Osteopenia Help Please!

I got my Bone Scan results back today.  Osteopenia, Lumbar -2.6, Left Femerol Neck -1.9 and Right Femeral Neck -1.2

I take 2000 mg of calcium citrate spread out over 4, if I take more than that even bumping up the Magnesium it causes constipation which I cannot have with the Diver that I have.  I also take K1 & K2 & Boron.  Apparently, my body is not getting any calcium in. 

I think I am going to try the Bone Up. 

Anyone have any other suggestions? 

The Dr is referring me to a different Dr and wants to use some pills or monthly injections.  This is one thing I know nothing about.

Sheesh!  What else?

I was taking Fosamax and it stopped the bone loss but I really don't like the stuff I read about it. There's a new injectable, NOT Reclast, that's supposed to be very good. FORTEO is the name. Ginger K on our Facebook group had very good results using it.

--gina

I also have osteopenia as of my last bone scan, and I have uppped my cal-mag intake.  I was also vitamin D deficient in my last labs, so I started takiing 50,000 IU daily.  There is also a supplement called Strontium that may help.  I haven't tried it yet, but I'm looking into it. 

Right now I'm taking 3000 mg Calcium Citrate with 3000 mg Magnesium daily (1:1 ratio), in an effort to get my calcium numbers up.  I switched to capsules, as I tend to have fairly rapid transit, and there's not enough time for the pills, even if I cut them, to dissolve.

Bio-Tech is a good source online, as is Lucky Vitamin, for everythng but the D.  I go to eBay for that.  Vitalady sells bariatric supplement regimens according to the type of surgery. She also has a package for those who have deficiencies going on.

Unfortunately, I had a Reclast Infusion before I read Ginger's post that it was not good for us.  I will alert my hemo to the Forteo.

Regarding the rapid transit - have you tried a liquid calcium citrate to see if it deals with that?

I often take liquid Buried Treasure calcium plus cal citrate in part because it has a bunch of co-factors that help with calcium absorption, but I figure that the calcium already being in a liquid form means it's ready to absorb the second it hits my stomach - no waiting for a capsule or caplet to dissolve. 

Why is Recast no good?

A.C.-

My doctor raised the issue about non-absorption of calcium, too. I wonder if that's the case?  I guess I'll know when my new labs come back!

The majority of calcium we consume is absorbed in the small intestine, specifically the duodendum. Since our duodendum is shortened, calcium is something that we DSers struggle to maintain.

I dont know if a liquid version will hel*****t, but calcium doesn't get absorbed in the stomach. Capsules should be easily broken down by the time the calcium passes thru to the duodendum. There has been discussion about the coating on some vitamins, including some calcium tablets, that may not break down quickly enough in the stomach to be fully absorbed in the small intestine. Most suggest using a pill cutter to help with the breakdown. I bite my tablets in half, but I have mostly switched to capsules.

I have done a lot of research on past threads about calcium. I stopped taking calcium citrate and take Bone Booster Complex, which I get from Vitacost. The form of calcium is MCHA. One poster actually had bone density improvement after switching to this form. I have seen others who have had good results of their bone scans who take MCHA.

Search "DS & bonescans" or"DS and calcium" and make a list of what people are taking and what results they have had. There is a ton of info here and on the other boards.

I might add that, when I'm good, I supplement my calcium with calcium citrate chews or lozenges. That was a suggestion I found while searching and it made pretty good sense to me.

I would encourage everyone to really be aware of any postings on calcium and to keep a record of what you have learned. There are no studies that have an answer for us. We have to rely on our vets to experience the bad test results and then try and back pedal to try and find a solution. It is not something that easily pops up in a blood test. We really need to be as proactive about this as we can.

I'll get off my soap box now! This is an area that causes me concern and there are no answers. Good luck!

Vitacost's Bone Booster Complex (it must have the word Complex on the end as they're Bone Booster isn't the correct one) is better for us than Jarrow Bone Up.

BBC has 75mg vitamin K2 MK7 per 1000mg calcium (or 6 tablets) and Magnesium Citrate, Bone Up only has 45mg vitamin K2 MK7 per 1000mg calcium (or 6 tablets) and Magnesium Oxide (not so good for us).

BBC is also cheaper than Bone Up and Vitacost often have deals on BBC (buy one get one half price).

I'm only contemplating Bone Up because it's more widely available (ie I can get it from UK suppliers, whereas BBC is a Vitacost own brand product).