Update: My PPI Situation

[Guest guest]

Thanks Notan for this information. This is good to know for all of us

whether we are on PPI's or not. I was especially interested in the vitamin D

information. I started taking vitamin D some months ago for another reason

and it's good to know that I might get a second benefit from it. I know

those on PPI's will be happy to hear your results. I have heard that not

all people get

I think it's time for me to get one of those barium wallows soon. I

will put that on a note to ask my GP when I see him next week.

Maggie

[Guest guest]

Some of you will remember that last May or June we had a discussion

about a statement by the FDA about concerns for using PPIs long-term

because of the possibility of, but not confirmed to exist, risk of

fractures and calcium issues. At that time I said I was seeing my GI

soon and would ask him about it. I did and he decided to do a bone

density test just to be on the safe side. He also did a endoscopy and

bariums wallow (I enjoyed the typo too much to delete it). The results

of the endo and wallow were as good as could be asked for. The bone

density test is more interesting. My legs bones are denser than similar

men aged 30. My hips were better than similar men my age. But, here is

where it gets interesting, my spine has low density, osteopenia, even

for someone my age. So, the question was what was causing it, the PPIs

or something else. That question was left for my endocrinologist to

answer. It turns out that my calcium level is fine and it appears that

the PPIs had nothing to do with it. What was found is that my vitamin D

is low but that is not something that PPI are known to affect. Vitamin D

does affect bone density though and we will be treating that and see

what happens. I was not at all surprised to find that the PPIs were not

a problem for me, but it was a big surprise to find that I had

osteopenia anyway and a vitamin D deficiency. I get a lot of sun but I

must be loosing the ability to make enough vitamin D in the skin.

BTW: my endo said the idea that men have a much lower risk of osteopenia

than women may not be true. Also, being very active or fit is no

guarantee against it. You need specific kinds of stress to keep the

spine dense. People who swim and bike a lot may not be doing much for

their spines. Because of past injuries I have avoided running and jogging.

My barium swallow was so good, no reflux even lying down, that my GI

wants me to reduce the days I take the PPI and see if I have a problem.

If I do have a problem I will stay on them as needed. If I can get by

without that would be nice, but we don't see a reason to avoid it if needed.

Your results may vary.

notan

[Guest guest]

notan

Several years ago I started on D3 2000 iu and have recently gone to 4000. All

the reports I hear we need 5000 iu to get the level over 50, (should be above 50

ng/ml (125 nmol/L))

I have not had the test yet. I get a lot of sun, but mostly on the legs and were

a shirt and hat.

Notan did you get a D level report?

I also take CoQ10 200 mg, with a statin Crestor 20 mg, it has been reported that

with a statin, you need CoQ10. Believe it all helps!

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-938-COENZYME%20Q-10.asp\

x?activeIngredientId=938 & activeIngredientName=COENZYME%20Q-10

rayme

>

> Some of you will remember that last May or June we had a discussion

> about a statement by the FDA about concerns for using PPIs long-term

> because of the possibility of, but not confirmed to exist, risk of

> fractures and calcium issues. At that time I said I was seeing my GI

> soon and would ask him about it. I did and he decided to do a bone

> density test just to be on the safe side. He also did a endoscopy and

> bariums wallow (I enjoyed the typo too much to delete it). The results

> of the endo and wallow were as good as could be asked for. The bone

> density test is more interesting. My legs bones are denser than similar

> men aged 30. My hips were better than similar men my age. But, here is

> where it gets interesting, my spine has low density, osteopenia, even

> for someone my age. So, the question was what was causing it, the PPIs

> or something else. That question was left for my endocrinologist to

> answer. It turns out that my calcium level is fine and it appears that

> the PPIs had nothing to do with it. What was found is that my vitamin D

> is low but that is not something that PPI are known to affect. Vitamin D

> does affect bone density though and we will be treating that and see

> what happens. I was not at all surprised to find that the PPIs were not

> a problem for me, but it was a big surprise to find that I had

> osteopenia anyway and a vitamin D deficiency. I get a lot of sun but I

> must be loosing the ability to make enough vitamin D in the skin.

>

> BTW: my endo said the idea that men have a much lower risk of osteopenia

> than women may not be true. Also, being very active or fit is no

> guarantee against it. You need specific kinds of stress to keep the

> spine dense. People who swim and bike a lot may not be doing much for

> their spines. Because of past injuries I have avoided running and jogging.

>

> My barium swallow was so good, no reflux even lying down, that my GI

> wants me to reduce the days I take the PPI and see if I have a problem.

> If I do have a problem I will stay on them as needed. If I can get by

> without that would be nice, but we don't see a reason to avoid it if needed.

>

> Your results may vary.

>

> notan

>

[Guest guest]

Dear Notan,

 

With the exception of your spine condition, your results were really great and I

rejoice with you in the news. Thank you for sharing this with us.

 

I can understand your confusion about the density levels. Why would your hips be

in such good nick and your spine not be too?

 

I hope that you find an answer to this question beacuse you deserve to have the

best of health in all ways.

 

Sent with love, from Ann.

[Guest guest]

Notan,

I use this great vitamin D3 spray by Dr. Mercola. I even use it on my kids in

the winter to protect against the flu. Each spritz on the tongue is 2000 IU of

D3. You can take up to 3 spritzes a day. Its MUCH easier than swallowing a

pill. If you are interested I can send you the link to buy some. Its about $45

for 3 spray bottles.

