What is the difference in testing your calcium levels by blood and urine? My doctor tested my level by doing a blood test but I hear most of you talk about it being done as an urine test are they equally as accurate? Kat
From what I understand, our bodies do what they have to do to keep the calcium in our blood in the normal range. It will take calcium out of our bones if it needs to. I have osteoporosis and my blood calcium level is always normal. When they check for calcium in urine it helps them to determine other things. I have read that if the calcium level in urine is too low you may not be absorbing enough calcium in your diet. If the calcium level is too high, your kidneys could be excreting too much calcium and not allowing your body to use it. My doctor put me on HCTZ for this reason. It helps your kidneys to conserve calcium. I hope this helps you.
I just got my urine results back today (24 hr) and found out just that.... my kidneys are excreting too much calcium into the urine... He said it's hereditary... so I got on the horn to my sister too.. he's put me on a diuretic Indapamide to lose the water but preserve the calcium... so I need to read up on this... anyone else with this issue?
My doctor did blood tests and says my phosphorus level is abnormally high; told me to take my supplements that I take and show them to a pharmacist and find out why. With my normal distrust of one opinion, I went to three; the first one seemed the most knowledgeable and said I was taking too much calcium. The second one didn't seem to know why, but explained that too much calcium was not a good thing, and the third seemed more concerned about the strontium citrate. The specialist I went to didn't give me the numbers, so I"ll have to go to my GP for that. I think I'll ask if he'd do a urine test; apparently the calcium in the blood was normal.
I just learned that my parathyroid count is high, but my blood calcium is normal. I took the 24-hour urine calcium
test yesterday. Please check out parathyroid.com.
Is it important to take a urine test after a blood test? My doctor is in internal medicine and really did not even want to take a D test or calcium? But I insisted. He does not even think a BMD should be taken but one time? I would think to have BMD every two years will let you see where you are in your bones and then you will know about medicines and vitamins and food that you take in........if anything is working?
Hi Southernlady,
Your doc sounds even worse than mine. I guess you need to find a specialist to work with. I actually found a rheumatologist and got an appt in December. I look forward to meeting with her, as my (male) GP doesn't come up with much unless I suggest it to him! Good luck,
Tom
Thank you Tom in WI........Here are my calcium results and any blood work you are interested in.....I have tests from January 2006....December 2006 and October 8, 2008.......something is wrong on the calcium?
October 8, 2008--Calcium 9.1
December 2006--Calcium is 9.9
January 2006--Calcium 9.3.........
I am taking calcium citrate.....at least 1200 in tablets and the rest dairy??? Why am I so low? January 2006 I was not even on Calcium at all??? Thank you for responding!
Please check the Clinician post for tests that are recommended with the diagnosis of osteoporosis.
I don't know what you mean for me to go to Clinician post????
Add to the discussion