Bone Density & other endocrine stuff

Had my annual bone density yesterday. Not good again. I'm on Fosamax and I'm still losing density in my hips. Not severe yet. I do have four gland parathyroid hyperplasia, but my calcium levels have always been good. I had to take in a second of the morning urine sample to see how fast I'm losing bone. If that's okay, he will probably start me on IV Boniva every 3 months. It may just be an absorbtion problem. But knowing my body, it won't be that simple. If it's bad, I may be looking at removing the parathyroid glands. What next? That coupled with the hypoglycemia, I'm really bummed about all this. I had a bunch of labs drawn at the endo's office yesterday AM. I had to have them drawn while I was having symptoms. The only way I could safely do that was to go to their office and eat something then wait till I dropped. I decided if I had to do that, at least I would enjoy the food! I ate M & M's. Dropped like a rock. So now I wait for those results. It could be just reactive hypoglycemia or it could be an insulinoma. I can certainly tell tho when I've eaten ANY carbs. My heart rate goes up as does my BP. Then I get really sleepy. I do this on wt control oatmeal! Then my blood sugar drops to like 53. The strange this is that I've been eating oatmeal for at least 2 years and it was never a problem until the last 6 months or so. Something has changed. So now I wait.

I hope you get results soon and feel better....It's no fun being stressed out during the holidays....I will keep you in my prayers.

Good luck to you! I had a parathyroid adenoma prior to WLS so my calcium levels and PTH were high and I was losing bone density. Luckily the levels bounced around and my surgeon was willing to do the WLS. Finally found a good endo who managed to locate the adenoma rather than "just wait"as the other 2 were of course I was losing bone desnity and risking kidney stones as I poured calcium out in my urine. I had the adenoma removed this past February. Luckily the other 3 parathyroids woke right up and have been doing their job. I'm supposed to get a new bone density scan in February (a year after removal) so we'll see if it is still osteopenia or better or worse. Best wishes on the blood sugar. So far I've done okay. I'll drop if I go more than 4 hours without eating. I avoid carbs except vegies and some fruit. I either have a flour issue or something because I can gain multiple pounds from eating something wheat or so. I've only had a couple of unexplained blood sugar drops thus far and they were a while ago. Take good care and I hope you find your answers soon. Kathy

Hmmm, I hope they can figure it out for you soon!!! I hate waiting! Hang in there! Tracy B

What is your 25 Hydroxy D and your PTH levels? I had to quit Fosamax....it was evil to me....and my bones... Darlene

Hi Lyn, I too had 10% bone loss in my hip 2 years ago. I was sent to a bone specialist and through a urine test found out that I had been losing calcium in my urine (probably for years, as I have fractured my ankle 3x on one and 1x on the other over the last 20 years). She said it could be hereditary or from the surgery. I'm thinking hereditary. Anyway, I was put on Spironolactone and it seems to have taken care of the problem. I was also high in oxylates from drinking so much tea it turns out. High levels can cause kidney stones. Tea and gelatin are the worst for food containing high amounts of oxylates it seems. There is a list, but most of it I don't eat anyway. Hope this helps. Have a healthy new year and wonderful Christmas. Marilyn

Hey Lyn ... I had my first bone density test this past September ... showed osteopenia, yet no one is suggesting anything for me. I also have been battling some type of hypoglycemia as well ... in August I had a grand mal seizure ... my blood sugar dropped to 23. After a glucose tolerance test, it was 36. My docs think the same thing happened in May when I passed out in a club (paramedics thought I was drunk, which I wasn't ... didn't do a blood check, and left me there) because I felt exactly the same as I did just prior to my seizure. I am trying to keep track of what everyone is saying here, and I'm just getting more confused. I can relate to what you say when you eat carbs ... almost everytime I eat ANYTHING, I too have that "mini-dump", with the sweating or getting flushed, nauseated, sleepy, etc. The endo doesn't seem concerned, told me to eat high fat and high protein ... and I see someone did mention something about parathyroid levels, and my last labs (January '06) did show a high parathyroid level. Like you, this started happening after 2 years out. Maybe I shouldn't be concerned and just drop it? I'm getting tired. I look forward to hearing more ... please keep posting. Karyn

Lyn, I have read many many posts from people around 1-2 years out about hypoglycemia. According to a small study by the Mayo clinic and other reports, hypoglycemia seems to be a direct side effect of RNY. I don't know if OH can be searched for this topic along with " low blood sugars" etc. but it is a dangerous developement. If this occurs during the night, you may not wake up and know you are experiencing extreme low blood sugars. You should try to wake around 3 am and check your level. Eating snacks with complex carbs along with a protein may help, especially before bed or exercise. Simple sugars like candy, orange juice and white bread may cause a quick rise in insulin, leading to a subsequent low in blood sugars. That's why I say complex carbs. Whole grains, milk, brown rice, root vegetables, high fiber cereals, yams, corn, peas and beans. Some people ( unknown yet how many) who have RNY develope extra islets in the pancreas and produce an excess of insulin when they eat almost ANY food. This leads to very low blood sugars. Treatment is neccessary by diet or if diet can't help, surgery to remove part of the pancreas. This side-effect( complication) is being reporting more and more as we have a LOT more RNY surgeries over the past few years. Please feel free tolook it up on the internet, I have.