Friend breaking bones

I have a friend who is a fellow RNY'er who over the last couple of months has started breaking bones. He has broken three ribs and his pinky finger on separate occasions. He broke his pinky picking up a cup of coffee. He broke one of his ribs bending over a rail to pick up his drill. He is in his early 50's.  Has anyone else run into this problem? Thanks

I'm no medecal person but sounds like a serious lack of calcium. How long ago did he have his procedure? Does he still have his teeth? I know a lady who never took calcium suppliments and had major dental problems 4-5 years out. No bone problems though. Good luck to him. Rich

Rich, One piece of information I left out is that his bloodwork came back with calcium and iron levels normal. Thanks

I’m in my early 50’s And no such issue here. I haven’t heard of that particular Problem from Post-ops either over the last few years. Is he having "falling" or "balance" problems? He may need a "dexi-scan" test to check bone density. Could be lower levels of magnesium or Vitamin D As causing the Normal Levels of Calcium to be under-utilized. Best Wishes- Dx

Well I'm one that has the problems with fractures I took a very minor fall last August and fractured my leg so PCP sent me for a bone density scan and I have been dig. with pre-ostio. in both hips and full blown  Osteoporosis in my  Vertebra and my dr. stated that it was from MalAbsorption of my calcium and I'm 41 years old and I'm 14 months out from open RNY

This scares me because I lead a very impact prone life stile. I am plumber ,dirtbike rider ,snowmobile rider ,boxer. I broke 3 of my ribs a few months after rny on my dirtbike doing a hillclinb event and had never broken a fingernail before. I hope this britle bone stuff is not for real or I am in for a lot of broken bones

Nutrition would be my first guess, but... 

Wonder if thinning without exercise could do it? If bones can become unecessarily stronger from concussive or load bearing exercises (eg, running and resistance training, respectively), why couldn't the opposite happen with extreme weight loss and little or no exercise?

Chemically speaking, a drop in growth hormone from lack of exercise combined with the thinning might be another thing to check.

So in addition to what everyone else is saying, a bodily reaction or one person's body's over-reaction to a drop in weight minus exercise (maybe??)

Dave

 

Thanks to all of you for your responses. I am forwarding them to him.