Osteoporosis after WLS
Recent Posts
Topic: RE: Where to start?
Just from a vitamins perspective--my PCP told me to double my calcium and increase my vitamin D when she put me on Fosamax. Vitalady advised increasing magnesium citrate (capsules), boron and vitamin K2 as well. I also experimented with strontium for about a year and at my age I needed hormone replacements. (apparently, estrogen helps with bone mass retention) As far a weight bearing exercising--I walk in 15 minute snatches during the workday and do leaning push-ups. I think I'm doing the right things to stop the bone loss but I haven't seen any improvement in bone mass. Dexa scan numbers have not changed the last 2 times.
--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: Welcome to the Osteoporosis after WLS Forum
About the sublingual--I just wanted to see if another delivery method would work as well as increasing another 50,000IUs. It took longer to bring the D level back up than when I was taking 100,000IUs but it worked over time. Now I'm only taking 50,000IUs a day and tanning once a week. We'll see in a few months if my D goes down too far.
--g
--g
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?
Hi ToniLee,
To answer your question, we'll need more info from you.
What are you currently taking re: vitamins and supplements including dosages and frequency? With food or without?
Yes, weight bearing exercise is a significant part of the "program". Those bears need to be used, stressed in order to maintain and hopefully gain bone mass. Walking is the least stressful on your cartilage and joint surfaces, yet demanding enough for the muscles and body weight to put some demand on the bone. A good minimum starting point is 30 min a day 5-7 days a week. Of course, anything is better than sitting in a chair. Yoga, dance,pilates are also good, while swimming and cycling do not place enough stress on the bones to be helpful (but are good for overall cardiac conditioning).
I thought that I had this pretty well scoped out,too, just to be blown away with an unexpectedly poor PTH level. I take my vitamins with me in little plastic med containers. I found that I get too busy and forget to take them. So, now, I put my meds in my pockets and have them on me at all times, so when I think abt it, I take them. I am also trying to take them with warm / hot fluids to encourage the breakdown of the gelatin capsules, or, I am opening the capsules up and loading the contents right on my tongue, followed by lots of water.
Post details and I will chime in with what I know. I'm certain that others will share their expertise as well.
Susan
To answer your question, we'll need more info from you.
What are you currently taking re: vitamins and supplements including dosages and frequency? With food or without?
Yes, weight bearing exercise is a significant part of the "program". Those bears need to be used, stressed in order to maintain and hopefully gain bone mass. Walking is the least stressful on your cartilage and joint surfaces, yet demanding enough for the muscles and body weight to put some demand on the bone. A good minimum starting point is 30 min a day 5-7 days a week. Of course, anything is better than sitting in a chair. Yoga, dance,pilates are also good, while swimming and cycling do not place enough stress on the bones to be helpful (but are good for overall cardiac conditioning).
I thought that I had this pretty well scoped out,too, just to be blown away with an unexpectedly poor PTH level. I take my vitamins with me in little plastic med containers. I found that I get too busy and forget to take them. So, now, I put my meds in my pockets and have them on me at all times, so when I think abt it, I take them. I am also trying to take them with warm / hot fluids to encourage the breakdown of the gelatin capsules, or, I am opening the capsules up and loading the contents right on my tongue, followed by lots of water.
Post details and I will chime in with what I know. I'm certain that others will share their expertise as well.
Susan
Topic: Where to start?
I just received the results of my 3rd Dexascan and have decreased 9% and 10% in spine and right hip. I have been taking most of my Bariatric Advantage vitamins. Since going back to work I haven't been as diligent taking them. Where do I start?? Doc said weight bearing exercise?? Any suggestions please. Thanks,
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
Topic: RE: Thanks, Susan.
Thank you Susan, for starting this. Thank you Ms.Cal. for making sure it happened. Karen
Topic: RE: Welcome to the Osteoporosis after WLS Forum
Gina,
Your posts are always very helpful. I have implemented some of your ideas into my plan.
Why the sublingual D3 rather than increasing the po intake?
More questions, but I am going to be late to work if I stay here...
Susan
Your posts are always very helpful. I have implemented some of your ideas into my plan.
Why the sublingual D3 rather than increasing the po intake?
More questions, but I am going to be late to work if I stay here...
Susan
Topic: RE: Not to make the first post a negative one, but ...
Diana,
your post is EXACTLY what motivated me to start this group. I thought that I was finally making some good headway, thinking that I was going to be doing the Happy-Dance / show-off the good rslts of my efforts. Then, such a letdown. And just after I read your post. Depressing. I need to find a better solution.
I am going back to my 200K Vit D3 , up the Boron, open up my calcium capsules and dump them into warm water, etc. Anything that I can think of.
