glowing4
05-17-2007, 08:31 AM
I am in the midst of a horrific bout of kidney stones requiring lithotripsy this past Tuesday and now the painful process of passing the pieces. I have gone from scared to sad to angry and round that whole thing again. But, my anger is causing me to post here as well as my desire to help others. For you see, being a "good girl" I did what the doctors ordered - take more calcium! There is so much they never told me, so much advice I never got, so many issues that were not discussed. I became part of the "in" thing - osteoporosis and was given the pat answers. All of this from well respected doctors I saw. So, let me share what I have learned. I do have mild osteoporosis and I do NOT take it lightly, but I do think the fear and scare is way over the top!
While it is true that calcium does help prevent the forming of stones, that is the dietary calcium NOT the supplements. They are finding and questioning why more and more women are now getting kidney stones! Does that not seem like a major "duh"???? My urologist said - stop the calcium now!
Are you ever told what kind of calcium to take? I wasn't! Well, that is important. Certain calciums are better absorbed by the body than others.
Did anyone tell you that you need to take magnesium with calcium? No one told me! Well magnesium helps your body absorb the calcium so it goes where it is supposed to go, NOT to the kidneys.
Did anyone tell you that while post menopausal women need 1500mgs of calcium per day that that is a combination of dietary and supplements? No one told me? Most say - take 1500mgs of calcium per day. Do you not assume that means in supplement form? I did! Wrong! If you are eating a good diet of things like yogurt, dark green leafy vegetables, some dairy, etc. you are already getting calcium. Factor in that so many companies are now adding calcium to their foods - everything from cereal to orange juice to spaghetti, and well, you are already getting quite a bit. Add too many supplements on top of that and you are way over your daily limit!!!
If you are taking calcium than you should be drinking a glass of orange juice or water with lemon concentrate every day. Did anyone tell you that? Those two juices have been found to make the urine more alkaline thus preventing the formation of stones.
Most of this information I have had to gather on my own - research and in talking with other women. We now have to be our own health advocates. We can not soley rely on the medical community to give us all the information that we need to make the right choices. I am not anti doctor, but I am angry that more care is not given, more information not shared, and I am real tired of being a victim of the new "in" thing to worry about. I have been quoted statistics many times in doctor's offices. Well, I am now a new statistic - women who are getting kidney stones!
I hope this helps a few people avoid what I am going through. My thoughts are with you all.
glowing4
While it is true that calcium does help prevent the forming of stones, that is the dietary calcium NOT the supplements. They are finding and questioning why more and more women are now getting kidney stones! Does that not seem like a major "duh"???? My urologist said - stop the calcium now!
Are you ever told what kind of calcium to take? I wasn't! Well, that is important. Certain calciums are better absorbed by the body than others.
Did anyone tell you that you need to take magnesium with calcium? No one told me! Well magnesium helps your body absorb the calcium so it goes where it is supposed to go, NOT to the kidneys.
Did anyone tell you that while post menopausal women need 1500mgs of calcium per day that that is a combination of dietary and supplements? No one told me? Most say - take 1500mgs of calcium per day. Do you not assume that means in supplement form? I did! Wrong! If you are eating a good diet of things like yogurt, dark green leafy vegetables, some dairy, etc. you are already getting calcium. Factor in that so many companies are now adding calcium to their foods - everything from cereal to orange juice to spaghetti, and well, you are already getting quite a bit. Add too many supplements on top of that and you are way over your daily limit!!!
If you are taking calcium than you should be drinking a glass of orange juice or water with lemon concentrate every day. Did anyone tell you that? Those two juices have been found to make the urine more alkaline thus preventing the formation of stones.
Most of this information I have had to gather on my own - research and in talking with other women. We now have to be our own health advocates. We can not soley rely on the medical community to give us all the information that we need to make the right choices. I am not anti doctor, but I am angry that more care is not given, more information not shared, and I am real tired of being a victim of the new "in" thing to worry about. I have been quoted statistics many times in doctor's offices. Well, I am now a new statistic - women who are getting kidney stones!
I hope this helps a few people avoid what I am going through. My thoughts are with you all.
glowing4
Sponsor
Turquoise
05-17-2007, 08:51 AM
Glowing:
This sounds like my story to the Tee!!! To this day, my urologist will not say the stones were from all the calcium I ingested. I did the same as you with 1500mg plus whatever I had in my diet. Only I took the ones with magnesium and that didn't help either.
