Dexa Scan Results

I'm hoping someone can help me understand my doctor's voicemail to me about my DEXA scan results. I will talk to him about it, of course, but I know you guys are the experts when it comes to DS and calcium supplementation.

I had my first ever scan done last week. I'm only 10 weeks out from surgery, so I'm pretty sure that my results are not due to my surgery yet, correct? (My nutrition pre-op was HORRIBLE! Mostly fast food, hardly any calcium, and I never ate vegetables. Still don't. :P)

My doctor said that in the L2 (?) spine, my score is a (-1.6) and in the right femur, my score is a (-1.1). He said that anything below (-1) is considered osteopenia and my scores are only borderline osteopenia.

He said to make sure I'm taking calcium and vitamin D.

Right now, I've been taking about 2,450 mg of calcium citrate (2,000 from BA chews and the rest from my multivitamins). I'm also taking 100,000 IU of dry Vitamin D3-50. (I was supposed to go back down to 50,000 IU after three months, which is coming up soon).

Questions:

1) Should I increase my calcium based on my dexa scan results?
2) Should I keep taking the 100,000 IU of Vitamin D3? Or follow my surgeon's advice and go back down to 50,000 IU after the three months are up?
3) How often do I need to do DEXA scans?
4) Finally, should I be worried about the osteopenia???

TIA!!

Amy I'm far from any expert when it comes to osteopenia and osteoporosis however did want to mention I have some deterioration in my neck this time which just showed up. Not change in my hip and increase in bone density in my back. My calcium level is great, D is great, PTH is great.

I did have a hysterectomy since my last scan and osteo appears on both sides of my family so I'm watching closely to see where to go from here.

I have been doing scans every 2 years but now that I have some osteopenia signs I'll be doing annual scans.

Thanks! I think I'll start doing them annually, too. 

I work in a Comprehensive Breast Center that has BMD as well and most insurances will only cover one every 2 years so you might want to call your insurance and find out what they cover or what diagnoses they might cover yearly so you don't get stuck with a bill.

I'm just as new as you so that is all the expert advice I can offer :)

Thanks! I'll check with my insurance! :)

I bet there's a code for the doc to use if you've been diagnosed with osteopenia or osteoporosis. I have a dexa scan every year sense diagnosis and have never had an issue. Good luck!

--gina

 

I think we all lose some bone density as we drop weight as fast as we do. You can build it back though. I think I would stay with the 100,000IUs of dry D3 until you test again and see where you are. Maybe you can get your doc to test it for you now if he wants you to stop. If you are still low-ish, keep taking the 100K.

Here's my current approach that's brought me up from osteoporosis to osteopenia, which I was as pre-op. I'm hoping to come back even further.

6 - 600mg doses of Vitalady's calcium citrate only (capsules).  
6 -  doses of Vitalady's magnesium citrate (capsules)
6 - doses of 3 mg boron Vitalady but any outlet will have them
4 - 150 mcg vitamin K2 capsules (Vitalady) 
1 - 50,000 IU Vitalady's dry D3
​I also take  hormone replacements

Keep us posted.

--gina

 

 

Thanks, Gina!

I will be increasing my calcium and I'll have to purchase the mag citrate, boron, and K2. I already take 1000 IU of Vitamin K1 -- I'm assuming I should also add K2?

Yes, K2 helps the bone and K1 helps the blood. You got this!

 

This is good to read, Gina. I may give this a whirl also. I use Vitalady D, and calcium citrate with magnesium so do you suggest I buy the mag citrate separate?  I don't take K and dont recall if I've ever been tested for it I need to look. 

As I mentioned to you in my last PM osteo runs on both sides of my family after hysterectomies every woman has ended up with osteopenia to osteoporosis some in their 30s so of course I want to be as proactive as possible. I am also on HRT.