osteopenia--anyone else experience this?

Hi,
I am 57, rny 2 years ago, lost about 160 lbs and am holding. I walk 1-2 miles per day, get 1200 mg calc citrate, plus more in cheese, yogurt, milk....
Dexa scan gave me a score that is borderline for needing supplementation with fosomax or other med.  Doctor wants to wait a year, up calcium and exercise, then see....
What are your thoughts about the medication, foods I should focus on, avoid...how much walking should I do...feels like I already walk a lot...
Also I am sad and discouraged that after all this work I have thinning bones in my hips, not osteoporosis, but still.....I feel tempted to overeat, like "what the heck?!"  I know that is is not the way to look at it, but I am sad and discouraged....
Thanks for any information...
Betty

I can relate - had bone scan done last fall and was told I too have osteopenia - I'm taking 1600 mg of calcium citrate daily. I am 48, but had a total hysterectomy, including ovaries out in 11/04. I was told that this is contributing to my calcium deficiency. I've been walking most days for 45 minutes, but was told that I need to add strength training. I asked about medication, but was told that they want to monitor me instead - so I have to have another bone scan in November 2008 - so i've had the bone density scan in 2006,2007 and will again this year. I don't do dairy, lactose intolorance big time, i'll eat cheese very rarely and can't tolorate yogurt daily so I do yogurt every other day. i am most concerened about my spine, as that is the main area that calcium is being leached from - i can understand your temptation to overeat - i started grazing when I got the news last fall and am currently working on getting the regain off - I've added a toning/weight routine every other day in addition to the walking. I was told to stop walking last fall and that helped contribute to some of the regain - I stopped completely because the nurse told me to - now I am doing the walking in addition to the weight training - some of the regain has started to come off - I would ask about the amount of calcium you should be supplementing with - but you might be getting more with the cheese, yogurt and milk you are eating in addition to the tablets - Thank you for posting - I had not heard of others experiencing this.

Betty, How is your Vitamin D level?  What about Vitamin K?  Magnesium?  Many things go into calcium absorption besides the calcium itself. Weight bearing exercise including walking is excellent for bone health too. I wouldn't give much credit to eating lots of dairy since our absorption from food is compromised.  Be sure to take calcium citrate in doses no more than 500 mg at a time.  Make sure your doctor checks Vitamin D levels (you want up above 50-60 above 70 is even better yet), Vitamin K (normal range), Magneisum (normal range), Calcium and PTH (parathyroid hormone).   Good luck, Kathy

i think as we age it is natural for many of us to experience bone thinning and loss. i have noticed over the past few years that my bone density scan, while still within normal range, seems to decline a little bit each time i have it. now as an rny patient, i guess i will have to monitor closely. good luck, jacki

There are several issues at work here.....first you don't absorb calcium (or as much) from food...so you need to suppliment...then you have different vit. levels playing into the absorbtion of calcium...how your body uses it.  Kathy & rich made a good point...you really need to have your Calcium, D-25 levels, and PTH levels tested.  This is your basic guide to your body's use of calcium.  Low D normally means HIGH PTH ..which means your body is sucking the calcium out of your bones to keep yoru calcium in your blood at an optimal level.  Also the 1200 mg of 2 years ago  (for calcium) has now been replaced by 2000 + mg my most surgeons.  Scott

Hi Betty, I'm 58--had my RNY in '04--had my first DexaScan in '06--and, yes, I too have osteopenia.  I was absolutely shocked, as I have always (all my life) been a good eater of calcium-rich foods (and still am--although of course I know the malabsorption issue), have worked out out since right after my surgery (walking outside, cardio at the gym, plus weight training), and of course there were all those decades of carrying around all the extra weight!!  In addition, although I have not been a poster child for taking my calcium citrate, I have certainly tried my best to get it in most of the time, including vit. D & mag. I know our wls definitely makes us more vulnerable; however, I do believe much of the problem is just plain ol' AGE and HEREDITY.  But it sure was a rude, surprising awakening for me to get the osteopenia label--when I was smugly thinking I was going to pass the test w/ flying colors! My Dr. is not having me currently doing anything differently.  She is having me wait until this fall for my next DexaScan and then go from there.

Hi all I am 57, histerectomy in 1991 I have osteoporosis in a few areas ,well I was taking calcium but added the D when I found I wasn't absorbing it. also now taking fosomax, I too have always eaten high calc rich foods I also have been doing cardio but feel we need more weight training, I believe Kathy has her vits right on! Actually its really great they now have ways to measure and strengthen instead of breaking and patching LOL, Marcia and yes age and heredity

I'm 56 and have osteoporosis.  I took Fosamax for 3 years and every year my density declined.  My vit D levels have always been great, I take a liquid calcium with mag and Vit d, plus I take D3.  Still my bone density declined.  I just don't absorb the calcium or the Fosamax.  Now I get a yearly injection of Reclast. I also wonder if our high protein diet contributes to it.  In a Mayo Clinic newsletter, it said that a high protein diet can contribute to osteoporosis.  They recommend protein intake based on the following formula:                  Your wt divided by 25 times 9.  For me that comes up to about 60 gms of protein a day. 

So now I'm trying to lower my protein intake and increase fruits and veggies.  But that's hard because of the low blood sugar issue (nesidioblastosis).