2 issues (calcium and symptoms)

[Guest guest]

Dear all,

I hope and pray that you are fine.

Issue 1:

In responce to my last email, in which I said that my Rhematologist also prescribed Calcium supplement to my sister, Harold said that calium is for general health only. I discussed this with my sister (who suffers from RA and is a doctor herself) and she said that steroids ( i-e Predinose ) causes Osteoporosis thats why doctor prescribe calcium supplements. (usually these supplements also contain Vitamin D)

Earlier my rhemy also said that only food which RA patient should take " daily " is milk (for calcium reasons)

Issue 2:

My sister's RA was diagnosed AFTER about 3 months of pains. The reason was, all doctors are taught in medicine text books that RA pains are ALWAYS symmetric and they start in hands mostly.

In case of my sister, pains started in ONE foot-joint only (it was NOT symmetric). Can other people share their experiences that how their pain started + was it in even no of joints or odd??? if most people have pain in odd joints (i-e pain is assymetric) shouldn't medicine text books tell this thing??

comments?? suggestions??

Prayers,

Hassan

[Guest guest]

I still don't think RA is the reason for calcium supplements. Taking Prednisone is a reason for calcium and Vitamin D supplements, as is general health. I don't know that calcium supplements will hurt anyone, but I don't think they are required for RA.

There are seven criteria from the American College of Rheumatology for diagnosing RA and only one of these is for symmetrical arthritis. Meeting any four will qualify for a diagnosis of RA. http://www.arthritisinsight.com/medical/disease/ra/ra.html I have been symmetric but even without that I would qualify for RA because I meet 5 other criteria. (I meet all criteria except for morning stiffness.) I don't read medical textbooks so I don't know what they say.

Good luck and God bless.

----- Original Message -----

From: Hassan Rahman

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Sent: Thursday, July 10, 2003 11:23 PM

Subject: 2 issues (calcium and symptoms)

Dear all, I hope and pray that you are fine.

Issue 1: In responce to my last email, in which I said that my Rhematologist also prescribed Calcium supplement to my sister, Harold said that calium is for general health only. I discussed this with my sister (who suffers from RA and is a doctor herself) and she said that steroids ( i-e Predinose ) causes Osteoporosis thats why doctor prescribe calcium supplements. (usually these supplements also contain Vitamin D)

Earlier my rhemy also said that only food which RA patient should take "daily" is milk (for calcium reasons)

Issue 2: My sister's RA was diagnosed AFTER about 3 months of pains. The reason was, all doctors are taught in medicine text books that RA pains are ALWAYS symmetric and they start in hands mostly.

In case of my sister, pains started in ONE foot-joint only (it was NOT symmetric). Can other people share their experiences that how their pain started + was it in even no of joints or odd??? if most people have pain in odd joints (i-e pain is assymetric) shouldn't medicine text books tell this thing??

comments?? suggestions??

Prayers,

Hassan

[Guest guest]

I read a book called Arthritis Begone written by B. Irwin M.D., and he says that after you are about 30 or 32 the human body naturally produces less calcium on it's own and especially women should take about 1500mg of calcium a day.