Osteoporosis & Bone Health

As of yesterday, I am officially kidney stone free. Phew! It has been a grueling, often painful, frightening time. The lithotripsy worked, but it took three weeks past that to pass all the pieces. As I left the urologist's office yesterday he reminded me (as if he needed to!) NO calcium supplements. I am not going to suggest that anyone do anything based on my experience. However, I think it behooves us all to question, to research, and to gain knowledge - not just follow blindly.

I will repeat that while dietary calcium does appear to help not only bones but the prevention of kidney stones, there is growing debate about the supplements. And, remember that osteoporosis is such a money maker right now (so sad, but true - it should be a priority not a way to make money fed by fear) that calcium is being added to everything from spaghetti noodles to orange juice. So, you may very well be getting the calcium you need in your diet. Too much of a good thing is not always the wise choice!! Make sure your doctor understands your diet before folling his/her advice to take 1500mg a day and running to the store, buying it, and taking that amount in supplemental form.
1500mg is your total for the day - NOT the total in supplemental form! Take calcium citrate if you do take calcium - the acidity keeps the kidneys from forming stones. Drink lots of water with a little lemon juice concentrate added to it - that does the same thing. Take magnesium - some think better for your bones anyway! And, be wise!

There are certain foods I can not eat now like dark green leafy vegetables which is a wonderful source of calcium. Being in this mess has put me in another mess - what to eat for this issue, what not to eat for another issue. I hope this information helps others to avoid what I have been through. While not life threatening, it was none the less difficult and painful. What I traded was a fear of brittle bones for kidney stones!!! Balance, balance, balance in ALL things, NOT just in fear or the hot topic of the day! I say that in all sincerity, not minimizing osteoporosis, but certainly angry that instead of it being an important issue of our times, it has become a way to capitalize on women's health for some. Be wary, be smart, protect your bones, but make sure you are protecting the rest of you too!

Dor

Dor, great to hear your update. I'm so glad to hear that you're kidney-stone free! Hope the pain has passed, too. What a learning experience. Both for you and the rest of us also!

"Being in this mess has put me in another mess - what to eat for this issue, what not to eat for another issue." Amen to that! I know exactly how that is. Sometimes you just don't know which way to turn with the food thing. The IBS & osteoporosis issues I have have made me really THINK about what I'm putting into my body. And what chemicals I'm putting ON my body too, i.e. deoderants, lotions, etc. Each of us is different, we have different issues, different needs and we really need to take control of our own health. Doctors, pharmacists, the medical community are all necessary health avenues, but ultimately it is ourselves, our bodies we need to listen to.

I think I'm going to start a log of how much calcium I take in a day. Just to see how much of a supplement I even need, if any. I have really upped my dietary calcium intake since I found I had osteopenia, so I'm really curious if I'm meeting the daily value for it just with diet. And don't forget the vitamin D along with it.

Oh Becky, thank you for the nice response. Please do not feel bad though about telling women to take their calcium. You are certainly not alone with that. I have said it many times myself and have certainly had that said to me by many doctors. It is very difficult to wade oneself through all of the advice, reports, and medical information. Do not so many women believe they are doing the right thing? I sure did! The problems come with what type of calcium to take, what balance between supplements and dietary, the right balance with magnesium and Vitamin D. We are not chemists or medical researchers and so must often go with recommendations. The problem with those is that they are too broad and too broad for even the average person. There is so much that must be taken into consideration - life style, diet, body type, etc. etc. My main concern is that women become educated, so that if the choice is to take calcium supplements that they do it with the right knowledge as to type and not exceeding the dietary limit (that means the combined total of dietary and supplements). Isn't it amazing that something so simple as drinking water with lemon concentrate could very possibly avoid kidney stones when taking calcium. What bothers me is why we are never told that! Now just imagine what that would do for the lemon industry!!!!! Spaghetti would start adding lemon juice!

You do an amazing job on this board and I have learned a lot here. Hopefully we can all learn together and that our experiences will help others.

Dor

Thank you, Dor! I know this board is a learning experience for me, and I appreciate your contributions to that experience more than you can know.

CL for Osteoporosis & Bone Health
Co-CL for Stitcher's Niche