High Calcium question

by Barbara Toman
(Houston, Texas)

I have a calcium level of 10.3 on a test where the reference range top end is 10.2. About a year ago it was 10.5 but the top end of the reference range was 10.5. Another test was 10.3 and the top end of the reference range was 10.5. My ionized calcium is 5.2. My PTH is 38.

I have a mother with high calcium that is undiagnosed. She is 88 and has SEVERE osteoporosis. I have osteopenia only in the femoral neck, at this time. I saw an endocrinologist in Houston--dept. chair of UT Hermann and I was totally unimpressed with his statement for me to STOP taking calcium. I had spinal cord compression two years ago and needed a double level fusion. I have a complex venous malformation in my neck along with extremely variable blood pressure--and one surgeon deemed the surgery to be very dangerous for me.

I searched and searched and found a product called osteomatrix that was found to dissolve bone spurs. It contains 1000 IU of calcium, 400 IU of D, and maganese, boron, and vitamin K. I do not want to stop taking that product as bone spurs have been a problem in my spine. The bone spur was 6 mm and went down to 2 mm and there was no longer the cord compression so I did not have to have surgery and my symptoms went away.

I have spoken by e-mail to Dr. Norman. He did not think I needed an endocrinologist. And, I think that is probably accurate, BUT my cardiologist wanted me to see one and got me in with one in a week, so I decided to go. This endo, Dr. Orlander, also wants a 24 hour urine, which I will do. He wants me to come back in 6 months and he will "watch"it.

To make things more complicated, I was told yesterday that I need a growth out of my foot because the doctor thought that it might be a sarcoma. It is a small soft tissue vascular lesion and I am getting a second opinion at M.D. Anderson. I thought perhaps that I could have the endo dept. take a look at my Blood Calcium Level as well. I do NOT want to stop the calcium and for now, I am not going to.