Re: Re: Bone Density Test/More Malabsorption problems

[Guest guest]

Heidi,

I, too, take calcium. I get some in my multi-vitamin and also take an additional

600 mg morning and night. Always, with osteopenia and osteoporosis weight

bearing

exercises are recommended. So, your walking is a good thing. I would, however,

talk with your internist about treatment in addition to the calcium. At our age

it's much more difficult to correct the problem. I don't know how bad your

osteopenia

is but I think I know enough about you to know that you need to be proactive

about your medical care (I'm the same way!). I would think that now is the time

to correct this problem before it gets worse.

To answer your other question- the medications, in the drug class actonel and

fosamax are in, require sitting or standing 1/2 hour after taking it because

they can cause esophogeal problems (irritation, ulceration, possible bleeding

which can cause difficulty swallowing). That's why they require a full glass of

water (no other beverage) and sitting or standing for at least the 1st 30

minutes.

I believe you also need to wait 1/2 hr to eat (probably for absorption).

As I mentioned earlier, Didronel, the drug I take, is only taken 14 days every 3

months. The only restriction is that it should be taken 2 hrs before eating for

better absorption. I get up during the night, anyway, to use the bathroon so on

one of my " journeys " to the bathroom I take the pill and go back to sleep. By

the time I get up for the day, I can have my coffee and...

Hope this helps and answers your question.

Be well,

Jill

[Guest guest]

HI Heidi,

I have osteopenia also. My doctor has me give blood for blood testing and urine

for testing. He has put me on Actonel and Vitamin D. My doctor also does bone

scans on me. He is a very good doctor and this is his field of work. He

specializes in bone loss problems.

At first he put me on Actonel once a week and vit D once a month. When I

went back to his office for my check up to find out if the meds were helping

me he found that I was not better but much worse. Now he has me taking the

Actonel once a week and the vit. D once a week. With part of my intestines

removed I don't absorb my nutrients as well as I should. So the vit. D is

passing right through me and not doing what it should do for me. Hopefully

with me now taking the vit D once a week instead of once a month my bones

will improve. At least I hope that will be the case. When I take Actonel I

have to take it first thing in the morning before any food is consumed with a

full 8 oz glass of water. Then I have to sit up in an up right position for

a half an hour so the Actonel won't reflux up into my esophagus and cause

damage. Taking the Actonel with a large glass of water and sitting up for a

half an hour is very important. Fosamax is a drug for the same purpose to

build bone mass but it is not as good a drug as Actonel. I also believe

there are less side effects with Actonel. I hope I have better news about my

bones he I visit my doctor next time since I am now taking vit. D every week

with the Actonel. I hope this has helped you. If you have any questions I

will try to help you.

Take care, Shirley

[Guest guest]

Shirley,

You wrote, " I have osteopenia also ... My doctor also does bone scans on me. "

What were your first symptoms of Osteopenia? Is this something that should be

routinely scheduled in an annual physical, like a Pap Smear and Mammogram?  

The only reason I had a bone density scan was because I torn meniscus to my

knee and then got a post operative infection.

Karyn , RN

Founder / Executive Director

http://www.pancassociation.org

1- / KarynWms@...

PAI Home Office: Indianapolis, Indiana, USA

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 5/5/2003 2:09:19 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

KarynWms@... writes:

>

> Shirley,

>

> You wrote, " I have osteopenia also ... My doctor also does bone scans on

> me. "

> What were your first symptoms of Osteopenia? Is this something that should

> be

> routinely scheduled in an annual physical, like a Pap Smear and Mammogram?

>

>

Hi Karyn, I just decided to have my bones checked since I don't have ovaries

to supply my body with estrogen which we know women need to keep bone mass.

I am 61 years old and thought that having my bones scanned would be a good

idea. Also I realized that I couldn't eat for six years and I was concerned

about loosing bone mass during that time. I have taken 1500 MG of calcium a

day for years but the calcium didn't help me very much.

I went to a doctor who specializes in bone health. He keeps close watch over

me since the scan showed that I had bone loss in my hips and a lot of bone

loss in my right hip. He even suggested I wear a panty with padding on the

sides to protect my hips in case I would fall. I decided not to wear the

panties yet. That made me feel really old. LOLOL I really like him and I

think that he is very thorough.

I believe that when a woman has gone through the change of life and doesn't

have periods any longer having her bones scanned and consulting with a

specialist in the bone field is a must. Better to have a yearly check up

than to break a hip or another bone in the body. We just don't know what

shape our bones are in unless we are under a doctors care for our bones. I

highly recommend women having their bones checked yearly or how often their

doctor thinks is necessary depending on the condition of their bones. I have

to see my doctor more often than once a year due to the bone loss I have

already experienced. Some women have bone loss in their spines. I am so

glad I don't have that problem. Love, Shirley