I'm glad you are here. Always add good balance to any discussion.
Yes, I would reverse/revise my DS in order to save my bones. Crushed nerve pain is an intolerable way to live. It is simply not living, but avoiding pain. Not for anyone.
Susan
your post is EXACTLY what motivated me to start this group. I thought that I was finally making some good headway, thinking that I was going to be doing the Happy-Dance / show-off the good rslts of my efforts. Then, such a letdown. And just after I read your post. Depressing. I need to find a better solution.
I am going back to my 200K Vit D3 , up the Boron, open up my calcium capsules and dump them into warm water, etc. Anything that I can think of.
I'm glad you are here. Always add good balance to any discussion.
Yes, I would reverse/revise my DS in order to save my bones. Crushed nerve pain is an intolerable way to live. It is simply not living, but avoiding pain. Not for anyone.
Susan
Topic: RE: Welcome to the Osteoporosis after WLS Forum
Hi Susan,
I talked to Vitalady when I was first diagnosed with osteoporosis because I was osteopenic pre-op and had started following her plan as soon as I learned enough. I had perfect labs at 1 year post-op and was surprised I had slipped as I did at my first post-op dexa scan.
My doc immediately put me on oral Fosamax once a week, which I'm learning probably isn't the best solution for WLS patients but I'll have to see a specialist to get an injectable med. Some WLS patients are seeing success with Forteo.
Vitalady suggested 3,600mg of calcium citrate (8 servings a day), 140mg of mag citrate with each calcium dose, 3mg of boron with each dose, 50,000IUs of D3, 300mcg of vitamin K2 (2 servings) and strontium away from calcium at bedtime with my Proferrin.
My labs went crazy at first. My D3 dropped, PTH went up and calcium went way down. My doc said all that was pretty normal given the Fosamax. Apparently, they give that stuff to folks who overdose on vitamin D. Anyway, I added 20,000IUs of D3 in sublingual form and stayed with that until just recently when my D3 came back at 137. Now I just take 50,000IUs in capsule form and I still tan once a week for 8 minutes. (Michelle doesn't agree with tanning)
My last 2 dexa scans indicate the bone loss has stopped but none of the numbers are showing improvement. Folks who are using Forteo are seeing improvement. I plan to talk to Dr Elariny about a specialist.
Thanks for starting the group. I hope we can help each other.
--gina
I talked to Vitalady when I was first diagnosed with osteoporosis because I was osteopenic pre-op and had started following her plan as soon as I learned enough. I had perfect labs at 1 year post-op and was surprised I had slipped as I did at my first post-op dexa scan.
My doc immediately put me on oral Fosamax once a week, which I'm learning probably isn't the best solution for WLS patients but I'll have to see a specialist to get an injectable med. Some WLS patients are seeing success with Forteo.
Vitalady suggested 3,600mg of calcium citrate (8 servings a day), 140mg of mag citrate with each calcium dose, 3mg of boron with each dose, 50,000IUs of D3, 300mcg of vitamin K2 (2 servings) and strontium away from calcium at bedtime with my Proferrin.
My labs went crazy at first. My D3 dropped, PTH went up and calcium went way down. My doc said all that was pretty normal given the Fosamax. Apparently, they give that stuff to folks who overdose on vitamin D. Anyway, I added 20,000IUs of D3 in sublingual form and stayed with that until just recently when my D3 came back at 137. Now I just take 50,000IUs in capsule form and I still tan once a week for 8 minutes. (Michelle doesn't agree with tanning)
My last 2 dexa scans indicate the bone loss has stopped but none of the numbers are showing improvement. Folks who are using Forteo are seeing improvement. I plan to talk to Dr Elariny about a specialist.
Thanks for starting the group. I hope we can help each other.
--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: Welcome to the Osteoporosis after WLS Forum
Check out my profile: http://www.obesityhelp.com/member/goodkel/
Or click on my name
DS SW 265 CW 120 5'7"
Sorry, no wisdom. I was JUST diagnosed with osteopenia myself and am here to learn. Thanks for starting this group!
Check out my profile: http://www.obesityhelp.com/member/goodkel/Or click on my name
DS SW 265 CW 120 5'7"
Ms. Cal Culator
on 4/4/11 3:26 pm - Tuvalu
on 4/4/11 3:26 pm - Tuvalu
Topic: Thanks, Susan.
I'm 64, have osteopenia--which means, as far as I know, that I'm 64...and don't want osteoporosis.
My PTH is within normal, but too high for my taste. My calcium and D are normal but too low for my taste.
I'm 64, have osteopenia--which means, as far as I know, that I'm 64...and don't want osteoporosis.
My PTH is within normal, but too high for my taste. My calcium and D are normal but too low for my taste.
