Osteopenia????

[ClockworkOrange]

I have previously posted on here about my accident just over 3 months ago, after falling from a standing position off my bike and breaking my back.

Now it would appear in a letter to my GP from my Hospital Spinal Consultant that I have osteopenia/osteoporosis. I have never heard of this before, apparently osteopenia is the forerunner to osteoporosis.

Keen to find out more, I discovered a book on the internet called "Reversing Osteopenia" I managed to buy this on Amazon at such a low price £6 (free post) so I suppose that is roughly $9.12.

In my humble opinion, I think anybody should read up more about this, as there is so much that you can do to help yourself, especially in younger women.

If anybody knows about osteopenia, I would be interested to hear your views, comments and advice.

Cheers.


Clock

[bmccasland]

Just curious Clock, but when you hit 40 or 45, did your regular Doc, or OB/GYN suggest you start taking calcium supplements? Seem that was about when mind did, and because I had early on-set of menopause, I also had a bone density scan (which was normal).

I guess the extra calcium must have helped when I crashed because I didn't break anything, which surprised both the ER Doc and the Orthopedist.

[colorisnt]

I'm terrified of getting Osteoporosis. I drink a lot of milk and eat a great deal of dairy, but am not allowed to take calcium supplements (kidney stones) and haven't had a period in a year due to depo provera (endometriosis). I am just hoping that since I am young and still building calcium it will be enough for me.

[moonfroggy]

i have read that the protein in dairy products makes them a poor source of calcium. that protein inhibits the absolution of calcium.

i try and eat a lot of leafy greens that are high in calcium and recently was reading about how high in calcium sesame seeds are. i love making tahini salad dressings and i sometimes put both sesame seeds and leafy greens into smoothies.

also i read that the best exercise they have found for bones is jumping up and down! so i jump rope for a few minutes at a time a few times a day and hope that will help my bones.

osteoporosis is scary i hope to prevent it.

[Crankin]

We've had a few threads on this topic...
I've known for 10 years I've had osteopenia; despite doing impact exercise for 15 years or so and weight lifting. I have never been a milk drinker, though and I have a huge family history of this. I couldn't take the Fosomax type drugs, which caused huge gastric problems. I was on Evista for 5 years on and off, which reversed it a bit, but I had all kinds of weird medical things that went away when i stopped taking it.
So, last year, it became full blown osteoporosis. In January I had a Reclast treatment, which is basically Fosomax, given IV, that stays in your body for a year, but by-passes your GI system. About half way through the 30 minute treatment, I felt dizzy and nauseous, so they stopped it. I had more than half the dose, though and my endo thinks it may have done at least some good. All my blood work came back fine, so I have none of the bad side effects that are possible.
I have a had a few minor crashes, the last being last summer, with no damage. I haven't been mountain biking fro a couple of years, but at this point, I feel like I want to go ahead and start again, since I'm not very aggressive at it, anyway.
I've been taking calcium and vitamin D supplements for 26 years, and nothing I did helped. I eat a very good diet, too. At this point, I feel like i can't let it rule my life.
Clock, I can't believe that there isn't more information about this in the UK.

[Dianyla]

I'm terrified of getting Osteoporosis. I drink a lot of milk and eat a great deal of dairy, but am not allowed to take calcium supplements (kidney stones) and haven't had a period in a year due to depo provera (endometriosis). I am just hoping that since I am young and still building calcium it will be enough for me.

If you're concerned about osteoporosis you should consider getting off of Depo. Lots of women use the Mirena IUDs to treat endometriosis.

[malkin]

In my new devotion to tabloid journalism (to supplement my aquisition of German) I have learned that Gwyneth Paltrow suffers from osteopenia as well.

Sorry to be useless, but perhaps it may be comforting in some obscure way.

(I also know some tidbits about Michael Jackson's children which are probably more useless and also more likely fabricated.)

[sandra]

I too have Osteopenia. Thank you for the heads-up. I'll have to check out the book. I know I'm not diligent enough about taking my calcium!

[colorisnt]

Thanks for the heads up! I realize that it is an option, but the problem is finding a doctor who will do one on someone under the age of 30 without children. IDK why. I know it can be more painful, but that is good as long as I avoid all other pains. I thought about doing it while in the UK, but that was right after starting provera treatment and I was really to sensitive to even dream of it.

[Cataboo]

NPR article on osteopenia:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...15&sc=fb&cc=fp

Previous thread discussing it:
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...ght=osteopenia

[Dianyla]

Thanks for the heads up! I realize that it is an option, but the problem is finding a doctor who will do one on someone under the age of 30 without children. IDK why.

That old attitude that IUDs are only suitable for married women with children is changing over time. Check out your local Planned Parenthood. I got my first IUD there at 20, nullipara & nullihubby.