You have a right to be angry. The docs (and drug companies) want everyone who is osteopenic or osteoporetic on drugs. They can't even tell us how to take the calcium. What's wrong with this picture.
I had the lithotripsy too. Now I take 2-250mgs of calcium citrate plus mag and the rest dietary calcium. Have your doc measure your vitamin D. I also take 50000units once a week.
Good luck,
Turquoise
This sounds like my story to the Tee!!! To this day, my urologist will not say the stones were from all the calcium I ingested. I did the same as you with 1500mg plus whatever I had in my diet. Only I took the ones with magnesium and that didn't help either.
You have a right to be angry. The docs (and drug companies) want everyone who is osteopenic or osteoporetic on drugs. They can't even tell us how to take the calcium. What's wrong with this picture.
I had the lithotripsy too. Now I take 2-250mgs of calcium citrate plus mag and the rest dietary calcium. Have your doc measure your vitamin D. I also take 50000units once a week.
Good luck,
Turquoise
yef
05-17-2007, 11:15 AM
Oh my goodness. This is EXACTLY my story too! I was just telling my husband last night that I can't believe that I never informed to increase my fluid intake when I was advised to increase my calcium supplements!!
I have no history of kidney problems. Was told to increase my calcium due to the slightest decrease in my DEXA results (slight indication of osteopenia). Had one episode of blood in my urine. My doctor sent me for a scan since my urinalysis / urine cultures were negative. Came back POSITIVE for a 5 mm right mid-pole kidney stone. (This was about 1-1/2 years ago). Told to immediately discontinue calcium supplements and to drink lots of water. To this day, I am thankfully asymptomatic. Thank goodness, I wouldn't even know that I have a stone. We continue to monitor the stone via KUB films and no change. I am holding off on a lithotripsy because that could lead to other complications.
The doctor's say "who knows how long you have had the kidney stone for", but I am positive that it is due to the increase in calcium supplements.
As of January 2007, I was advised that I can restart my calcium supplements (Calcium Citrate), but try to get the calcium thru dietary means. I also am trying a homeopathic remedy that my doctor's are skeptical of (they gold me that although they are doubtful it will help, it would not harm me). I go for my next KUB early June and will let you know if this helped. If it did ... YIPPEE. If it didn't, then I am not sure what I am going to do (continue to monitor it or lithotripsy). I figured since it shouldn't hurt me, why not try this alternative treatment.
I totally agree that patients should be instructed to increase their water consumption, try to get as much calcium thru their diet etc... If I did this, I KNOW I wouldn't be dealing with the kidney stone today.
I have no history of kidney problems. Was told to increase my calcium due to the slightest decrease in my DEXA results (slight indication of osteopenia). Had one episode of blood in my urine. My doctor sent me for a scan since my urinalysis / urine cultures were negative. Came back POSITIVE for a 5 mm right mid-pole kidney stone. (This was about 1-1/2 years ago). Told to immediately discontinue calcium supplements and to drink lots of water. To this day, I am thankfully asymptomatic. Thank goodness, I wouldn't even know that I have a stone. We continue to monitor the stone via KUB films and no change. I am holding off on a lithotripsy because that could lead to other complications.
The doctor's say "who knows how long you have had the kidney stone for", but I am positive that it is due to the increase in calcium supplements.
As of January 2007, I was advised that I can restart my calcium supplements (Calcium Citrate), but try to get the calcium thru dietary means. I also am trying a homeopathic remedy that my doctor's are skeptical of (they gold me that although they are doubtful it will help, it would not harm me). I go for my next KUB early June and will let you know if this helped. If it did ... YIPPEE. If it didn't, then I am not sure what I am going to do (continue to monitor it or lithotripsy). I figured since it shouldn't hurt me, why not try this alternative treatment.
I totally agree that patients should be instructed to increase their water consumption, try to get as much calcium thru their diet etc... If I did this, I KNOW I wouldn't be dealing with the kidney stone today.
yef
05-17-2007, 11:16 AM
Turquoise:
Can you tell me how you tolerated the lithotripsy? My story is posted on the healthboard and I am concerned to do this procedure if I remain asymptomatic. However, I hear horror stories about the pain associated with untreated kidney stones ...
