Vitamin D new regime for taking

[vetiver2]

At 82 I have osteopenia despite taking vitamin D for many years.  I question Rx for new regime concerning calcium/vitamin D.  It is:  5000 Calc. daily, 10,000 vit D weekly and another med weekly to ensure proper use of vit.D.

QUESTION:  Could my failure to make use of the vitamin D I was taking daily* be caused by the fact that I seem to have no thirst mechanism and do not normally drink more than 1 coffee and 1 tea daily?  


*400D, centrum 600, halibut liver oil 400.  idm

[vetiver2]

I am so impressed by your in-depth response to my question and the time and trouble you have gone to! There is much for me to take note of and to act on.  I am truly appreciative.  Having now had time to go over it in depth I hasten to make my initial response.

In addition to my sincere thanks,I send you "season's greetings" and add my energy to YOUR quest for health and wellness.

Both my new GP ( the former one retired) and my endocrinologist have little time for an in-depth consultation.  The diagnosis did not come about as a result of my regular blood tests which both of them requested (and which apparently continue to be excellent by the way).  It seems to have surfaced because I more recently insisted on having hand MRI's prior to carpel tunnel surgeries.  The reports are quite alarming.  My endocrinologist (who said I seemed "sorry for" myself) Rx'd the MRI's at my request and I do have an extra 6-month appointment with him in April.

As you have realized, I am searching to educate myself all around.  This medhelp sponsorship is truly valuable.  Your response concerning my Vit.D absorption confirms to me that I was not wrong to hesitate the new regime.  How would I react to 10,000 all at once if I do not absorb 1400 in a day?
Am desperately trying to drink more water to speed the process perhaps but my body is not requesting it!

Over the years I have injured both hands equally with repeated ski-ing falls (where thumbs wrenched backwards), heavy gardening/landscaping/lifting, frequent word processing, etc.  Two years ago I had ruined trigger finger surgery (3 months before) by lifting a heavy box of books (tenosynovitis?) and was mistakenly thought to have gout.  Because the skin continued to be so super-sensitive, I EVENTUALLY CAME ACROSS VOLTAREN OVER THE COUNTER BUT MIS-USED (over-used) IT BECAUSE THE WARNING DIRECTIONS ARE NOT ADEQUATE.  The result was severe burning sensations at and under the surface where I had the surgery.  Since last May I am down for "urgent" carpel tunnel surgery on both hands, was in OT (at Mtl.Gen'l.), discontinued VOLTAREN, have been wearing hand splints overnight and to drive.  I am working with an excellent osteopath to attempt to get my hands more functional before carpel tunnel surgery.

I has occurred to me the MRIs may have shown erosive arthritis, etc.  at the knuckles because of the above. I have had "no cartilage" at my thumb joints since 2006, according to the plastic surgeon who wanted (but was not allowed) to replace my thumb joints!  Since I cannot get access to the examining MRI person, I intend to put in some hard work "translating" his technical language.

[ggreg]

Vetiver,
Well, I can tell you that your new prescription for calcium and Vit D is TEN TIMES what you would normally get from your regular vitamin-mineral supplement, which this higher amount is what is needed to prevent your ostopenia from becoming full-blown and potentially dangerous osteoporosis.  Now, there IS a chance your digestive tract is not absorbing nutrients properly in general, which your regular doc doing some bloodwork can see what your OTHER vit and min numbers are.  If all your other vits and mins are doing okay, then you ARE absorbing your nutrients well, so it's not a question of malabsorption.  If they come up very low, tho, he will refer you to a gastroenterologist to investigate how come you are not absorbing properly.

Now, some people have risks for osteoporosis, too.  Like me, my grandmother had it, and also in recent years I have been disabled by a car accident and so I have not been able to exercise as I should, and also I am a small-framed white female.  Those are the risks.  In addition, I had cancer and some of my treatments included things that might affect my bone density, and also I am in my 60s, so I am bound to experience some bone loss no matter what I do just by the process of aging, altho you got the lead on me for that issue!

So anyway, could be that even tho you've been taking your vit and mins faithfully, which include the normal amts calcium and Vit D, and could be you ARE absorbing properly, that you nevertheless have one (aging) or more of the other risk factors affecting your bone density.  So, the reason you are being given the high doses of bone building vits and mins is because you have the precursor to osteoporosis and also studies show major supplementation will help add some strength to the bones, to where you have less risk of getting osteoporosis and thus will avoid likelihood of fractures, fractures from just doing something simple like picking up a grandchild.

I am also facing a similar problem, where my followup visits with my cancer doc has included a discussion about my needing these same extra vits and mins, the same ten times as you, the ten times as much as is required in regular people.  But I am hesitant because I have read in the past that there are some schools of thought that say increasing calcium and Vit D is just putting a layer of bony protection on the outside of the bone, and therefore there is still a risk of fracture.  But keep in mind, please, that is just something I AM only thinking about.  My doctor will have the last say, and I will do as he says.  SIGH.  And I almost didn't mention it to you, because I always say people who come here MUST do what their doc says, unless it will harm them somehow.

See, the worst thing about my situation is I drank milk like a crazy person ALL MY LIFE and still do, and I was very fit and active up until about ten years ago, when my bad back disabled me, it was fractured in three places in the thoracic spine (not from osteoporosis), and yet now I am looking at, JUST LIKE YOU, having evidence on a bone density scan that says I have osteopenia in my lower back, not even the site of my car wreck fractures, however it HAS been hurting for several years now.  I just assumed it was my old injury getting worse and telegraphing lower into my spine.  So, next time I see my cancer doc in two months, I will have a few questions I want him to clear up, and you could do the same with your doc.

But I hope at least I have provided some information that will help you see how come your doc has good reason to want you to take the extra supplementation, despite your efforts to avoid this situation.
GG