Lab work concerns

Good to know...thank you!

This is a good question. My D was also low, but my calcium was good. I guess I just assumed that if my calcium was ok then my D should be as well?

I also had a Vitamin A level that was undesirable and my iron was off only slightly. Doc was truly only concerned with my A level. I go back next month for another blood draw to see where I stand. And yes, it was exactly 15 tubes of blood that they took. Brutal! lol

The calcium blood test tells you almost nothing. Besides your bones, you need calcium for other things, particularly your heart. If you aren't eating enough calcium, your body will take it out of storage -- your bones. So your bones are being eaten away to get calcium for your heart, and your calcium bloodwork will look normal.

The test you want to look at is PTH. This is a test you want lower, not higher. If it's high, it means your body is making up for calcium deficiency by leeching it from bones. So lower is better.

The best test for bone health is a DEXA scan. It's an xray that determines your bone density. It's best to have one before surgery as a baseline, then every 2 years to see if you are losing bone.

Low D can impact absorption of calcium. Good D levels means you will absorb more calcium. Vitamin K and magnesium are also involved in calcium absorption and bone health.