Bariatric Journey

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**willow**
on 2/28/08 11:19 am - Lake In The Hills, IL

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.

10+ years post op and still maintaining!!! surgery 9/25/2002 260/134
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