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@squitirogloria
680 mg is the therapeutic dose.
Algaecal makes so many products with varying amounts of strontium that I am not sure what amount you are taking...sorry.
Well, you might ask your integrative doctor how most of the world's ground water and food especially seafood has strontium in it with no problems for most of the world if it is a poison.
There was one report of a huge amount of strontium in ground water in Iraq or Iran ( I think) and the result was very thick bones....the "cure" was to take more calcium. In fact, that is the only caution that my endocrinologist gave me "to be sure to take enough calcium".
Plus, doctors are using strontium laced components in skull surgeries; jaw bone surgeries etc. and the original sensodyne was just strontium in a tooth paste format.
It is rare for doctors to suggest strontium, but I have never know a doctor with a patient whose osteoporosis was "cured" with strontium or whose fractures stopped after beginning strontium that ever told their patient to stop strontium.
We have a woman on Inspire whose husband is a doctor and gave her all the fear mongering about strontium. She told him that she had read the research and was going to try it. She is now in normal bone terrritory and her husband had to "eat" his words.
I think sometimes it helps if you have doctors in your family. Because frankly, you know that you are just as smart as they are. I have multiple medical doctors, phds and a couple of nuclear physicists in my immediate family. I can hold my own and out think most of them on day to day stuff or research. Now 40 years of nuclear physics knowledge is another thing; I bow to their knowledge. Indeed, 40 years of tests for all the conditions surrounding osteoporosis is also another thing and I bow to and use endocrinologists. 40 years of treating with osteoporosis drugs is also a great source of research for you in a doctor.
I am a big believer in testing and a great doctor can do all the tests, and they know which ones are appropriate.
Doctors can provide you with the information, discuss your options and then you with your very good brain can make the best decision for yourself.
In many ways I was lucky that I had such a bad reaction to an osteoporosis drug. It forced me to look and research and try something else. But frankly, there are better osteoporosis drugs now than there were when I was diagnosed and better hormones such as BHRT. We have lots of good options now.
Replies to "@squitirogloria 680 mg is the therapeutic dose. Algaecal makes so many products with varying amounts of..."
@kathleen1314 Thanks for that helpful information!
I may take Strontium Citrate but am hanging back for now. Research done on Strontium Ranelate shows enticing bone improvements.
But research articles say that strontium makes un-adjusted DEXA scans appear to show more calcium than you really have, and hence falsely more bone strength. I am not ready to commit to possible future explaining that to an insurance company if I want them to approve some other OP treatment. Estimates are that strontium stays in your bones for 10-30 years so it is a big decision.
Here is an example technical article that discusses adjustments that should be made to T-Score readings to get estimates of what bone strength really is when one has taken Strontium.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1359/JBMR.050810
Excerpts:
"Without an appreciation of the effect of introducing a high atomic number element into bone on the measurement process, many will take the impressive increases in BMD in strontium-treated patients at face value."
"... much of the strontium present in bone at the end of treatment is likely to still be there a decade later. ... and a final terminal exponential with a half-life of ∼30 years."
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@kathleen1314 As always, you bring a lot of comfort to the field of osteoporosis. Thank you.
Because I haven't had the testing done as yet (I'm caught in a hurry up and wait loop), I am taking half the recommended dose of strontium (680 mg) and 310 mg of calcium (AlgeCal brand).
I want some of those supplements in me, but without the testing, I'm afraid to go up to the therapeutic dose because I've read that if you have plaque in your veins, it could cause a stroke or heart attack. But maybe that isn't true?
I've also included other supplements and foods to get the other nutrients/minerals I need, like D/E/A/K, etc.
I'm sorry you had a bad reaction to a pharmaceutical drug, but I know I've benefited from your experience, so thank you for sharing it here.
I think you're brave to go against conventional wisdom, and I BOW to you for that.
And yes, it would be great to have a doctor in the family—lucky you! Although I wouldn't want to be them when they might have to debate you!
My doctor who just passed was like family to me, and it really does help to have that type of connection to Western Medicine. The connection being, a calm, loving conversation about various ailments and "cures."