Calcium & Magnesium

I've been a lurker on these boards since before my DS in 2009.  I've had no issues with labs other than a couple of adjustments for vitamin A.  I am currently having issues with my PTH being elevated.  My vitamin D is at the very low end of normal so I've increased my vitamin D.  I take 2500mg of calcium citrate a day along with 500mg of magnesium.(plus my other supplements of course).  I am finding myself with headaches, facial twitches, and bad bone pain.  I decreased calcium supplements and magnesium for one day and didn't have these symptoms.  I increased everything again and I have the same symptoms yet again.  Any information would be appreciated.  Thanks.      

Are you taking a minimum of Vitalady's 50,000 IU dry D3 or something similar? You might also want to add vitamin K2. 

I think I would also experiment and perhaps try Bone-Up by Jarrow. It has a good blend of other minerals to help with absorption and the calcium is various types not just calcium citrate. Here's a link but other companies carry it. http://www.vitacost.com/jarrow-formulas-bone-up-calcium-form ula-360-capsules   

--gina

I'm taking 100,000iu's daily of vita lady's dry D. I take k1 but not k2 so maybe I will add that along with a bone builder. The other thing I experience with the after taking the calcium & mag is a sore throat....lol. I can't be the only one right? Thanks for your input Gina. I'm frustrated by this! I've had perfperfect bone density tests also and my next is August 8th. I'm hoping all is still good.

I'm having some issues with PTH as well. My D and calcium labs came back fine, so I'm wondering about the Bone-Up. Would this be taken in addition to the 2000+ mg of calcium citrate we take per day?

I would take it in addition to 2000 mg of calcium citrate but I asked Huneypie to come take a look at this thread. She's been doing both, I think.

--gina

I take 1,800mg calcium citrate from Vitalady and 2,000mg of Microcrystaline Calcium Hydroxy Appatite Concentrate (a total of 6 batches of calcium, 4 tablets each batch for Vitalady 600mg or MCHC 666mg per batch as we don’t really absorb much over 500mg).  I sometimes use Jarrow Bone Up coz it’s available from the UK and I can get it quickly but I prefer Vitacost’s Bone Booster Complex (it must have the word Complex on the end as their Bone Booster isn’t as good).

Bone Booster Complex has more vitamin K2 in it, 150mcg per 12 tablets whereas Bone Up only has 90mcg per 12 tablets.  Bone Booster Complex is buy one get one half price at the mo – should get commission!! ;-)

Great info! Thanks for sharing!

I am not sure how low your vit d is, but it probably has been low for a while if your PTH is elevated.  Have you looked into getting VitD3 IM injections?  any dr can order a compounded medication.  like oral medical i get injections(frequency and amount) based on my blood work.  when taking ca, make sure you take the correct proportion of mg.  if you are taking 2500 mg of ca citrate you should be taking about 1200 mg of mag (preferably mg glycinate which is the cadillac of mg)  good luck to you

Can you give us a little more info?  What kind of magnesium are you taking and how much at what times of the day?  Also, how many mg of calcium citrate at what times during the day.  In other words, what is your schedule and is it after food?  Have you had an ionized calcium test done?

I take 250mg of mag citrate twice a day with my calcium & vitamin D. I take my calcium 5 times a day...500mg each dose, without food although that does vary from day to day. My headaches this week have been awful. I just don't know what to do.