not covered by insurance. Wonder what people do who have poor or no insurance. You're right. Big drug companies making millions. Quality of life or quantity?

Why don't doctors suggest physical therapy for osteoporosis? That could be a game changer for some.

to @pal123
I figure some is better than none. So I spread the calcium pills out. With the added milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, etc. I hope the combination is doing something!

I was very resistant to taking a med for my bones. 15 years ago the ob/GYN kept prescribing alendronate that I never took. I started DEXA scans earlier than some because of my mother & sisters osteoporosis/penia. At that earlier age my bones weren’t so bad.
Fast forward to age 68, and I was at osteoporosis.

What I now realize is the goal at 55 would have been to maintain the bone I had and never get to osteoporosis. That probably would have been a much better idea than where I’m at now.

I don’t expect that I’m going to fall over and break my hip, or fracture while using the toilet … now. But I’m starting to realize that if I maintain as much bone as I can, I’m protecting my 90 year old self.

I think your doctor should not have scared you about what happens after a broken hip. It depends on each individual; how old they are, how their body heals, any other underlying factors, etc. My mother is 90. She broke her hip in October; she is back doing her regular activities. She was walking (with a cane and slowly) after a week. Six months out, she is driving (to church, choir practice, supermarket), and is pretty much back to normal, although I now make sure she walks with a cane. The best thing we can do is to get our bodies stronger! My mother does exercises everyday, she is a positive person; I try to emulate her, especially after my osteoporosis diagnosis. Good luck to you!