Calcium and Vitamin D for bone density

@parrotqueen Thanks for all the info. You certainly have an extremely complex history. It's no wonder you have had to get very informed about your own health conditions. Years and years ago, when I was in my early 20s, I used to be a claims examiner for Blue Cross. I recall there were many, many claims for drug coverage of Armour Thyroid. At that time it meant nothing to me. Now I am on levothyroxine and that seems to be doing exactly what it needs to do.
When I was taking all of that magnesium I had non-alcoholic cirrhosis and was waiting for a liver transplant. One of the medications I was taking must have been depleting my magnesium I assume. I no longer take any magnesium and my labs, including magnesium, are monitored bi-monthly and that is fine now.
I would like to question my doctor about the D2 vs D3 but I assume he must have a reason. I think I will wait until I see him next month rather than send a message on the portal. I have an endo appointment this month so maybe I will ask that doctor if he knows why my other doctor (whom he knows) would order that.
I will also look into vitamin K. Thanks again.
JK

My husband and I were on a RV trip to Colorado. On the way we home we were at one in New Mexico.. He was in the office and was talking with the owner. He saw that my husband had tremors and they started talking about meds. My husband does t not take anything, but I want him to. He said his mother was real bad with authoritis or osterperosis and she was real humped over and could not stand up straight. He put her on CORAL CALCIUN and CBD and now she is walking better and stands up straight.

I'm very interested in this discussion. I live in a northern clime (Upper Peninsula of Michigan) so the amount of sunlight I get throughout the year is affected by the winter months. I've been in the osteopenia range since my mid-40's despite years of weight bearing exercise including hiking, walking and weight-lifting. My mother had osteoporosis which is a big risk factor. My vitamin D level was tested and found to be very low (this was 8 years ago) so I went on megadoses of Vitamin D and have continued with calcium and Vitamin D supplements. I was diagnosed with osteporosis 8 years ago (in my hip) and finally agreed to go on Fosomax two years ago. My next DEXA scan will be in another year and my PCP and I will decide whether to discontinue the Fosomax (I'm hoping for the best).

I forgot to say that my husband said the man said his mother had better bone density after a short while doing this.

I live in sunny California and I am a gardening fool - I almost spend more time outside than I do inside. My vitamin D level was at 3 when I got tested about a dozen years ago - despite all that sunshine. Researchers claim there is too much particulate in our air and it prevents us from getting the full vitamin D experience we need. I began taking vitamin D3 and got my level up to between 80 and 90 ng/ml, and this has improved my health in so many ways and very dramatically. I have talked to many women who have done a ton of weight-bearing exercise and they all said it did not one thing for their bone density. A close friend who is a doctor and a long-distance runner told me she honestly believes it is worthless where bone density is concerned. As I have said many times here, I think the best thing is to EAT your calcium. If you can't eat enough calcium daily, then you might want to supplement. I take a food-based calcium; there are many brands of food-based calcium on the market, including Garden of Life, Rainbow Light, New Chapter, and more. AlgaeCal currently has been found to have lead in it and also only has 87% of the magnesium they advertise on the label. I also take Vitamin K2 (MK4 and MK7), magnesium, boron, vitamin C, a food-based multivitamin, and I have some collagen from grass-fed cows. You need the K2 to tell the calcium to go to your bones - otherwise it can pile up in your arteries or contribute to kidney stones. I have posted several websites that talk about vitamin K2 - you can do an internet search and find a lot to read about K2. The MK4 and MK7 varieties of K2 are easily absorbed by the human body and do different things - you want a K2 that has both. My DEXA scan was -5.7, so I am trying as hard as I can to get some bone growth. I am taking Human Growth Hormone because I have a deficiency (that's how I got osteoporosis to begin with), and I am also using a low-dose estrogen patch and progesterone.

I will not use drugs like Prolia and Fosamax as I have not found any proof they do any good, and I have found proof that they can cause a great deal of harm. You have to do what you and your doctor think is best for your own body. It might be worth talking to your dentist about Fosamax.

Please do some research into Vitamin K2 - you will likely find some answers there.

I read something about this - but for the life of me, I cannot remember what. I think it was magnesium they recommended for this kind of leg problem. I take 900 mg of gabapentin four times a day (the maximum dose) to keep shingles away and for neuropathy. It is a great drug if you have nerve pain. I also have fibromyalgia very bad - and I think a good muscle relaxer also helps as well as the gabapentin. I also do not consume any sugar - I'm on a very strict no-sugar diet. (Sugar causes inflammation and inflammation causes disease.). I really think going off sugar helped my fibromyalgia.

What bothers me most about fibromyalgia is that many doctors still think it isn't real. It has recently been proven to be very real - as we can attest. I think there will start being some progress made in treatment now that they have established it is real. Don't let anybody dismiss you about it.

@parrotqueen Very impressive I like what you have done to heal yourself yes if you give the body the right stuff it will heal itself. I have studied herbs, homeopathics and essential oils since the 70,s Dr Earl Mandel had the book out herbal Bible I think it was called , now I have the 5th edition from Phyllis Balch I really like this book . She tells you what not to use if your on certain meds, especially Coumadin . I to an on ConsumerLab.com they give you as you said a lot of info about what not to take also . I use all holistic meds herbs homeopathics also .. Glad to know alittle more about your education into holistic health

@janett18 I have had fibromyalgia since the 90,s then still it was all in my head to all Dr,s except my rheumatologist . I went to a group and was told that even by doing isometric exercises will help relax the muscles. I still do this and use a TENS unit for my back this relaxes the muscles. I take 450mg to 600mg of magnesium a day , When I overdue it it is the 600 for a day or two then back to the 450 and My lab work is within normal limits for fibro so that tells me I needed more the what the RDA says.

@kahli I meant that the 450mg is twice a day and within normal limits for me . One of the fibromyalgia groups said they found that more magnesium is needed for us . I may increase it since I still have constipation at times. Not sure yet will have to think about it ,it may just be my age that is the culprit for this . LOL

Lioness - I just looked at my calcium - the one I ordered by mistake. It has 1,000 mg of magnesium and only 500 of calcium! I've been taking that for a couple of months now and didn't pay much attention to it until now. I have not had a problem with diarrhea which is odd as that used to happen if I took even a little extra magnesium. I am having a serious pain issue in my back lately, and the fibromyalgia in my arm has been off the hook. Perhaps that explains why I am tolerating such a high dose.

Did you not say you have to take thyroid medication? I just got my thyroid dose increased and I was surprised to find my ongoing issue with constipation has disappeared with the higher dose. If you have a constant problem with constipation, you might want to get your thyroid checked again. My doctor said my previous dose was adequate, but when I told him how I was feeling, he told me to increase my dose. I was taking a dose of Milk of Magnesia every night to cope (on the advice of my infectious disease doctor). I don't think we have to accept constipation just because we are aging. I refuse.

I have always meant to buy the Herb Bible - you have inspired me to finally hunt it down. Thank you for mentioning it. Sounds like you and I have both been interested in herbs for a very long time. Good to meet you.

Today I decided to start taking the Moringa I bought last year and forgot to take. It has calcium in it and is good for energy (which I need). It worked! I got up and did a bunch of housework today. (I've been sort of bedridden with a lower back issue - had an MRI on Friday. I'm hoping it is NOT a compression fracture.)