Osteoporosis after WLS
Recent Posts
Topic: RE: Just sayin' hi
Hi Panda,
I apologize fr not reponding to you earlier. I have had TOO much happening this summer and have just now been able to settle into a more peaceful Fall (5 weddings, 4 at my home, plus my son's in Ft. Lauderdale-I live in Oregon).
I am interested to hear your f/u DEXA rslts. I am curious as to why you don't think walking is all that beneficial, 'cause that's about all I do. I suffered through a foot and lower leg reconstruction in the last 4 years and have just this last year increased my activity beyond sitting on my butt. I doubt that I will ever jog again. Good for you for avoiding the bisphosphonates. Doesn't sound appropriate for you.
Thanks for chiming in, and good luck with the yoga!
Susan
I apologize fr not reponding to you earlier. I have had TOO much happening this summer and have just now been able to settle into a more peaceful Fall (5 weddings, 4 at my home, plus my son's in Ft. Lauderdale-I live in Oregon).
I am interested to hear your f/u DEXA rslts. I am curious as to why you don't think walking is all that beneficial, 'cause that's about all I do. I suffered through a foot and lower leg reconstruction in the last 4 years and have just this last year increased my activity beyond sitting on my butt. I doubt that I will ever jog again. Good for you for avoiding the bisphosphonates. Doesn't sound appropriate for you.
Thanks for chiming in, and good luck with the yoga!
Susan
Topic: Improved Lab Results
Just got back from vacation to some very welcome news: I am spilling calcium in my urine!!!
Yippee!!! 94 mg (normal 100-300) This is an improvement from previously nondetectable. Still don't have my PTH levels. Cal. concentrate 3.9 mg/dl - midrange.
I am so grateful to see that aggressive with the supplements is not just money down the drain (quite literrally).
Yippee!!! 94 mg (normal 100-300) This is an improvement from previously nondetectable. Still don't have my PTH levels. Cal. concentrate 3.9 mg/dl - midrange.
I am so grateful to see that aggressive with the supplements is not just money down the drain (quite literrally).
Topic: RE: Thanks, Susan.
Hey girls. I'm 44 with osteopenia. Can I come and play?
Pre-band highest weight: 244
Pre-band surgery weight: 233
Lowest: 199 ( for, like, a day)
CW: 260 (yes, with the band!)
Current Fill: 5cc in 10cc band
BMI: 49
Pre-band surgery weight: 233
Lowest: 199 ( for, like, a day)
CW: 260 (yes, with the band!)
Current Fill: 5cc in 10cc band
BMI: 49
Topic: Just sayin' hi
Hello,
I don't have osteoporosis (yet) but I lost 19% of my bone mass at my hip since weight loss surgery. (No loss in my spine.) I had it checked for the first time at 3 months out and I was at the average for whatever perfect and much younger woman they compare you against with the T score. Second scan (on same machine at 27 months out) I'm below average on the T score (but not a full standard deviation which would put me at osteopenia) and just a little bit below on the Z score (comparison with my own age group).
Despite the numbers, my doctor tried to give me a script for Fosamax, once again proving he doesn't understand anything about my surgery even though I've explained it repeatedly. (sigh) That particular drug is contraindicated for gastrectomy patients, with actonel (residronate) showing fewer gastric issues. I refuse to take either. Those are major scary drugs with no long term safety studies. I'm not anywhere near a place where their benefit would outweigh their risk. I'm not post menopausal (the group the drug has been tested on) and I'm still technically in the normal range on my dexa.scan. Though that 19% drop doesn't bode well for the future
Realistically what we all fear is the dreaded broken hip, right? Low bone density is but one factor in whether or not I'll fall and break my hip. Things like balance and fitness level are equally important so that's where I'm choosing to focus. Using the WHO's FRAX calculator, based on my dexa score and other lifestyle indicators my risk of breaking my hip in the next ten years is 0.1%. That's hardly worth risking taking bisphosphonates!
I'm going to do another dexa scan in a few months and see if I'm still dropping. In the meantime I've upped my calcium and vitamin k2. I'm also increasing my weight bearing exercise. I'd been walking, but I've increased it. I know walking barely makes a difference compared to higher impact exercise, but it's something, isn't it?. I'm starting yoga as well. I need to find something higher impact that I like.
Anyway, I just wanted to say hi and thanks for starting this group on OH. Hopefully it will become more populated as this is an important topic for WLS patients.
I don't have osteoporosis (yet) but I lost 19% of my bone mass at my hip since weight loss surgery. (No loss in my spine.) I had it checked for the first time at 3 months out and I was at the average for whatever perfect and much younger woman they compare you against with the T score. Second scan (on same machine at 27 months out) I'm below average on the T score (but not a full standard deviation which would put me at osteopenia) and just a little bit below on the Z score (comparison with my own age group).
Despite the numbers, my doctor tried to give me a script for Fosamax, once again proving he doesn't understand anything about my surgery even though I've explained it repeatedly. (sigh) That particular drug is contraindicated for gastrectomy patients, with actonel (residronate) showing fewer gastric issues. I refuse to take either. Those are major scary drugs with no long term safety studies. I'm not anywhere near a place where their benefit would outweigh their risk. I'm not post menopausal (the group the drug has been tested on) and I'm still technically in the normal range on my dexa.scan. Though that 19% drop doesn't bode well for the future
Realistically what we all fear is the dreaded broken hip, right? Low bone density is but one factor in whether or not I'll fall and break my hip. Things like balance and fitness level are equally important so that's where I'm choosing to focus. Using the WHO's FRAX calculator, based on my dexa score and other lifestyle indicators my risk of breaking my hip in the next ten years is 0.1%. That's hardly worth risking taking bisphosphonates!
