Am I getting enough calcium?

[pep88]

I had a TT in September and RAI in November.  I still have tingling in my fingers/hands, twitching in my eyelids and some cramping in the diaphram & stomach.  I don't like the feeling, but it is usually very temporary, so I shrug it off most times.  Doc says my calcium is within normal range and so I've sort of ignored the symptoms.  I try to take some tums everyday but I must admit that I'm not that good at remembering to take pills in general.  (It's been a struggle to remember to take the thyroid replacement hormones, but up to now, haven't missed...)  How big of an "issue" is this calcium thing?  Will this go away when I have brought my TSH to zero or get worse?  Should I be popping calcium pills and tums like candy?  I'm somewhat concerned that I'm leeching the calcium out of my body/or that my body is not making enough, and in my old age I'll crumble like an old muffin...?  Are these symptoms normal or should I be addressing it more aggressively?

[utahmomma]

Okay, from my *wonderful* experience over the past 5 years or so, calcium is *VERY* important.  I lost a parathyroid or two (still some debate) during my first surgery and have had calcium problems since.  I take a lot of calcium daily and I know within a few hours if I've missed it.  Still, I'm losing bone mass.  Because you have had an RAI and are on a high dose of thyroid replacement (to keep you suppressed) you run a higher risk for osteoperosis.  Yeah, not fun.  Last year they diagnosed me (at age 40) as having osteopenia.  Now I'm having terrible bone pain and have to undergo another scan to look for microfractures and osteoperosis.

Calcium (spaced at least 2 hours apart from your thyroid meds) is very, very important!!  Make sure that it has Vitamin D with it too.

[mosesgt]

Has your doc checked your 25 hydroxy vitamin D, phosphorus & intact-PTH? Sounds like you are not getting enough calcium & I agree w/ utahmomma that replacement is very important. Low vit D is associated with inability to absorb calcium from your gut & also with bone pain. If vit D is real low, a prescription vit d (Drisdol 50,000 units) is available.
A good web site that explains a lot of this in lay terms is:
http://www.faqs.org/nutrition/Ca-De/Calcium.html
Good luck & God Bless!