Tytex - Hip Protection (EDS/Osteoporosis)

January 27, 2004

I was given this link and a pamphlet by Dr. Heller at the Center for

Mineral Metabolism at the Univ. of Texas Southwest in Dallas yesterday. I had

an appt. for a bone density scan, blood work, 24 hr. urine collection, and a new

experimental (completely painless and non-invasive) sonogram to measure the

strength of bone (as this point, their machine, which was developed there by a

dr at UT, can only do the right heel, but they're working on reducing the size

of the machine itself as well as the ability to do other areas of the skeleton).

As always, my bone density shows osteopenia (wrist and heel) and osteoporosis

(hips, pelvis, and spine). My blood work showed VERY LOW potassium level (due

to not enough Gatorade and the fact that I take Florinef for POTS) despite me

taking both potassium supplements and magnesium oxide daily. Dr. Heller ordered

my serum electorlytes dedone to be certain, and prescribed Rx strength LIQUID

(easier to metabolize) time released potassium to be taken twice daily...then

recheck with Dr. Grubb in 3 weeks. Dr. Heller also said that the puffiness and

" increased roundness " of my face is not due to weight gain, but due to the

several forms of steriods (Florinef for POTS, Advair for Asthma, cortisone

injections for joint inflammation/pain in various locations, etc.) I must take.

He agrees that I need them as " the lesser of two evils " , but it is playing a

part in my osteoporosis. In any case, he highly recommended this hip protection

product. It is noninvasive, can be worn in any undergarment " invisibly " by both

men and women, and offer a new method of reducing the risk of hip fracture from

a fall. I asked Dr. Heller if this product might also provide some sort of

" bracing " effect for us EDSer's who have hypermobile hips, and he said that he

did not know, as it was not tested for that result, but it certainly could do no

harm. I'm going to get some! There's also a tollfree # :

http://www.tytex.com/our_products/hip_protection/

~LoneStarRose~

(~~)

January 27, 2004

These do NOT provide enough compression to be considered bracing for

us hypermobiles, I have a full set of these outside in my garage that

had to be purchased for my mother-in-law when she broke her hip and

had to be placed into a nursing home (she also had dementia and a

number of other things) they are simply a cotton pair of FULL briefs

with pockets in the sides for the protectors (I am sure I could find

them and post them to you if you would like to try them (they are all

clean and were barely used (with other panies underneath) as she only

lived a couple of months as she did fall and break her other hip (in

the middle of the night without her protectors on) and as a result

she ended up with pneumonia etc

Sharon

Canberr, Australia

HEDS

> I was given this link and a pamphlet by Dr. Heller at the

Center for Mineral Metabolism at the Univ. of Texas Southwest in

Dallas yesterday. I had an appt. for a bone density scan, blood

work, 24 hr. urine collection, and a new experimental (completely

painless and non-invasive) sonogram to measure the strength of bone

(as this point, their machine, which was developed there by a dr at

UT, can only do the right heel, but they're working on reducing the

size of the machine itself as well as the ability to do other areas

of the skeleton). As always, my bone density shows osteopenia (wrist

and heel) and osteoporosis (hips, pelvis, and spine). My blood work

showed VERY LOW potassium level (due to not enough Gatorade and the

fact that I take Florinef for POTS) despite me taking both potassium

supplements and magnesium oxide daily. Dr. Heller ordered my serum

electorlytes dedone to be certain, and prescribed Rx strength LIQUID

(easier to metabolize) time released potassium to be taken twice

daily...then recheck with Dr. Grubb in 3 weeks. Dr. Heller also said

that the puffiness and " increased roundness " of my face is not due to

weight gain, but due to the several forms of steriods (Florinef for

POTS, Advair for Asthma, cortisone injections for joint

inflammation/pain in various locations, etc.) I must take. He agrees

that I need them as " the lesser of two evils " , but it is playing a

part in my osteoporosis. In any case, he highly recommended this hip

protection product. It is noninvasive, can be worn in any

undergarment " invisibly " by both men and women, and offer a new

method of reducing the risk of hip fracture from a fall. I asked Dr.

Heller if this product might also provide some sort of " bracing "

effect for us EDSer's who have hypermobile hips, and he said that he

did not know, as it was not tested for that result, but it certainly

could do no harm. I'm going to get some! There's also a tollfree

# :

> http://www.tytex.com/our_products/hip_protection/

> ~LoneStarRose~

> (~~)

>

January 27, 2004