'A Patient Voice' Community

hello, D --

before i get to my -- admittedly -- quickie internet search info, let me refer you to several previous webMD community discussions of hypocalcemia, because they contain some preliminary background info (see PS1) and because i think you will benefit from others' experience that we already have access to --

-- "hypocalcemia," http://forums.webmd.com/3/chronic-disease-and-disability-exchange/forum/348 ;

-- "hypocalcemia," http://forums.webmd.com/3/chronic-disease-and-disability-exchange/forum/793 ; and

-- "hypothyroidism," http://forums.webmd.com/3/chronic-disease-and-disability-exchange/forum/347 .


if you think you might be interested in participating in research on meds for hypocalcemia, a list of clinical trials is at http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Hypocalcemia%22 ; it also shows whether the researchers are still recruiting volunteers.


the primary treatment for chronic hypocalcemia is oral calcium supplements (PS2), which may take the form of calcium carbonate (PS3), calcium chloride, calcium citrate, calcium gluconate, or calcium lactate. the most commonly used calcium after thyroid surgery is calcium carbonate, but some people have trouble absorbing that and may want to try calcium gluconate or some other incarnation instead. stay away from calcium phosphate salts.

calcitriol -- active vitamin D (PS4) -- may also be used to supplement calcium; it promotes calcium absorption in the intestines and calcium retention in the kidneys. however, because calcitriol is expensive and has to be taken several times/day, other vitamin D formulations are often substituted for it, for example, ergocalciferol and dihydrotachysterol (PS5). ergocalciferol is the least expensive choice and is long-acting.

if your serum magnesium is low, your hypocalcemia will not improve unless the magnesium deficiency is treated as well, so you need to check on your magnesium level.


finally, and this is astonishing to me, but the NIH genetic and rare diseases info center will apparently answer individual Qs about certain conditions, hypocalcemia among them, http://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/GARD/EmailForm.aspx?PageID=4 .


let me add one more thing that i think is more important than anything else i have said here -- if you feel that your dr is not taking you seriously, perhaps it is time to get a second opinion or find a different dr altogether. there is no point in your spending time, energy, and money on someone who does not listen to you or is not responsive to your concerns.


i send you caring thoughts and hope this helps. please keep us posted on how you are doing.

-- susie margaret

PS1 -- i am not a medical person; i welcome, solicit, and indeed beg for correction, amendment, or replacement of inaccuracies in my previous posts or this one.

PS2 -- webMD info on calcium in general is at http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-781-CALCIUM.aspx?activeIngredientId=781&activeIngredientName=CALCIUM&source=2 .

PS3 -- calcium carbonate is the main ingredient in tums, which is why your dr said to take them.

PS4 -- webMD info on vitamin D formulations in general, including calcitriol, is at http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-929-VITAMIN D.aspx?activeIngredientId=929&activeIngredientName=VITAMIN D&source=2 .

PS5 -- webMD info on ergocalciferol and dihydrotachysterol is also at http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-929-VITAMIN D.aspx?activeIngredientId=929&activeIngredientName=VITAMIN D&source=2 .