Too much calcium

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.

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.

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.

I really don’t think doctors have a clue about vitamins etc. I have been taking calcium for osteoporosis only to read that it can be dangerous without vitamin D but no doctor has ever mentioned this. Also it seems that we also need vitamin K taken with D. I am totally confused. It seems we have to do our own research. I was refused a DEXA scan after taking Risedronate for 2 years. I have no clue as to the current state of my bones and never have I had any tests for calcium levels. I don’t know where to go with it.

I have had two DEXA scans (due a third in the Autumn) and have confirmed osteopenia.

I've also had a bone profile blood test, which shows that my blood calcium level is normal. As far as I know, there is no test for showing how much calcium is retained by your bones, teeth, etc. A high blood calcium level could show that calcium isn't getting into the bones or it could be for another reason.

It hasn't been recommended that I take any supplement or medicine, apart from the normal dose of Vitamin D, which everybody is recommended to take in the Winter months. I was told that my calcium intake should be adequate, as my diet includes dairy, green leafy veg and sardines.

The reason I'm mentioning this is because I have had the tests and osteopenia confirmed, so not just guesswork. Even so, supplements haven't been recommended. Mind you, I agree with Gran22boys that, in general, GPs and other medical staff seem poorly informed about nutrition, including vitamins. I've been told different things by staff in the same practice and I often think they rely on "old wive's tales". The NHS site isn't very good either, although I find some of the information sheets from trusts and hospitals quite informative. Ignore anything issued by anybody selling anything (supplements, books, private consultations) like the plague.

I’m sure I read that they realised it was the VitD in Adcal that was strengthening bones not the calcium? You should take VitD3 with K but not if you’re on blood thinners.

MayBee70

I’m sure I read that they realised it was the VitD in Adcal that was strengthening bones not the calcium? You should take VitD3 with K but not if you’re on blood thinners.

Calcium and Vitamin D work together; calcium needs Vitamin D to enable it to be absorbed.

The NHS website states that calcium is needed for healthy bones and teeth. However, my dentist said that calcium intake makes no difference to the health of teeth, as this is determined in the womb and afterwards by proper dental hygiene.

The NHS website states that calcium is needed for healthy bones and teeth. However, my dentist said that calcium intake makes no difference to the health of teeth, as this is determined in the womb and afterwards by proper dental hygiene.
This is worrying where two professional bodies give conflicting advice! There doesn’t seem to be any joined-up thinking!

I trust my dentist.

When I said that I'd been advised to take calcium tablets and perhaps they would strengthen my teeth too, she said no, they would not.

My understanding is that the dentist is correct. It's the same with healthy bones, which are determined at a young age and inevitably become less dense with age. No amount of supplementation with calcium will make up for the process, although it is thought supplements will slow it down if there's a deficiency. The general advice is that most people have an adequate calcium intake, if they drink milk and have a diet with dairy, green veg and fish such as sardines, where you eat the bones.

If you have osteopenia or osteoporosis, it's important to do weight-bearing and strength exercises, which can help strengthen the bones and develop muscle, so falls and fractures are less likely. Even chair exercises will help.

The reason people aren't referred for DEXA scans past the late 70s is because osteoporosis is so common. All the scan would do would confirm less dense bones. The important thing is the treatment. Blood tests for calcium are different because they're cheap and don't require expensive equipment. The problem is they don't tell people very much. High blood calcium should be investigated and supplements stopped. If the level remains high, there should be further investigations to find out why calcium is maybe being leached from the bones.

Interesting 👍

I've had cancer and high blood calcium levels can be a sign of secondary cancer. I don't really understand the processes involved, but I know that a high blood calcium level is a red flag. I take hormone blockers to minimise the recurrence of secondary cancer, which unfortunately can affect bone density, which is why I also have DEXA scans. The oncologist told me that calcium supplementation was unnecessary, but I should take a normal dose of Vitamin D (as should most north Europeans in the Winter months). My understanding is that the Vitamin D helps the body to absorb calcium, which in my case is adequate from dietary sources. I have consciously been doing more resistance exercises, so it will be interesting to see from my next DEXA scan whether there's been any effect on my bones.