I'm going to do another dexa scan in a few months and see if I'm still dropping. In the meantime I've upped my calcium and vitamin k2. I'm also increasing my weight bearing exercise. I'd been walking, but I've increased it. I know walking barely makes a difference compared to higher impact exercise, but it's something, isn't it?. I'm starting yoga as well. I need to find something higher impact that I like.
Anyway, I just wanted to say hi and thanks for starting this group on OH. Hopefully it will become more populated as this is an important topic for WLS patients.
Topic: RE: Yahoo Osteoporosis Group
Do you know the name of the yahoo group? It would sure make it easier to find. Thank you.
Topic: Yahoo Osteoporosis Group
I did want to mention, as you may already know, that Michelle has a yahoo group with this same focus. Michelle has really been a gift to all of us in the WLS community.
It has a lot of useful information and quite a wide following, geographically speaking. Studies are sited, as well as personal experience.
I don't care for or fully understand how the format for that site works. It is very combersome and awkward to read, at least the way it shows up on my computer.
Perhaps it is simply an issue of how I set up my viewing page, I don't know. Absolutely no computer skills here.
Susan
It has a lot of useful information and quite a wide following, geographically speaking. Studies are sited, as well as personal experience.
I don't care for or fully understand how the format for that site works. It is very combersome and awkward to read, at least the way it shows up on my computer.
Perhaps it is simply an issue of how I set up my viewing page, I don't know. Absolutely no computer skills here.
Susan
Topic: Need an Effective Leader!
Hello Everyone!
It is very apparent that I am not a good group owner. I simply do not have the time. I have 4 weddings at my property in the upcoming months and need to get my place worthy of Making-Memories (and the weather has not cooperated this Spring).
So, if anyone is willing to take over, I would be delighted.
In my own case, I have returned to 200K Vit D3, upped the K2 to (2) 150's, increased the Mag citrate to every cal citrate dose. Currently taking cal citrate 900 mg 5 x qd.
I read that people / studies recommend a 2:1 ratio calcium to magnesium. What does this mean? 2:1 mg? so for every 600 cal citrate that should be paired with Mag citrate 300 mg? ( I have read that you need magnesium citrate to support the Vit D3 to support the Calcium citrate) .
I also started taking Boron 3 mg with every calcium dose. What else am I missing?
One last question that bounces around in my head: with all of the colase, sennakot and Miralax that I take, creating stool with the consistency of thick sludge, how much of that gooey mess is actually in contact with a mucosal wall for uptake? How much is bound up by the stool softeners? I guess that true answer lies in my lab values, which I am hoping to improve. Frustrating. I wonder how much $$ I flush daily down the toilet.
Susan
It is very apparent that I am not a good group owner. I simply do not have the time. I have 4 weddings at my property in the upcoming months and need to get my place worthy of Making-Memories (and the weather has not cooperated this Spring).
So, if anyone is willing to take over, I would be delighted.
In my own case, I have returned to 200K Vit D3, upped the K2 to (2) 150's, increased the Mag citrate to every cal citrate dose. Currently taking cal citrate 900 mg 5 x qd.
I read that people / studies recommend a 2:1 ratio calcium to magnesium. What does this mean? 2:1 mg? so for every 600 cal citrate that should be paired with Mag citrate 300 mg? ( I have read that you need magnesium citrate to support the Vit D3 to support the Calcium citrate) .
I also started taking Boron 3 mg with every calcium dose. What else am I missing?
One last question that bounces around in my head: with all of the colase, sennakot and Miralax that I take, creating stool with the consistency of thick sludge, how much of that gooey mess is actually in contact with a mucosal wall for uptake? How much is bound up by the stool softeners? I guess that true answer lies in my lab values, which I am hoping to improve. Frustrating. I wonder how much $$ I flush daily down the toilet.
Susan
Topic: RE: Where to start?
I'm working with my GYN and my PCP currently but my GYN suggested I talk to a specialist (rheumatologist) about the osteoporosis and how having a malabsorptive WLS might indicate another treatment, such as an injectable medication vice an oral medication. I haven't had any problems with the Fosamax, I guess I should knock on wood when I say that.
--gina
--gina
5'1" -- HW 195/SW 187/GW 115 July 08/CW 121 Dec 2012
******GOAL*******
Starting BMI between 35 and 40ish?
Join us on the Lightweights Board!
DS on Aug 9, 2007 with Dr. Hazem Elariny
Topic: RE: Where to start?
I guess if your not losing mass then your making some headway!! In 2007 they started me on hormones but then I had RNY so I stopped them and never looked back :( My PCP is not real up on WLS patients but she tries. Have you had any issues taking the Fosamax? As soon as I get the written results I guess I'll know a little more they just gave some info over the phone. Thanks for your input. Toni
HW 271/SW 255 RNY Jan.21 08 RNY Revision July 25th 2013
Plastics done 4/21/10 (Dr. Sauceda)
Extended TT, Full Arm lift, BL/BA, Long Thigh lift
