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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by greenwillow on October 31, 2004, at 16:29:40
Has anyone here had intramuscular calcium injections? I used to get them about 20 years ago when my kids were babies and I was nursing and totally worn out, and I feel like they would be helpful again, as it has been determined that I have calcium malabsorption. I now live in a different part of the country and so far the doctors I have talked to do not do that. I remember the old doctor used to combine two things, perhaps it was calcium and magnesium, not certain, but I need to try to figure that out. Once he gave me an injection of straight calcium, and it was not nearly as helpful. One time another doctor gave me calcium-magnesium intervenously, and I ended up with kidney stones soon after. Just wondering if other people have had the intramuscular injection, what the components were, and how you responded. Thanks.
Posted by Larry Hoover on October 31, 2004, at 16:47:28
In reply to intramuscular calcium injections, posted by greenwillow on October 31, 2004, at 16:29:40
> Has anyone here had intramuscular calcium injections? I used to get them about 20 years ago when my kids were babies and I was nursing and totally worn out, and I feel like they would be helpful again, as it has been determined that I have calcium malabsorption. I now live in a different part of the country and so far the doctors I have talked to do not do that. I remember the old doctor used to combine two things, perhaps it was calcium and magnesium, not certain, but I need to try to figure that out. Once he gave me an injection of straight calcium, and it was not nearly as helpful. One time another doctor gave me calcium-magnesium intervenously, and I ended up with kidney stones soon after. Just wondering if other people have had the intramuscular injection, what the components were, and how you responded. Thanks.
How is it that you know you have calcium malabsorption? Did you have your parathyroid hormone and calciferol and 25[OH]D3 levels checked?
Lar
Posted by greenwillow on November 1, 2004, at 22:07:17
In reply to Re: intramuscular calcium injections » greenwillow, posted by Larry Hoover on October 31, 2004, at 16:47:28
>
> How is it that you know you have calcium malabsorption? Did you have your parathyroid hormone and calciferol and 25[OH]D3 levels checked?
>
> Lar
>
>I have high urinary excression of calcium, secondary hyperparathyroidism, osteoporosis for no apparent reason, muscle pain and weakness, kidney stones, and occassionally the calcium serum level goes low. My endocrinologist calls it calcium malabsorption. My vit. D (25) level is ok. But I am unfamiliar with the calciferol test that you mention. What is that? Is the other one you mentioned the Vit. D measure? Thanks.
Posted by Larry Hoover on November 2, 2004, at 12:26:11
In reply to Re: intramuscular calcium injections » Larry Hoover, posted by greenwillow on November 1, 2004, at 22:07:17
> I have high urinary excression of calcium, secondary hyperparathyroidism, osteoporosis for no apparent reason,
The osteoporosis is because of the hyperparathyroidism and high urinary excretion. I think you don't have a full picture of what's going on, or what might be going on. What is your kidney function like, for example?
I think this article is not too technical.
http://www.emedicine.com/radio/topic356.htm
> muscle pain and weakness, kidney stones, and occassionally the calcium serum level goes low.
Disturbed serum calcium causes muscle pain, and increased excretion causes kidney stones. With those factors, your bones must be taking a beating.
> My endocrinologist calls it calcium malabsorption. My vit. D (25) level is ok. But I am unfamiliar with the calciferol test that you mention. What is that? Is the other one you mentioned the Vit. D measure? Thanks.
Actually, if you get into the vitamin D thread, just below this one, there is a whole lot of explanatory information.
I don't understand why the intervention being considered by your doctor is not directed at the parathyroid gland, or the kidneys. You may simply be having a bad reaction to birth control pills or hormone replacement.
I'm no doctor, but I can't make sense of your situation from what you've told me so far.
Lar
Posted by greenwillow on November 2, 2004, at 20:53:29
In reply to Re: intramuscular calcium injections » greenwillow, posted by Larry Hoover on November 2, 2004, at 12:26:11
> > I have high urinary excression of calcium, secondary hyperparathyroidism, osteoporosis for no apparent reason,
>
> The osteoporosis is because of the hyperparathyroidism and high urinary excretion. I think you don't have a full picture of what's going on, or what might be going on. What is your kidney function like, for example?
>
> I think this article is not too technical.
>
> http://www.emedicine.com/radio/topic356.htm
>
> > muscle pain and weakness, kidney stones, and occassionally the calcium serum level goes low.
>
> Disturbed serum calcium causes muscle pain, and increased excretion causes kidney stones. With those factors, your bones must be taking a beating.
>
> > My endocrinologist calls it calcium malabsorption. My vit. D (25) level is ok. But I am unfamiliar with the calciferol test that you mention. What is that? Is the other one you mentioned the Vit. D measure? Thanks.
>
> Actually, if you get into the vitamin D thread, just below this one, there is a whole lot of explanatory information.
>
> I don't understand why the intervention being considered by your doctor is not directed at the parathyroid gland, or the kidneys. You may simply be having a bad reaction to birth control pills or hormone replacement.
>
> I'm no doctor, but I can't make sense of your situation from what you've told me so far.
