Guest guest Posted May 10, 2001 Report Share Posted May 10, 2001 I take over-the-counter calcium pills. I will speak to my doctor about FOSAMAX and about the bone-density exam. It's a good idea to do so. Please keep in mind, though, that bone damage induced by pred only sets in after several years' worth of usage, and that I've been on it for 22 years for a transplant. Therefore, if you haven't been on pred that long, you will want to make sure to double check with your MD to make sure that the drug is or is not warranted for your individual case. In my individual case, it was, but I consulted with my physician first. (Because I've been on the pred so long, my MD is very insistent on bone-density exams, and he even has a bone densitometer in his office because one of his associates treats a lot of elderly people.) Robin s About Transplantation: organ donation and transplantation Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 17, 2001 Report Share Posted July 17, 2001 Ellen, My doctor recommended taking Tums as a calcium supplement, but it didn't work for me because the Tums upset my stomach. How's that for irony? (As my doctor explained it, the Tums neutralized the acid which then cause a rebound effect and even more acid. She said this happens in some people.) However, the Tums might work for you and be a convenient, safe, inexpensive way to get calcium in the form of calcium carbonate, which Tums are. One must be careful about taking potassium in supplements because too much potassium has a bad effect on the heart as does too little potassium. Probably at 90 m.g. of potassium per pill you don't have to worry, but I just thought I would mention it. Getting potassium from food is safer. in Seattle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 19, 2001 Report Share Posted July 19, 2001 , Thanks so much for the tip about tapering off on milk products instead of stopping cold turkey! I think you are so right! After my suddenly milkless day my stomach problems worsened greatly last night and today. Although I was certain that I would go into afib as a result, I am still in sinus. I probably wouldn't have figured out what was wrong without your advice. I've had a couple of glasses of milk today and feel much better tonight. I will taper off gradually over the next week. Your advice reminded me of what my doctor had told me about the potential of Tums for generating stomach acid. She said that although Tums will initially neutralize or eliminate acid, often the rebound effect you mentioned occurs, causing an even greater acid condition than existed before taking Tums. I imagine the calcium in milk could cause a similar effect to that of Tums, and the effect would be even greater because I have been virtually living on dairy products. Thanks again, in Seattle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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