Is It Osteoporosis or Not

Dear All,

I am 4.5 years out from a lap band to DS done by Dr. Daniel Cottam. I can honestly say my DS saved my life in more ways than just losing 110 lbs. Five months post surgery, my labs were VERY wonky-WBC 1.1 Absolute Neutrophils .02, Platelets 98. Small world, my nurse at my surgeons office worked weekends for an Oncologists. She told me to quickly get into a hematologist-after a bone marrow biopsy, Acute Myeloid Leukemia was confirmed. I was admitted and started chemo that day due to the aggressive nature of AML.

By the grace of almighty God, I am in remission and praising Him for that miracle. All is fantastic except for the subject of my post. I had a dexi with my mamo this year and was dxd with high fracture risk osteoporosis. I had a dexi in 2014 that was normal.

I am diligent with vitamins, D holds in the 50s, PTH 48, Calcium is 8.7. Upon dx, I contacted my surgeon's office because I wanted advice as to what med would be absorbed due to my WLS. I was shocked when my phone rang and it was my surgeon. He said you do not have Osteoporsis, that my bones are reacting from carrying 100+ less pounds and that the density would return over time.

Have any of you been told this? I am 52 and not sure if I'm post menopausal as the year of big gun chemo I had stopped all menstruation. I am not keen on the meds for Osteo as the side effects seem unpleasant. Any and all advise is appreciated.

Julie

He is most likely correct!

What was the result of your DEXA, exactly? That will tell you if you have osteoporosis or not. But it sure as hell sounds like you have it.

Losing a little bone density after WLS is typical. It looks like you've lost a ton. Too much. The calcium blood test only shows the calcium in your blood, and tells you nothing about your bones. Your PTH is really high. That indicates you are leaching calcium from your bones, which keeps your blood calcium levels up. PTH should be in the low end of the range with healthy bones.

I was up to 500 mg of calcium citrate 5 times per day, and still had high PTH and increasing osteopenia. And I only had RNY. I switched to Patch D3/Calcium, and my numbers improved a lot. But they don't seem to work for everyone.

Your surgeon may be a great cutter, but I wouldn't trust him on this. I'd talk to a specialist, soon, and increase your calcium. Trying the patch couldn't hurt, since you are already likely taking vitamins all day long.

Thank you Grim. My dexi said high risk for fracture, osteopenia. What type of specialist should i see for this. I have heard awful side effects from the foximax and not sure of I'll absorb it. My Pcm is an air force doc as my hubby is retired at. I need a specialist who understands dx to.

Out of my area but can you provide the number differences between your 2014 OK scan and your latest? It might help people come up with better ideas.

Other than that I've seen some posts that recommend Jarrow bone up instead of calcium citrate when working on osteo issues.

Pete

I went from a normal dexa (taken the first year of the DS) to full blown osteoperosis within a 10-year period, even though I was completely compliant with all my vitamins, calcium, etc. There is history of osteoperosis in my family.

No doctor has EVER told me that it would return to normal. The only issues I ever had were iron deficiency anemia. I am post-menopausal and my dexa is still bad. I had two Reclast infusions over a two year period but the neurologist wasn't impressed with the results (just stayed the same - didn't get worse or better).

I just turned 60 and I don't have any expectation for this. I take my calcium and D regularly, but there's really nothing more I can do. Guess I could go back to the gym but...