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Mon Mar 30, 2009 8:17 pm  |
I realize that this topic may only be of limited interest, given the many younger members of this forum, but I'm asking anyway.
During a follow-up visit with my doctor today after a recent bone density scan, I learned that I have osteoporosis in my right hip and possible fractures at T11-T12. My bone density has decreased 4% in the five years since my last scan and I am even more osteopenic than before at measured points. Granted, I am 56, but I've been weight training pretty hard, take all my supplements, am on HRT and there is no history of osteoporosis in my family (although they are significantly larger people than I am).
I'm just floored by this news! My sister (who worked in retirement homes) had related her experience that patients with osteoporosis who suffer a fall often don't make it more than six months after that fall. Zooming ahead into the future, that's all I could picture for myself and, being the stoic  that I am, burst promptly into tears in my doctor's office.
Can somebody bring me down to earth and either relate their experience or point me in the direction of some good reading material? I know the basics but obviously not enough to have improved the numbers since my last scan. My doctor has a good plan in place to deal with this problem, but I need to feel more in control.
I will try not to break any bones  while I wait for your input. (Yes, I'm aware that I'm a pain in the a*s*s.) |
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Tue Mar 31, 2009 3:57 am |
I'm so sorry to hear your news.
If it's any comfort, my mum has osteoporosis and must have also been diagnosed in her 50's. She's 62 now and, although she has had other serious unrelated health problems, is still going strong.
I think your sister's experience must have been with people vastly older than you, who were already very frail through advanced age. Obviously, falls tend to have very much more serious consequences in elderly folk anyway, unfortuntately. I really don't think you fit into that category at the moment!
I'd advise you to have a chat with your doctor and voice your concerns. Tell them what your sister said and how much this has worried you. Also ask if there is anything you can do to minimise the risk of potential problems caused by the osteoporosis. This may well help to ease your mind.
Whilst your sister is probably a very nice person otherwise, it wasn't exactly a very sensitive or tactful thing to tell you. No wonder it terrified you! 
I think that your bursting into tears episode was also due to shock, which is entirely natural. After being told that I have a very serious incurable medical condition in my early 20's, I rushed to the medical section in my local university bookshop to look it up, then had to rush out of the shop to vomit copiously through shock. It also made me very depressed for a while. But I did come to terms with it.
What helped me was knowing that others have the same condition and manage to live their lives. If they can do it, then so can I. Try and remember that whenever you're feeling low.
Osteoporosis isn't a death sentence and I'm absolutely sure you'll be fine once you've had a little reassurance and have gotten over the initial shock.
I hope this advice doesn't sound flippant. I really can sympathise with how you must be feeling at the moment.
Take care and please do try not to worry too much. |
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Tue Mar 31, 2009 4:19 am |
I don't have much personal insight, luckily osteoporosis doesn't run in my family, however I found a great deal of useful information on the websitewww.herbshealing.com when I started getting premenopausal symptoms about a year ago. I found the advice sound and easy to follow and it made a big difference to my health. There is a lot of free information on building denser bones, and Susan Weed specialises in information for post menopausal women. She also hosts a forum where you may find more information.
Also the book Creative Menopause by Farida Sharan is available for free in pdf format on the websitewww.soilandhealth.org
Once again, much of the info you will find on Susan Weeds site is available in this book. Remember bones can be rebuilt, they are constantly growing and changing just as the rest of our body is. |
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Tue Mar 31, 2009 5:07 am |
| pinky1. sorry to hear of your diagnosis. I have it and was also upset when I got the news. I have 33% bone loss and am now 58. I take Actonel, once a week, lots of calcium. I do yoga, some walking. not much weight training. and have had no problems. I think it is manageable and the worst scenarios are not necessarily what will happen. I agree with the others that it is likely with much older people. I have to rush to work now but will say more later today or this week. take care. Harriet |
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Tue Mar 31, 2009 8:12 am |
| I have osteopenia. Which is the pre-cursor to osteoporosis. I believe that I have it because my thyroid is out of whack. Check with your dr. I am 56. I exercise everyday and lift weights. I take vit. c & d and calcium. I was taking Fosamax for a long time, and stopped. I still have the osteopenia, I just take care of myself. I don't know if it goes away. |
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Tue Mar 31, 2009 8:33 am |
| since you already do weight training look into training with a whole body vibration machine , it has been proven to treat osteoporosis |
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Wed Apr 01, 2009 8:29 pm |
I was anxious to get back here and express my gratitude to all who responded with great replies full of common sense and perspective, good ideas to follow up on and, above all, kindness. Thank you all for coming to my aid and providing the support I needed. You feel like a second family to me!
Well, after spending a couple of days flirting with depression, waiting for the sky to fall in, imagining that every little ache and pain was yet another symptom, buying at least four books on osteoporosis, calling both my sisters and blithering my head off to them about it, urging all women of like age at work to have a bone density scan, searching for a trainer who can keep me from hurting myself when I work out and, finally, refusing to have a chiropractic treatment because I wasn't sure it was safe, I AM EXHAUSTED. The silly part is that it was completely unnecessary to do this to myself; as Majorb said, though, the shock and fear take over and a person just reacts -- in my case, like a headless chicken. (Don't laugh; this is actually a family trait. I have it on good authority that my family crest (ha!) shows a group of cartoon chickens, sweating buckets and banging into one another while running in all directions from a real or imagined threat.)
Each example I hear about of a person living well with osteoporosis gives me more perspective. Besides, I've had about all I can take of myself and I've got no more nerves left to spend on worrying about it.
Thanks again for being so supportive and sharing your experiences and ideas with me -- it was just what I needed at a time when I wasn't clear-headed enough to help myself. |
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Wed Apr 01, 2009 10:14 pm |
Pinky my heart goes out to you.
My Mother-in-law is 54. She was diagnosed
with this 5 years ago. She has been on fosomax
since. Her last report in November was she has actually gained some bone density. 
Hang in there. Take care of yourself! |
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Thu Apr 02, 2009 4:29 am |
*desperately trying not to laugh about the cartoon chickens in the family crest* 
It seems as though the initial lightning bolt of shock has dissipated a little and you're sounding so much more ready to face the world. That's a fabulous start and a fabulous attitude! (A hell of a lot better than I managed when I was initially diagnosed with my condition. I'm proud of you!)
I'm also very glad that others who have osteoporosis have posted. As I've already said, it really does make a huge difference to know that others in the same position are coping and living their lives.
I think you're going to be fine, and you know that you can always post here for either a bit of support or to get advice from fellow EDS'ers with osteoporosis.
Big hugs to you! |
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Fri Apr 03, 2009 7:59 am |
My mother at 90 has suffered osteoporsis for years, but aside from that is as healthy as a horse. She can not (or will not) take calcium supplements and only did Fosomax for a short time. Yes, the breaks can happen but it can be managed.
I am 54, was told 4 years ago that my bone denisty is so bad that if I break anything "I'll turn to dust". Well, I'm also a natural born clutz, and have at least one fall a year that should have turned me to dust, and short of a twisted ankle, I'm still here.
Stick with the weight lifting, which I think is the best for bone regeneration (at least by the research I've done so far). Keep up with the calicum and don't give up living just because of this. Stress causes more havoic than anything else to the system.
Best to you
Linda |
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