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[TNM45689]

HI

I have just come back from Chelsea and Wesminster's Menopause Clinic and had a bone density scan which showed I have osteoporosis. Obviously I am in complete shock and wasnt really prepared for this. It is my husband's birthday today and so do not want to spoil it by telling him today.

I am feling sorry for myself (there are so many more people worse off than me I know), noone to talk to and Ia m not really sure what it all means - what it has made me realise is how important it is to get my HRT right (I was about to give up)..... I am not sure whether my bone density can be improved.

Any words of wisdom or hug would be much appreciated.
Tx

[CLKD]

Your appt sounds a waste of time if you weren't given advice    so maybe go onto the UK Osteoporosis web-site for advice.  I think that they charge  .

If The Ch&W were doing their job they should have suggested seeing a dietician as well as how to ease potential problems with lack of bone density.  There really is no Joined Up Thinking these days 

Right: happy birthday 2 your DH - are you celebrating with him?  Next, eating a good diet with lots of calcium-based foods will help.  As will brisk walking to impact on the long bones.  10 mins daily weight bearing exercise initially can help.  As the Spring arrives, get those maps out  .  A dietician could tell you if any minerals are required, there may be advice on the 'alternative' threads here. 

HRT can certainly help protect bones and heart.  Have a think of how much benefit you have had from the regime you are on.  Browse round, using the search box to see what threads pop up about the medication you use.

[TNM45689]

Thanks so much for your reply - I am sure once I get my head around it I will be fine. They mucked up my appointment today so the way I found out was by reading my own print out from the scan...I then had a call to confirm but that was it - they will send a letter to my GP. I was meant to have my 3 month review today but they mucked up the appointments - I have had some bleeding over the last couple of weeks (my mum died of womb cancer) so I was struggling with all of this anyway and ready to come off HRT!

Yummy meal will be cooked for him and then we will go out on Sat.

Thanks for your kindness.
xx

[CLKD]

Life can be as clear as mud sometimes   

Maybe make a list of your worries prior to your next appt.?  Let us know how you get on.

What exercise do you like at this time of year?  Me: not a lot other than getting out of bed or getting into my bath 

[TNM45689]

Will do - thank you.

  I am running, a few HIIT classes and do lots of walking so pretty fit.....I will come up with a plan for this all......

Txxx

[allie007]

So sorry about your diagnosis. Like the others said a diet rich in calcium and vitamin d and resistance training exercise will help a great deal. That will help strengthen your bones to support your joints. Try to avoid any high impact exercise though as this will put too much pressure on them xx

[TNM45689]

Thanks Ali007 xx

[Conolly]

Hello TNM45689,

It's always a shock to receive any diagnosis, but now you know what you have to do and so the doctors. Have a huge hug!
 
Conolly X

[TNM45689]

Thanks Conolly - I agree - unfortunately I do not know what to do and I have no doctor support presently.....

Tx

[Hurdity]

Hi TNM45689

So sorry to hear about this diagnosis at such a young age. I can understand what a shock this must be for you. I would suggest you get back to the Chelsea and Westminster asap regarding the next step as well as making an urgent appointment with your doctor. I would want specialist care rather than the standard treatment due to your age so a referral and ideally further advice from the C & W on the best course of action - bearing in mind your menopausal status - if they are able to give it?

I don't know how they will decide to treat you - there are a number of different treatments and what they decide will undoubtedly be affected by your age. HRT is normally advised to help prevent osteoporosis but I wonder if you will be prescribed  a drug treatment too?

In your position I would want to make sure my oestrogen levels were much higher in order to maintain and hopefully improve bone density - this would be the first thing. I don't know what HRT (type and dose) you have been on and for how long you have been post-menopausal?

Obviously the Calcium, Vit D and exercise advice is paramount - you may even be prescribed supplements to help build bone - but I would say increasing oestrogen is the first and most important step - as well as whatever other treatment your doctors advise.

I can understand your fears especially regaridng your mother but as you are so young, it is vital to get this right. endometrial cancer can be avoided (the risk minimised) with the right combination of oestrogen and progestogen.

Take care and try not to worry.

Hurdity x

[TNM45689]

Thanks ladies - so lovely to have you to talk to about it and really useful advice.....will make a note of it all...

I have only been on HRT for 6 months - continuous Estradot 50mg and Utrogestan (vaginally)....

Right I have just booked an emergency  appointment with my GP (otherwise I have to wait weeks) for today and will ask for blood tests for my estrogen, Vit D and Calcuim..

Thanks again

xxx

[CLKD]

Let us know how you get on?

[TNM45689]

Will do xx

[rosie17]

Hi TNM45689,

A diagnosis of osteoporosis doesn't necessarily mean you will fracture. I'm 63 and was diagnosed close to 10 years ago with fairly severe osteoporosis of the lumbar spine (hips were okay). I was devastated, as you must be. I was afraid to twist my body to look behind me as I was backing up my car, sure that my body would snap in two if I went too far. I pictured myself walking along and my back suddenly breaking and the top half of my body falling forward and dangling from my hips. I asked my doctor if there were things I could do to increase my bone density, and she actually said, “you can't increase bone without taking drugs.”

So I went on a mission of researching osteoporosis, what it really means, how normal it is to lose bone mass with age, (even young people can have low bone density), etc., and I came across some very helpful books and web sites. I lurked around the National Osteoporosis Foundation web site's forum and learned a LOT about how to keep my bones healthy and flexible in spite of the diagnosis, along with other people's experiences with bone-building drugs. The book “The Myth of Osteoporosis” by Gillian Sanson might be useful for toning down some of the fear you must feel. The author doesn't necessarily claim that osteoporosis itself is a myth, but that there are many myths surrounding the “disease.” She doesn't advocate HRT in the book (published in 2003), still under the spell of the cancer threat. Of course, we now know that those ‘cancer scares' are mostly unfounded.

I never took bisphosphonates and I'm glad I never started, with all the bad press about them nowadays. I know some ladies here might disagree with me, but each to their own. I had quite a nasty fall not too long ago, landing on my hands and knees, and my first thought was “OMG! What did I break?” But I got up, dusted myself off, took inventory of my body, and carried on with just a few scrapes.

In no way am I suggesting that you not listen to your doctors, but knowledge is power. Learn all you can before deciding what path to take. I agree with Birdy that magnesium and boron are very essential to bone health, along with several other nutrients, diet, stress, and weight bearing/resistance exercise (Susie Hathaway's DVDs  and web site may be useful here). You might also look into studies regarding prunes and bone health.

Anyway, best of luck to you, whatever you decide to do. Listen to your body, listen to your gut, and do lots of research.

[TNM45689]

Thanks Rosie17 - what a lovely email to receive and so helpful.....I agree I need to read up on everything as I did with the whole HRT stuff.

That is so good to hear that you have not had any problems...... out of interest what did you/what do you take to keep the problems at bay? Also do you have regular scans to see if there has been any improvement/changes? Do you see an Endrinologist/how does this work with your HRT?

My GP has ordered lots of blood tests which I had done today -she is not convinced the menopause caused this and wants to look at secondary causes for this.

After also complaining to Chelsea & Westminster about my experience there last week, Mr Panay personally wrote to me and will call me on Thursday to discuss.

Thanks again.
x