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Too much calcium

(4 Posts)
Franbern Mon 20-Apr-26 09:19:52

Back in 2019, I tripped over something (moving backwards), and sat down on a hard floor rather heavily. Knew immediately I hurt my back, but thought it was soft tissue damage.

Bad period followed - unable to move at all and in bad pain, got my GP to send me some strong pain killers - upshot that it was a month before an MRI showed I had actually had a stress fracture in my spine.

My GP's practice went into overdrive when this result reached them, upped my ADCAL intake from one to two a day and put me on Alendronic Acid. When I asked for a Dexa scan was told 'No need - a stress fracture in a woman of my age (79 yrs then), could only mean osteoarthritus.

When I moved, I again asked for a Dexa scan and had it refused again - and remained on this high dose of calcium daily.

With my recent diagnosis of Acromegaly, I am having so many different types of tests (blood, MRI's, ECT's, et.etc) as they try to determine that damage I have suffered from the fact that this condition has been diagnosed so late. I am being very well looked after by NHS.

At my appt with Endocrinologist last week and I was told that my Calcium levels were TOO HIGH!!!! was told to stop taking Edcal at all immediately (Consultant will arrange with GP for me to be given just Vit D tabs now). Further check on this in two or three weeks time.

I had not known that too much calcium can also be dangerous - hope just stopping these tabs will sort this out for me, as I do like my yoghurts and hard cheese is one of my secret food pleasures.

Anyone else out there been told that their calcium levels are too high???

NotAGran55 Mon 20-Apr-26 10:09:19

Too much calcium in the blood can be a symptom of hyperparathyroidism and usually requires an operation.

Whatever the cause it needs careful monitoring as it can have serious consequences.

twaddle Mon 20-Apr-26 10:36:57

NotAGran55

Too much calcium in the blood can be a symptom of hyperparathyroidism and usually requires an operation.

Whatever the cause it needs careful monitoring as it can have serious consequences.

Franbern has been taking a supplement containing calcium. Hopefully, once that's stopped her level will be normal.

PS. I think Franbern means osteoporosis rather than osteoarthritis.

Allira Mon 20-Apr-26 11:17:41

Yes, I've heard of this, Franbern.
It can cause many problems, some serious.

Last year I had an unexplained fracture and I was sent for a Dexa scan. Apparently I do not have osteoporosis but was advised to take over-the-counter calcium tablets.
I did ask about the risk of high calcium levels but was advised by a nurse this would be no problem from these tablets.

However, as my Vitamin D levels were only 50%, which the GP said was absolutely fine 🤔 I take cod liver oil tablets and now it is about 90%. I eat cheese, yogurt, greens etc.

No-one ever suggested I should take Adcal or Alendronic Acid and I don't think they are normally recommended without a diagnosis of osteoporosis.