Thanks
Can you tell me how you tolerated the lithotripsy? My story is posted on the healthboard and I am concerned to do this procedure if I remain asymptomatic. However, I hear horror stories about the pain associated with untreated kidney stones ...
Thanks
salster3365
05-17-2007, 11:21 AM
I am in the midst of a horrific bout of kidney stones requiring lithotripsy this past Tuesday and now the painful process of passing the pieces. I have gone from scared to sad to angry and round that whole thing again. But, my anger is causing me to post here as well as my desire to help others. For you see, being a "good girl" I did what the doctors ordered - take more calcium! There is so much they never told me, so much advice I never got, so many issues that were not discussed. I became part of the "in" thing - osteoporosis and was given the pat answers. All of this from well respected doctors I saw. So, let me share what I have learned. I do have mild osteoporosis and I do NOT take it lightly, but I do think the fear and scare is way over the top!
While it is true that calcium does help prevent the forming of stones, that is the dietary calcium NOT the supplements. They are finding and questioning why more and more women are now getting kidney stones! Does that not seem like a major "duh"???? My urologist said - stop the calcium now!
Are you ever told what kind of calcium to take? I wasn't! Well, that is important. Certain calciums are better absorbed by the body than others.
Did anyone tell you that you need to take magnesium with calcium? No one told me! Well magnesium helps your body absorb the calcium so it goes where it is supposed to go, NOT to the kidneys.
Did anyone tell you that while post menopausal women need 1500mgs of calcium per day that that is a combination of dietary and supplements? No one told me? Most say - take 1500mgs of calcium per day. Do you not assume that means in supplement form? I did! Wrong! If you are eating a good diet of things like yogurt, dark green leafy vegetables, some dairy, etc. you are already getting calcium. Factor in that so many companies are now adding calcium to their foods - everything from cereal to orange juice to spaghetti, and well, you are already getting quite a bit. Add too many supplements on top of that and you are way over your daily limit!!!
If you are taking calcium than you should be drinking a glass of orange juice or water with lemon concentrate every day. Did anyone tell you that? Those two juices have been found to make the urine more alkaline thus preventing the formation of stones.
Most of this information I have had to gather on my own - research and in talking with other women. We now have to be our own health advocates. We can not soley rely on the medical community to give us all the information that we need to make the right choices. I am not anti doctor, but I am angry that more care is not given, more information not shared, and I am real tired of being a victim of the new "in" thing to worry about. I have been quoted statistics many times in doctor's offices. Well, I am now a new statistic - women who are getting kidney stones!
I hope this helps a few people avoid what I am going through. My thoughts are with you all.
glowing4
While it is true that calcium does help prevent the forming of stones, that is the dietary calcium NOT the supplements. They are finding and questioning why more and more women are now getting kidney stones! Does that not seem like a major "duh"???? My urologist said - stop the calcium now!
Are you ever told what kind of calcium to take? I wasn't! Well, that is important. Certain calciums are better absorbed by the body than others.
Did anyone tell you that you need to take magnesium with calcium? No one told me! Well magnesium helps your body absorb the calcium so it goes where it is supposed to go, NOT to the kidneys.
Did anyone tell you that while post menopausal women need 1500mgs of calcium per day that that is a combination of dietary and supplements? No one told me? Most say - take 1500mgs of calcium per day. Do you not assume that means in supplement form? I did! Wrong! If you are eating a good diet of things like yogurt, dark green leafy vegetables, some dairy, etc. you are already getting calcium. Factor in that so many companies are now adding calcium to their foods - everything from cereal to orange juice to spaghetti, and well, you are already getting quite a bit. Add too many supplements on top of that and you are way over your daily limit!!!
If you are taking calcium than you should be drinking a glass of orange juice or water with lemon concentrate every day. Did anyone tell you that? Those two juices have been found to make the urine more alkaline thus preventing the formation of stones.
Most of this information I have had to gather on my own - research and in talking with other women. We now have to be our own health advocates. We can not soley rely on the medical community to give us all the information that we need to make the right choices. I am not anti doctor, but I am angry that more care is not given, more information not shared, and I am real tired of being a victim of the new "in" thing to worry about. I have been quoted statistics many times in doctor's offices. Well, I am now a new statistic - women who are getting kidney stones!