I believe that vitamin D is an essential vitamin in our bodies and most of us

are deficient. There are foods high in vitamin D, like salmon and mackerel and

then there is of course the sun. But the spray is so easy and effective.

This is a link to the vitamin D spray. He also sells tonnes of other health

products including a CoQ10.

http://products.mercola.com/vitamin-d-spray/

Cara

>

> Some of you will remember that last May or June we had a discussion

> about a statement by the FDA about concerns for using PPIs long-term

> because of the possibility of, but not confirmed to exist, risk of

> fractures and calcium issues. At that time I said I was seeing my GI

> soon and would ask him about it. I did and he decided to do a bone

> density test just to be on the safe side. He also did a endoscopy and

> bariums wallow (I enjoyed the typo too much to delete it). The results

> of the endo and wallow were as good as could be asked for. The bone

> density test is more interesting. My legs bones are denser than similar

> men aged 30. My hips were better than similar men my age. But, here is

> where it gets interesting, my spine has low density, osteopenia, even

> for someone my age. So, the question was what was causing it, the PPIs

> or something else. That question was left for my endocrinologist to

> answer. It turns out that my calcium level is fine and it appears that

> the PPIs had nothing to do with it. What was found is that my vitamin D

> is low but that is not something that PPI are known to affect. Vitamin D

> does affect bone density though and we will be treating that and see

> what happens. I was not at all surprised to find that the PPIs were not

> a problem for me, but it was a big surprise to find that I had

> osteopenia anyway and a vitamin D deficiency. I get a lot of sun but I

> must be loosing the ability to make enough vitamin D in the skin.

>

> BTW: my endo said the idea that men have a much lower risk of osteopenia

> than women may not be true. Also, being very active or fit is no

> guarantee against it. You need specific kinds of stress to keep the

> spine dense. People who swim and bike a lot may not be doing much for

> their spines. Because of past injuries I have avoided running and jogging.

>

> My barium swallow was so good, no reflux even lying down, that my GI

> wants me to reduce the days I take the PPI and see if I have a problem.

> If I do have a problem I will stay on them as needed. If I can get by

> without that would be nice, but we don't see a reason to avoid it if needed.

>

> Your results may vary.

>

> notan

>

[Guest guest]

rayme wrote:

> I have not had the test yet. I get a lot of sun, but mostly on the legs and

were a shirt and hat.

>

As we age our skin can get where it does not make as much D as it used

to. Living in AZ I generally wear shorts and short sleeves with no hat

and I make a number of trips outdoors each day while at work. At home I

do my own yard work. I expected that I was getting much more sun than

most people and didn't realize there could be a problem converting that

sun to D. I don't use much milk or orange juice and I don't take a

multivitamin.

> Notan did you get a D level report?

>

There is a report but I have not seen it yet. I only received a phone

call while I was with others and didn't want to ask a bunch of question

at that time. I plan to get a copy of all my tests next time I see that

doctor which won't be for a few month. In my mind it will be important

to continue to get tested because first I will need to know that I am

getting the D to the right level and then that it does not cause the

calcium level to go too high, especially with my calcium already being

good. I already have high blood pressure and I don't want the calcium to

make it uncontrollable.

> I also take CoQ10 200 mg, with a statin Crestor 20 mg, it has been reported

that with a statin, you need CoQ10. Believe it all helps!

>

It may be true, or not, that it helps. The research is not completely

convincing. See:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/coenzyme-q10/AN01541

Being that the body produces it and that levels fall with advanced age

it shouldn't hurt to try, AFAIK.

notan

[Guest guest]

Ann wrote:

> Why would your hips be in such good nick and your spine not be too?

>

I am a big guy and I am on my feet all day when at work so that stress

causes them, and to a lesser amount the hips, to respond by increasing

bone density. The hips take a lot of the weight of the upper body

without it all bearing on the spine. So the legs get the most stress,

then the hip and then the spine. Which is just what my test shows.

Another kind of stress that builds bone is impact force. Jumping or

jogging can send impact forces through these bones and simulate bone

building. I have ten screws in my ankle and have avoided impact

activities (never slide into home base feet first). I also buy good

shoes and use inserts in them to reduce the stresses on my foot. That

didn't help the spine.

notan

[Guest guest]

Cara wrote:

> I use this great vitamin D3 spray ...

I am going to try the cheap stuff first and see if my levels respond

well. One way you can make the pills more effective is to take them with

fat/oil. D is fat soluble so take it after the fattiest meal of the day

or with something like fish oil.

> I believe that vitamin D is an essential vitamin in our bodies and most of us

are deficient.

Many are deficient. They don't get the sun they should or eat the foods

needed to get D. One does need to take some caution though with D. I

need to clarify what I have been saying about that. Yes we all need it

and we all need to get some in our food or by taking a supplement but

people that take the large supplement doses need to be sure they are not

driving their calcium level too high. The main way that happens is by

taking supplements of both D and calcium. People that take antacids

that have calcium for heartburn have been known to develop the problem

when taking D even though they weren't taking a calcium " supplement " .

So, if you take D be careful about adding a calcium supplement to it and

if you take a calcium supplement be careful about adding a D supplement

to it. They do make supplements that contain both and many people

benefit from them but caution is advised. Safety requires a blood test

to check the calcium level. If anyone is taking both and is having

trouble getting blood pressure under control check the calcium level.

Your doctor may miss this even if he knows what you are taking.

> There are foods high in vitamin D, like salmon and mackerel

>

Some other fish too. Also there is a little in eggs and cheese. I don't

think I could eat enough of these too help. I already eat a lot of fish,

eggs and cheese.

notan