What to Ask Your Osteoporosis Doctor

Just want to say this.  In 2008, my DEXA scan revealed a -4.14 T score in my hips, a -3.6 in the spine.  My gynecologist attempted to put me on once-a-month Boniva.  I refused because of a life-long problem with gastro issues, including surgery. She sent me to an endocrinologist, who also wanted me on one of the osteo drugs.  I refused and insisted that he run a complete blood panel and vitamin D testing on me. He put me on 50,000 units of Vitamin D weekly for 4 months and checked again. That is all I did differently during the entire year.  My 2009 DEXA showed an increase in BMD.  My T scores in both hips and spine are now -3. Still osteoporosis, but the only change I made was in vitamin D supplementation. Interestingly enough, my original D levels were not that low (37).  The endocrinologist wanted to see them in the high 40s.  The supplementation raised them to 81, after which I was taken off the megadoses.  I only get the 800 units daily contained in my calcium supplements.  My last test revealed D levels of 39.  I suspect that I need to up those levels by daily supplementation. I will follow through with my doctors.  The point I am attempting to make here is that perhaps, with some of us at least, there is no need for osteo drugs with dangerous side effects. Insist that your doctor test for and treat underlying causes.

I'm guessing you were giving you numbers in ngr/ml.  This is typical in the US.  Other countries use nmol/L.  To convert ngr/ml to nmols/L multiply by 2.5.  I have found that most older people need at least 4,000 IU per day of D-3,(cholecalciferol) to get to about 50 ngr/ml (50 to 60 ngr/ml is a good target).  This can be a very individule thing and ususally more is needed if the individual is heavier.  If the individual looses weight after correcting a vitamin D deficiency less supplementation will usually suffice.  One word of caution,  do not increase your calcium/vit D combination in order to get more vitamin D.  Too much calcium can interfere with phospherous uptake which is bad for the bones.  A leading calcium expert recently wrote on this and I concluded from her comments that 800 gr per day of calcium should be plenty.  She also emphasised the need to have adequate vitamin D for calcium uptake. My personal conclusion is that if the vitamin D deficiency is corrected calcium supplementation may not be necessary for most people on a resonable diet.  pwf

You are correct.  I am in the US.  The numbers are in ng.

To all.  I just reread my original post.  Be assured my typing skills are (hopefully) no reflection of my  knowledge of vitamin D .