If you were born from 1941 to the 70s, you can thank National Dried Milk, if you have healthy bones. Even during the war, babies were prioritised and provided with a source of Vitamin D.

twaddle

If you were born from 1941 to the 70s, you can thank National Dried Milk, if you have healthy bones. Even during the war, babies were prioritised and provided with a source of Vitamin D.

I was fed on National Dried as my DM was unable to feed me.

We used to be given cod liver oil and malt and that thick orange juice too.

I forced cod liver oil on my children 😀

I only know of one person with this condition.
My close friend in the US had excessive calcium and was seriously ill .
She was going into heart failure .
She was rushed into hospital and her parathyroids were removed .
It's was a difficult operation and it took longer than the surgeon anticipated .
She took some time to recover from the anaesthesia.
But felt better and recovered very quickly .
The scarring was minimal .

I am recovering from a broken hip. I have osteopaenia and osteoporosis as well as other spinal issues. Whilst in the hospital they tried to persuade me to have a massive dose of calcium and a 100.000 dose of Vitamin D. I refused as I had tried alendronic acid and the side effects were horrendous. I spoke to my GP and he advised me of all the side effects of these superdoses of Vit D and Calcium and suggested I try taking my normal dose of vitamin D with vitamin K, apparently taking them together helps the vitamin D be utilised by the bones and not affecting other parts of the body.

I think that too often we are told this or that will solve our problems without informing us of the detrimental effects. I feel so lucky that my GP is willing to discuss everything in full before prescribing.

I was diagnosed with osteoporosis 7 years ago and put on Adcal. Three years later a GP phoned to say one of her colleagues wanted me to stop taking Adcal and just take vitamin D instead as my calcium level was at the high end of normal. I asked to have my level checked again at my biometric check last month and it was exactly the same level. Touch wood I’ve never had a broken bone and I do weight bearing exercise and take magnesium too.

I took alendronic acid whilst taking steroids for two years when I had Polymyalgia. I was never offered advice or a scan so have no idea if I have osteoporosis.
I take calcium and Vitamin D because I don’t eat anything except greens containing calcium. As a child I lived in countries without cows.

Low vitamin D and was given a shot then tablets, worked fine, but this year I was given VitD with calcium. I was happy with that as my bone density of my upper jaw is very low - but net effect Gall stones (yes there are calcium versions) and severe pain.

Now they want to remove my gall bladder

I was found to have high calcium levels. Calcium was going into my blood stream rather than into my bones. It was only discovered because I had odd pains above my eye. I had an adenoma on my hyperparathyroid gland which had to be operated on and removed. I recovered very quickly but was left with osteoporosis. I now take Vit D, Vit K2 and a little calcium. And I do weights and impact exercises. The osteoporosis seems to have stabilised. I was so grateful to my GP for testing my parathyroid levels.

I had trouble with my shoulder for years. Cortisol injections over the years have kept the pain at bay, however they stopped working last year, which has resulted in lots of pain in my shoulder, arm and numbness in my fingers. An ultra sound scan showed severe tendinitis and bursitis! The pain has had me in tears and wakes me up several times during the night. I seen a consultant today who said that due to the level of pain that he could only recommend keyhole surgery. The success rate is 80% and rehab takes about three months. Has anyone else had this surgery?

Get your parathyroid checked, it’s not to be confused with the thyroid it’s the glands that take care of calcium levels in body. I also had parathyroidecomy and felt so much better after, I had felt unwell for years and it only got diagnosed after I had kidney stones, calcium very high so checked parathyroid . Don’t leave it calcium is very bad for you if too high .

Deryndu

I had trouble with my shoulder for years. Cortisol injections over the years have kept the pain at bay, however they stopped working last year, which has resulted in lots of pain in my shoulder, arm and numbness in my fingers. An ultra sound scan showed severe tendinitis and bursitis! The pain has had me in tears and wakes me up several times during the night. I seen a consultant today who said that due to the level of pain that he could only recommend keyhole surgery. The success rate is 80% and rehab takes about three months. Has anyone else had this surgery?

You would be better to start a new thread.

I was offered inclusion in a research programme for osteoporosis. I was not selected but my bone density was only (I think) 75% so. I started taking calcium capsules., At age 60 I asked GP to prescribe them but he could only prescribe tablets, powders or liquids. The tablets caused severe constipation. Some years later I started getting diarrhoea .A lightbulb moment…I now take a low dose of calcium instead of Imodium.