Okay I need DCUM help on this. Bone density

[Anonymous]

55 y.o. F here. Five years ago, I had a bone density scan, and I was fine.
Last February, in my annual exam, I came up low in calcium and my doctor advised to take some. I did, but was not religious about it.
This year, I was still deficient in calcium, although not as bad. Doc advised me to double up on it, and also wrote me an order for another bone density scan.

Bone scan came back and OMG. In the last five years, there has been a 15.5% decrease in my femur and 12:5 decrease in AP spine. For the femur, fracture risk is "MODERATE."

So, most of you probably know this, but after age 30, you can't get back what you've lost, you can only stop it from getting worse.

We'll do another scan in 18 months. The doctor said you need the interval for the test to be meaningful. Meanwhile, she advised me to do this:

1) Supplement:Calcium: You don't want to either underdo, or overdo it. So try for between 1,000-1,500 mg day.
Vit. D3 2,000IU (50 mcg)

2) Exercise--reset that tracker to minimum 15,000 steps a day. hike. walk. Don't have to do weights if I do the 15,000 steps. Consider Pilates, too.

3) Eat every day: dairy, dark green veggies (one serving is 200-300mg)


So, my next door neighbor said, oh, you need the liquid, with Magnesium Citrate. I thought, shoot, the doctor didn't specify that, am I missing something? So then I was in the pharmacy to get my neighbor's recommended product, and the person helping me grabbed some Strontium pills and said I should take these too. And I'm thinking, crap, am I missing something here?

Which leads me to my question for DCUM:

Since there is no getting lost bone density back, I don't want to screw up here and find out 18 months later that I've lost more. So, am I missing anything? Should I see some specialist (if so, what kind)? Is there some complete formula people like?

Thank you in advance!

[Anonymous]

Good questions! I’ll be following the answers.

[Anonymous]

No idea, but curious to see. Diagnosed with a dairy allergy two years ago and now at 50 my bones are creeky! Never before were they creaky at all. That is not a good sign, right?
For some reason, there is some idea that someone told me that I should not be taking calcium, but rather some kind of magnesium, or some combination and that taking calcium might make it worse for the bones.
So, wouldn't your Dr know this? Better than some foggy idea I got somewhere?

[Anonymous]

I can’t answer your questions, but whenever I see Magnesium Citrate I think colonoscopy prep. Sorry, I realize you are referring to a different type of Magnesium Citrate, but I can’t help it.

[Anonymous]

Did you get the message on not drinking any caramel colored sodas, like diet coke, coke, Dr. Pepper, root beer . . .

[Anonymous]

OP here, no! I didn't get that info! See...feeling like I'm missing stuff...thank you PP

[Anonymous]

You need to see an endocrinologist. I know it’s not intuitive because they are more frequently thought of for diabetes and thyroid, but bone is controlled by hormones (including vitamin D) and they are the experts at that. It is frankly alarming that you got put on calcium supplements (which do not work) and vitamin D wasn’t measured or addressed.

Weight-bearing exercise. And endocrinology.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You need to see an endocrinologist. I know it’s not intuitive because they are more frequently thought of for diabetes and thyroid, but bone is controlled by hormones (including vitamin D) and they are the experts at that. It is frankly alarming that you got put on calcium supplements (which do not work) and vitamin D wasn’t measured or addressed.

Weight-bearing exercise. And endocrinology.

Why do calcium supplements not work?

[Anonymous]

Drinking alcohol can cause bone loss.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I'm not a heavy drinker. Maybe 1/2 glass wine 2x month.
I think it was menopause that did me in.

I'm going to follow up tomorrow about finding a recommendation for the endocrinologist.

I'm usually not so freaked out about stuff but I really need to get this right, so thank you all and please, keep it coming as I've bookmarked this thread and will keep checking back.

[Anonymous]

Endocrinologist for sure. I’m on HRT for my bone density.

[Anonymous]

Your calcium levels are regulated by the parathyroid. You definitely need to see an endocrinologist to find out if your parathyroid is functioning properly.

[Anonymous]

I’m shocked that the doctor prescribed dairy - avoid dairy. It’s an acidic food that at the end of the day, removed calcium stores from your bones. Yes, it has calcium in it but dairy’s acidic composition negated its calcium. One recommendation is your diet. I would look into having a more alkaline diet (ie avoid meats, dairy, etc). Try that for some time and see what works.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m shocked that the doctor prescribed dairy - avoid dairy. It’s an acidic food that at the end of the day, removed calcium stores from your bones. Yes, it has calcium in it but dairy’s acidic composition negated its calcium. One recommendation is your diet. I would look into having a more alkaline diet (ie avoid meats, dairy, etc). Try that for some time and see what works.

Ignore the OP. This person probably sees a chiropractor for leaky gut..


Eat dairy, eat leafy greens.

Take a food based vitamin like New Chapter bone strength or Vitamin Code bone grow. Those both have plant based calcium, D, K2, magnesium. You need all of those together.

Also avoid foods/supplements high in iron when eating or taking a supplement with calcium.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m shocked that the doctor prescribed dairy - avoid dairy. It’s an acidic food that at the end of the day, removed calcium stores from your bones. Yes, it has calcium in it but dairy’s acidic composition negated its calcium. One recommendation is your diet. I would look into having a more alkaline diet (ie avoid meats, dairy, etc). Try that for some time and see what works.

This person is completely off base. Ignore. There is zero science here.

OP, I might also suggest a registered dietitian - but an endocrinologist for an MD is a good start.