>
> LarThe intervention by my doctor is that he has prescribed hydrochlorothiazide for me, which helps improve the calcium absorption in the kidneys. In the past, I have taken 25 mg. daily and had good results with the muscle pain getting under control. I discontinued the HCTZ for several months however, when I developed severe stomach problems, and was afraid that the potassium that I need to take with the HCTZ would aggrevate the stomach worse. The muscle pain and weakness got really bad about 6 weeks after I stopped. Currently I am on only 12.5 mg. HCTZ and no K. It will probably take forever to get enough benefit at this rate. The endo is not exactly sure where the problem with the calcium absorption is occurring; whether it is in the intestines or kidneys, but I have been recently dxd w/ fat-malabsorption so we know there are definately some problems going on somewhere. The calcium injections were my idea, based on how it helped me a number of years ago. I haven't actually talked to the endo about it yet. I wasn't planning on it actually solving the problem, but just giving me a boost. I suppose my situation back when I got the shots was entirely different since I was having babies and nursing. Thanks for the link - I will check it out. GW
Posted by Larry Hoover on November 4, 2004, at 11:52:20
In reply to Re: intramuscular calcium injections » Larry Hoover, posted by greenwillow on November 2, 2004, at 20:53:29
> > I don't understand why the intervention being considered by your doctor is not directed at the parathyroid gland, or the kidneys. You may simply be having a bad reaction to birth control pills or hormone replacement.
> >
> > I'm no doctor, but I can't make sense of your situation from what you've told me so far.
> >
> > Lar
>
> The intervention by my doctor is that he has prescribed hydrochlorothiazide for me, which helps improve the calcium absorption in the kidneys. In the past, I have taken 25 mg. daily and had good results with the muscle pain getting under control. I discontinued the HCTZ for several months however, when I developed severe stomach problems, and was afraid that the potassium that I need to take with the HCTZ would aggrevate the stomach worse.Would not taking the potassium with food solve that problem?
> The muscle pain and weakness got really bad about 6 weeks after I stopped. Currently I am on only 12.5 mg. HCTZ and no K. It will probably take forever to get enough benefit at this rate. The endo is not exactly sure where the problem with the calcium absorption is occurring; whether it is in the intestines or kidneys, but I have been recently dxd w/ fat-malabsorption so we know there are definately some problems going on somewhere.
Steatorrhea?
> The calcium injections were my idea, based on how it helped me a number of years ago. I haven't actually talked to the endo about it yet. I wasn't planning on it actually solving the problem, but just giving me a boost. I suppose my situation back when I got the shots was entirely different since I was having babies and nursing. Thanks for the link - I will check it out. GW
You know what? If this doctor is not making you well, maybe it's time to get a second opinion.
You could have some very serious underlying conditions that are manifesting themselves as a calcium balance problem. The problem might lie entirely in your kidneys, for example, making all the other effects secondary to kidney disease. It could be a pancreas problem. It could be an inflammatory bowel disease. It could be a combination.
I don't think this is something to be addressed by calcium injections, which would at best simply delay more appropriate treatment.
Lar
Posted by greenwillow on November 4, 2004, at 23:23:30
In reply to Re: intramuscular calcium injections » greenwillow, posted by Larry Hoover on November 4, 2004, at 11:52:20
> >
> Would not taking the potassium with food solve that problem?
Don't really know. My stomach is majorly in pain all the time, so they just said go off of it. Don't care to throw in any complicating factors at this point.
> Steatorrhea?That is probably the correct name; although they have just used the dx "fat malabsorption syndrome".
>
>
> You know what? If this doctor is not making you well, maybe it's time to get a second opinion.
>
> You could have some very serious underlying conditions that are manifesting themselves as a calcium balance problem. The problem might lie entirely in your kidneys, for example, making all the other effects secondary to kidney disease. It could be a pancreas problem. It could be an inflammatory bowel disease. It could be a combination.
>
> Lar
>
>My GI doctor is basically throwing up his hands and saying he does not know what is going on. The endocrinologist doesn't seem to want to do any tests. (It's like they're dumb and waiting to see if the other is any smarter.) I have been unable to even find a conventional doctor who gave calcium shots, could maybe look at the alternative type docs, but ultimately I am unsure if calcium injs. is the way to go anyway. Actually my thoughts on getting the shots are that the doctors so far haven't made any inroads so I need to deal with the issue at hand. Would you have a suggestion as to which specialty I should be going to? THanks, GW
Posted by Larry Hoover on November 7, 2004, at 11:31:25
In reply to Re: intramuscular calcium injections » Larry Hoover, posted by greenwillow on November 4, 2004, at 23:23:30
> My GI doctor is basically throwing up his hands and saying he does not know what is going on. The endocrinologist doesn't seem to want to do any tests. (It's like they're dumb and waiting to see if the other is any smarter.) I have been unable to even find a conventional doctor who gave calcium shots, could maybe look at the alternative type docs, but ultimately I am unsure if calcium injs. is the way to go anyway. Actually my thoughts on getting the shots are that the doctors so far haven't made any inroads so I need to deal with the issue at hand. Would you have a suggestion as to which specialty I should be going to? THanks, GW
>I can't see calcium injections as being anything more than a temporary symptomatic treatment. I fear something is seriously amiss. You could be in kidney failure. You could have a malignancy. These are things that come to me, trying to make sense of your situation. I'm not a doctor, but I can say this, it appears that the ones you have are not yet helping you address the underlying disease state.
I suggest you try to get in to see an internist, or better yet, perhaps, a nephrologist (kidney specialist). Or, simply another endocrinologist. It boggles my mind that you are not being tested, and tested thoroughly and repetitively, until the core disturbance is discovered. If hyperparathyroidism is secondary, the question is, secondary to what?
Lar
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