Who is managing your bone health, oncologist or endocrinologist?

@californiazebra Another funny story - but somehow logical.............
I had the big calcium carbonate (by the way look up and see how it is made)........but, I put about 3 or 4 saucers on the table and put a calcium carbonate pill in. The fluids I put in the saucers were sparkling wine, coke, water, and coffee.
I waited about 24 hours...............well, it just didn't dissolve. So this clunky stuff just couldn't logically dissolve in your stomach......I told the docs that, but maybe they don't like patients that think. Ha.

@marceen look into vitamin K2. No one ever mentioned it - just the calcium and d3. But apparently taking vitamin K2 works with them to move the calcium into the bones instead of the kidneys and vascular system. Should help prevent atherosclerosis and kidney stones. Best taken with food and in the morning.

Yes, I take potassium and magnesium...........a gummy version since it is halfway dissolved.
I live in Oregon, so Vitamin D is important.............we don't get sun like california.

The big indicator for the osteoclasts and osteoblast levels is the PTH in your blood........this controls the cycle (parathroid). The test has to be evaluated fairly quickly and it is more expensive so regular docs might pass on this. But it was my "self pay" blood test that found out my calcium/pth was off kilter.

Immediately after the Norman clinic removed my "one" bad parathroid (at the norman clinic) my bone loss went back up to osteopenia level. Whereas before, it was going down for 3 years - docs never checked this one tiny gland that controls the calcium distribution/metabolism.....

Walk in lab (on line) has lots of tests.............varied cost and self pay. They use exactly the "same labs as hospitals" use. In oregon we have lab corp and quest. These days, it seems one has to take care of themselves - behind the curtain is usually the cash cow for the docs and medical facilities...........

Also - bla bla. I take thyroid meds (only 50 mg) but the direct to consumer program with ABBVIE saved me tons of money. No docs recommended this either...............

@marceen
Love your home science experiment. I agree that doctors don’t like when you present info that doesn’t fit their standard narrative and they don’t know how to respond. My cardiologist recently told me I was really overthinking everything but then deeper into the conversation agreed the med he was trying to give me would be dangerous for me. I’ve had too many bad experiences to not do my own research. No one has more time to spend on your specific case than you do! Every body is different and we are the premier expert on our own body.

@marceen
Which gummy do you take? I like gummies but artificial sweeteners make me dizzy so I take vitafusion D3.

I take a thyroid med too, levothyroxine, but it has always been dirt cheap. I think my current copay is zero on that one.

@californiazebra
Ha. The small things count - like the pth test in the blood (if it shows the extraction of calcium "from" the bones, there is a problem.
I do a REMS test every year for my bones......it is different from the dexa but no radiation and besides I am not going to take meds (for now anyway. - I am stable)
I was with the Osteostrong group for a year......just a small group that exercised....not in all cities.
And one of the ladies was going to a doctor or naturpath. The way she described it was that the doc yelled at her and said "she" was the one to tell her what blood tests and supplements to take.....well, she is changing doctors....
In oregon we have a teaching hospital and they have a library (OHSU) that is open to the public and actually the librarians will do a specific search for you (even as a basic person). The thing about that is that there are so so many studies that you have to use the right key words.
I took two weekend courses with the National Medical Librarians.........this was one of the smartest groups I have ever been in. (my partner had esphagael cancer - well they never did an endoscopy till it was too late (large providence hospital) . I would give the oncology doc 3 research studies in paper form at every visit (just a quiet hand-off - no conversation) .....at the very end he actually told me that I showed him things he did not know (such a humble thing to do - american docs just strut down the hallways) Bla, Bla...............

@californiazebI
I just order from amazon...........a combo gummy - potassium..."and" magnesium.
I don't mind basic sugar since I am not diabetic.........so I just go with the sugar ones

I do 50mg. of levothyroxine............direct to consumer program. Only 75.00 every three months.....before through a doctor prescription to Safeway, it "was" costing me 350.00 every 3 months (plus the drug insurance)...years.

I mentioned B3 to my endo doc...........he said it wasn't a good idea.

But I do take the vitamatic brand called "thyroid gummies"..........again on amazon. It has a bunch of stuff like a tad of iodine.

@marceen
Good info thanks. I lost my brother to esophageal cancer, no symptoms, dx too late.

My PCP once told me, I always learn something new from you. That’s because I have a lot of rare disorders so I was forced into research. Two years later she told me I belong at UCLA or Mayo because my medical history is too complex and local providers just don’t have the time. Great, thanks. I do have several specialists at UCLA and more at various health systems. It’s a full time job to be my own case manager and attend all the appointments. The whole bone issue is just one slice but an important one I can’t ignore anymore.

@mistymar
What dose do you take? The problem with many supplements is they give such a high dose that the supplement is now a problem.

@californiazebra the recommended dose of vitamin K2 for adults is 100mcg. I am taking extra D3 as recommended by oncologist so taking a little more of the K2 at 150mcg. Currently taking 5000IU of the D3 which is kind of the max recommended.