Question:
Need Advice on Calcium....
Hi All, I had RNY on Oct 28th, 2009. I'm doing GREAT! I've lost a total of 67 lbs since surgery (slow and steady which my doctor is very pleased with) and from my highest weight 147 lbs. Just saw my doctor on March 16th. All my nutrition levels are doing perfect and all within range of normal but I've noticed my fingernails seem to be splitting and a bit more brittle. I completely forgot to ask my doctor but just wondering if anyone else has had the same problem and if so how did you deal with it? I'm taking 2000 ml of Calcium per day which seems to be satisfactory to keep my levels at normal. So since my calcium levels are normal, I don't want to increase my dosage. Is there something else I can do to help strengthen my nails? I would appreciate any suggestions. Thank you. — annteekee (posted on March 30, 2010)
March 30, 2010
My nails are weak and peeling as well, like you said, you do not want to up
your calicum, nor do I. However, there is a flip side to calcium, I take
500 mg three times a day. I was told by my NUT , that if I do not take
this much and my body needs more calicum, the body will draw it from my
bones naturally. This really freaked me out!!!!!! I had a bone density
test Monday and me ole bones are fine. I am 58 and concerned with bone
loss.
Good luck my friend
P.S. Please post your hits, I would love gorgeous nails again!!!!
— FSUMom
March 30, 2010
You could try adding Biotin to your supplement regimen. It's considered
the hair & nail vitamin. You can find it at any store that sells
vitamins. I don't know the recommended dosage for RNY patients but I'm sure
someone who takes it will chime in here shortly.
— Arkin10
March 30, 2010
Fingernails, like hair, are composed of a protein. Increasing your protein
intake may help. It may be like hair loss, you just have to wait until
your body stabilizes. I remember people drinking Knox unflavored gelatin
for better fingernails but, I don't know if they still make that. Having
more protein would have a better effect. Congrats on your success.
— MargaretHM
March 30, 2010
I take Biotin 5000 mcg. chewable daily... my nails seem to be growing
rapidly and I'm not losing my hair :) I hope it's the Biotin and I
continue that way. If you need to know the one I take is made by Solaray.
Also I've always been told gelatin stregthens nails. I hope this helps
— fortywhat2
March 31, 2010
Biotin does help hair & nails. I take one.
I'm also going to chime in about Calcium & bone leeching that someone
else referenced, but nobody actually but in the CRUCIAL tidbit associated
with that. When your body isn't getting sufficient calcium or it's not
absorbing enough of what you are giving it, it does indeed leech is from
your bones. Your parathyroid hormone (PTH on most lab tests) is the
indicator that this is happening. PTH increases when your body is steeling
it's calcium from your bones in order to keep your blood serum calcium
levels normal. That is why you cannot just look at your calcium levels
& conclude all is well - it may or may not be, but you need to look at
your PTH level to know if your blood serum calcium level is at a good level
to due the calcium you're supplementing with or if it is due to your body
robbing your bones. Don't wait until it's in the high range to think you
have a problem, middle or less is optimal.
Regarding DEXA body scan. There is conclusive research that obese people
have denser bones than average for their age, gender, & race compared
to those in their group who are of a normal body weight. This is because
bone density increases as a result of weight-bearing exercising. Being
obese for a long period of time means that you were carrying around a lot
of weight and building your bones stronger. That is why you cannot rely
one one single DEXA body scan to know whether your bones are getting weaker
than the rate that should be naturally occuring as you age. You need at
least 2 scans to compare. Optimally, one prior to WLS, otherwise 2 since
WLS. You may now be in a normal bone density range, but you may have had
really dense bones before . . . but you wouldn't know that unless you had
two of them.
Calcium absorption is increased when taking it with Vit D & magnesium.
— Lisey
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