Low calcium in blood test? What does that mean?

[FusionChefGeoff]

I've got a Dr appt tomorrow but often the NHs seems to have a huge lag in their advice vs current scientific thinking so I'm keen to research a bit more about what it could mean and what I should expect for next steps?

I generally have a healthy diet, premenopausal, regular exercise, just tipping into overweight on a bad day. Don't drink. Quit smoking 15 years ago.

But been feeling very fatigued and lethargic so Doc wanted tests before looking at HRT levels (currently on 3 pumps of Oestrogel plus tablet Utrogestan).

Anyone have experience of low calcium??

It’s possible, if you don’t get enough dietary calcium but not common as your parathyroid glands will take the calcium from your bones and put it into your blood.

you need a follow up test looking at calcium, PTH and vitamin d to see what’s going on. Try and get magnesium tested too.

you could have hypoparathyroidism.

if those are normal (think of PTH as your heating thermostat. It turns on with low calcium and off with high if working normally. So your PTH should be above the middle of the range if working ok. Not all GPs are great with this) then you could also request a calcitonin test. This is produced by the thyroid and reduces the levels of calcium in the blood. High calcitonin could be an issue.

Gosh! That was a very informative answer. :-)

I didn't really understand it.

it really needs interpreting by the person who can see the whole set of results - it may not be a problem at all depending on what the rest of the results are and which 'calcium' it is.

How did your appointment go?

I’m interested in how your appt went too as I’m in a similar situation - low calcium
and iron in blood tests despite diet with plenty of meat and dairy. I’m waiting for results of parathyroid test.

hope everything went well

They're retesting as everything else was normal so I think they aren't too worried!