I hope this helps a few people avoid what I am going through. My thoughts are with you all.
glowing4
salster3365
05-17-2007, 11:23 AM
Thank you so much for sharing your story. I now take 1500 of calcium citrate (in-vitamims) daily plus food sources -- without OJ or mag. I will now adjust. Does it matter when you drink the OJ? How much mag should be taken with the calcium? Should I be taking a different type of supplement?
Thx...
Thx...
glowing4
05-17-2007, 01:19 PM
This makes me madder and madder as more and more women write in concerning calcium and kidney stones.
Salster - I don't think it really matters when you drink the juice as long as you are. I drink water all day long so I just add a squirt of lemon juice to every glass. As for the magnesium - the equation should be - 500mg of calcium and 250mg of magnesium. Take that with food as the calcium is better absorbed that way.
Yef - I just had the lithotripsy done on Tuesday. It is not as bad as I had feared. The hardest part for me was the drugs as I do not like that spacey feeling which lasted quite awhile, but I was pretty calm. Now I am in the process of passing the pieces which is not fun (some pain involved as they pass into the bladder), but I am handling with pain medication only when needed. Please feel free to ask any questions you would like to about it. I will be more than happy to answer.
Turquoise - would you mind telling me how long it took to pass all the pieces? I had some sand when I first got
home and then passed several small pieces yesterday and one today. It was an 8mm stone so it will probably take awhile. I had pain yesterday when passing them. Did you experience that? Any help would be most appreciated.
Hang in there everyone. We are learning as we go and it
seems like we are learning a lot from eachother. Thank you so much.
glowing4
Salster - I don't think it really matters when you drink the juice as long as you are. I drink water all day long so I just add a squirt of lemon juice to every glass. As for the magnesium - the equation should be - 500mg of calcium and 250mg of magnesium. Take that with food as the calcium is better absorbed that way.
Yef - I just had the lithotripsy done on Tuesday. It is not as bad as I had feared. The hardest part for me was the drugs as I do not like that spacey feeling which lasted quite awhile, but I was pretty calm. Now I am in the process of passing the pieces which is not fun (some pain involved as they pass into the bladder), but I am handling with pain medication only when needed. Please feel free to ask any questions you would like to about it. I will be more than happy to answer.
Turquoise - would you mind telling me how long it took to pass all the pieces? I had some sand when I first got
home and then passed several small pieces yesterday and one today. It was an 8mm stone so it will probably take awhile. I had pain yesterday when passing them. Did you experience that? Any help would be most appreciated.
Hang in there everyone. We are learning as we go and it
seems like we are learning a lot from eachother. Thank you so much.
glowing4
Turquoise
05-17-2007, 04:51 PM
Yef:
I had a large kidney stone in an area of my right kidney that would be difficult to come out on its own. I went in for the lithotripsy which was uneventful. Had very little pain and bleeding. Had to do exercises 3 times a day after drinking a huge glass of water in order to coax all the bits out. About 3 weeks later they actually came out. I didn't have any pain when they did, which I've heard is not the norm. Didn't have to use the pain pills the doc rx'd. I'm thankful. This was 2 years ago and I haven't had any side effects or new stones.
Good luck,
Turquoise
I had a large kidney stone in an area of my right kidney that would be difficult to come out on its own. I went in for the lithotripsy which was uneventful. Had very little pain and bleeding. Had to do exercises 3 times a day after drinking a huge glass of water in order to coax all the bits out. About 3 weeks later they actually came out. I didn't have any pain when they did, which I've heard is not the norm. Didn't have to use the pain pills the doc rx'd. I'm thankful. This was 2 years ago and I haven't had any side effects or new stones.
Good luck,
Turquoise
glowing4
06-13-2007, 12:08 PM
Well, after two months of torture with kidney stones resulting in lithotripsy and then passing all the pieces, I am finally stone free! Just got back from the doctors and all looks good. However, he repeated several times - NO calcium supplements! I really, really feel that women need to examine this issue with their doctors and for themselves. It is not wise, I learned the hard way, to believe all the commercials, the latest "in things", and even our doctors advice without questioning and making sure we understand what is right for OUR bodies - not the norm, but our bodies. I am really beginning to think that all this extra calcium in the form of supplements is not a healthy thing especially when it added to so much of our food now. Thanks to all of you for sharing your stories with me, for being there for me, and for caring. Hopefully we can save other women from what we have been through.
glowing4
glowing4