My aching bones

Im new to these forums and have found so much helpful information.  I wish I had known about this site when I had my RNY over 5 years ago.  I posted this in the regular forum and it was suggested that I post here. I have been very fortunate with my surgery and have never had any problems except for iron deficient anemia a couple years back that was treated successfully with iron that I continue to take today.  But.... I probably haven't been as careful with my nutrition as I could have been (wish there had been more info and support for me when I went into this) so I've probably not taken it as seriously as I now know I should.  Since January I have been trying to get more protein and calcium in as these are two areas that I know I lack in.  I do take sublingual B's. My concern is this and hopefully one of you has had this experience or can give me some thoughts.  I have a dr apt set up with my surgeon in a little over 3 weeks. Approx. the past month or so I started to have pain in my elbow.  I didn't think to much of it because it was more of an irritant than anything and I figured it was due to age.  Then the other joint started having the same pain and then my hands and fingers, sometimes my toes and now my arms and feet.  It isn't excrutiating, but is annoying and it feels like pressure on my hands and arms.  I am now getting worried that I have done some damage with 5 years lack of calcium, protein and vital nutrients.  I also have suffered from alcohol dependency since my surgery (that was really unexpected since I didn't have signs of troubles before....)  but have reduced my alcohol intake and am able to control the issues associated with that. Any suggestions, thoughts or advice would be appreciated. Thanx SB

Believe it or not, I had joint pain (fingers, wrist, shoulders, ankles, knees) and it turned out to be my thyroid.  Even after losing the majority of my weight, I still had an underactive thyroid.  My primary spotted it in my blood work, increased my medication by 25 micrograms and voila!, after six weeks on the increased dosage, my pain dissapeared as fast as it came. Hope you find answers soon.  Hopefully your diagnosis is as simple as mine was, too. Good Luck, Karen

Iron, calcium and vit D are the long term concerns that hit all of us.  While ppl are counting their calcium and D intake in the hundreds, it needs to  be in the thousands.  You didn't say if you are supplementing your protein, but that helps form a foundation for the other nutrients. When you see your doc, have him run a COMPLETE set of labs, that includes D, 25 OH.  Of course, with alcohol in the picture, your B1 or B12 could be at risk, as well.  D has a LOT to do with bone and joint pain.  If you email me privately (at my real email, [email protected]), I can send you a list of the labs you'll need run.  Your surgeon may not be willing to run this entire set,  but hopefully your PCP will. I'm also wondering if your iron is excellent or just "ok". 

I haven't had a complete blood run for a couple of years (yes...I know better!!!) and am determined to make that happen soon.  My surgeon is proactive and will run the blood work...he moved and now I don't live as near to him...hence the delay. I'm still trying to find out how much to take of everything...and KNOW now that I haven't been taking near enough  D, Iron or protein.  I have been careful with my B's since the anemia, but even wonder about those now.  I never get in enough protein daily (not a carnivore by nature) and have started supplementing with shakes.  I haven't read enough yet to know what is best. I will email you later....thanks! Thanks so much for your replies. p.s. - I haven't had my thyroid checked I don't think...although I have gained some weight back to the tune of about 25 lbs.  Guess I'll have them check that too.

I also don't like meat or fish enough to eat much.  And the things that just contain protein, like cheese, beans, peanuts.... it's not complete and so very low in bioavilability.  Waste of pouch space.  Basically, my meat is chocolate and that's just how it's been all these years.  Gimme a sald ANY day over meat.

Just checking, do I understand you get most of your protein from supplements?   I too, do not not eat a lot of meat and drink a lot of supplements.  I also eat some beans and peanuts.  Do I understand that I am not getting much protein from the beans?  I love salads and put beans in them.    Thanks so much for your help

Yes. 180g in supplement.  No idea what I  get in food.  Never counted it.  I'll see if I can cut 'n paste the Bioavailability list here, and you'll see where veggie proteins fall. This is not the number of GRAMS you get, just their rating on the scale. OK, this applies to people who HAVE a stomach, so don't run off and think it applies to us as it is.  Only protein products that SAY they are predigested, are predigested,  Other ones require a stomach for digestion.  The numbers are the BV.  (Biologic value). This is only how easily the body can absorb them, not the protein g in each one.  And as stated before, the last few need to be blended to make a complete protein. whey blended products 100-159 whey    104 egg    100 cow's milk    91 egg white    88 beef    80 fish    79 (83 on another chart) chicken    77 casein    77 soy    74 potato    71 rice    59 wheat    54    beans    49 peanuts    43

The first thing to come to my mind when I read the title to your post was "I wonder what her D vitamin lab # is?".  I was also having bone pain, especially in my legs.  After reading lots of info on OH and other support boards, then researching on the internet I convinced my PCP to run the hydroxy D.  My number was within range of the lab but very low in the range.  I started taking dry Vitamin D everyday and within a 10 days or so the pain "disappeared".  So although in range it was too low for my body, I needed more. Be sure to have your labs run soon and I suggest you track them in a spreadsheet.  Get copies of previous labs also to see the trend.  Many times you'll notice something the doc isn't concerned about because it's in the suggested lab range.  You can catch drops yourself and adjust your supplements to ward off any deficiencies. Good luck! Dana

When you say dry B, do you mean tablet form, like calcium citrate or an equivalent?   That is interesting about the calcium because I did go on fitday and started putting in my daily intake and calcium is the one thing that I keep coming up short in.  I can eat a moderate amount but loves the veggies, greens and beans, more than the meat and dairy and since the surgery icecream, or cereal still make me ill.  I can and love yogurt and cheese, but obviously am not getting enough.  I know there is calcium fortified orange juice, but that sends me reeling sometime too. Can I safely supplement with shakes, multi-vitamins, tablet iron and calcium and be healthy? Good infor to know about the spreadsheets and keeping them from year to year. BTW - I'm only 41 years old...too young to be feeling pain in my bones. Thanks!

The dry D I take I get from www.vitalady.com.  I did find a D water soluable at GNC but not sure if it works the same.  Vitamin D is an fat soluable vitamin so you'll more than likely find it in that form vs. dry form.  Since we malabsorb fat to some degree there is a high chance we won't absorb the Vitamin D probably if not in dry form. One thing I do suggest though is be sure you find out what your labs show your D at before supplementing.  You can take to much D and cause problems for yourself just like not having enough D. Good luck! Dana BTW, I'm 42 years old and agree, I'm too young to feel bone pain.