Osteopenia/osteoporosis

4 years ago I was diagnosed with borderline low bone density - advised to continue my calcium citrate, Vitamin D and weight training.  when I had a dexascan 2 years later I had about a 10% loss in my bone density score and was advised to add Actonel to the regimin. NOW I am recently diagnosed with very severe osteopenia.   My Dexascan shows that the density in my hips is almost to the point of osteoporosis. Fortunately my spine, while it has lost some, is still at the lower end of the "normal" range. the Actonel I took did not help and I lost a whole bunch more bone density. So I am being treated with an IV med called Reclast that helps stop the loss.  It is in the same family as Fosamax, Boniva etc, but since it is IV I don't have to worry about it absorbing through my intestines.  I do however have to worry about my absorption of Calcium and Vitamin D.    The really big  part I hate is that the Dr said in 2 years when I have my next Dexascan that the best I can hope for is that I will have no more loss.  after that I may have some improvement, but it is slow, and most people  who are at this point need to have lifetime treatment.  I have done a ton of research and what I have learned is that any one who loses a large amount of weight loses bone density - whether they have a gastric bypass or not.  So while gastric bypass patients have a high rate of osteoporosis - they would if they lost weight by other means as well.  So I can't blame just the gastric bypass.  I  had YEARS of poor nutrition prior to my gastric bypass, in my younger years - when I was supposed to be banking calcium into my bones I was not drinking milk or getting anywhere near adequate calcium. I was also pregnant as a teenager when I should have been building my bones I was growing a baby.  ( actually 3 babies at the age of 22) my morbidly obese years were  years of poor nutrition and a sedntary lifestyle - a recipe for osteoporosis.  Drinking Pop also affects bone development and I drank a lot of that in my childhood - and it helps pull calcium out of your bones.  I am also ( ahem) an "older" woman.  ( how the hell did that happen????) after menopause women tend to lose bone density as they lose their estrogen.  Since my menopausal symptoms have been mild I have never used any hormone replacement therapy as there are risks from that as well, and I never felt my symptoms were enough to warrent it. Maybe I should have done that - to protect my bones. I don't know. The ortho Dr said that adding HRT to the mix would not give any additional benefits over the Reclast alone.  Get your dexascans and follow through with any and all recommendations - discuss it in detail with your DR and do not hesitate to see a specialist in the area for treatment if necessary.  I will post more info later on osteoporosis.

First, let me say you do not LOOK like an older woman LOL!  You look like a puppy!   And a very cute one at that. Second, I had a complete set of labs done recommended by Michelle from Vitalady.  Turns out I'm anemic and have a problem with my D and calcium.  I would have never known any of this because Dr. Anthone only does a metabolic panel.  That showed everything in the normal range.  It was the specific tests for D, A, calcium, etc. that showed the problems.  I have a 150 common channel which makes me closer to a distal RNY than a DSer.  I'm just really glad I decided to do this now before things start tanking enough to cause permanent damage.  I think it is very important that we are proactive.  Dr. A is a GREAT surgeon, but the followup nutrition stuff?  I think he and other great surgeons have a ways to go on that.  BTW - my dexascan was at the top of the chart on bone density, so my bones are still great.  Hopefully we will head this off at the pass.  I'm hoping, Willow, that they can help you turn things around. 

I am actually a grandmother of 3, the tiny pic on my posts does a good job of hiding the crows feet and grey hairs LOL.   my list of annual labs is endless it seems.  I have yearly a CBC, Complete metabolic panel whi*****ludes  electrolytes(sodium, cloride , potassium, calcium, etc,)  BUN, Creatnine, (which check kidney function) glucose, liver panel(includes liver enzymes, and bilirubin) . lipid panel,  B-12, folate, albumin, total protein, magnesium, iron, total iron binding capacity, iron saturation, ferritin,  every thing was excellent - and I get copies of my labs so I can track for trends - I do not trust just hearing "normal"  I want to know if there are changes or maybe drops that are still in the normal range but maybe going in the wrong direction, that might need intervention before they become abnormal. this year I also had an ionized calcium - which is actually a better representation of the actual amount of free calcium in your blood,  and vitamin D2 and D3, and Parathyroid level, due to the large loss of bone I had. sometimes a hyperparathyroid will cause your body to pull calcium out of your bones, so that had to be ruled out.  the D2 was borderline on the lower side so I am upping my vit D intake.  all of my labs have been very good,  but in some things they just dont tell the whole picture.  The dexascan is so important - and if your calcium - and D have probelms on your labs, be sure to follow up carefully.