Re: Prednisone and Osteopenia

[Guest guest]

You wrote:

Has anyone else had bone density tests?

Aprle

Yepper - been there, done that. Was on prednizone so long that I wound up

with congestive heart failure and severe asthma induced by the steroids.

Got off them and changed docs because that's all the one doc would give me.

Now with a new Rheumy and on Enbril. Still stiff as a board in the

mornings, pain level gone from a 10 to a 9 1/2 but at least that's some

improvement. My hips are terrible but the Enbrel has helped the pain level

there. Bone density test showed a 20% loss so yep, does happen. Doctor

attributed it solely to the steroids and said I should never take them

again. So I can't take sulfa drugs cause of allergies, can't take steroids

cause of body's allergy to that as well. Tis a wonderful disease and let's

you cross off drugs from the list one by one sometimes as you discover what

will not work for you. (course that was said tongue in cheek!)

Wishing you well from Georgia where the barometric pressure is driving me

nuts this morning!

Peace

Phoenix

[Guest guest]

Dear Aprle, I've been on predinsone for the past 2 years and just recently

had a bone density test done. So far I'm ok. I did show some osteoporosis

beginning in my hands on a regular X-ray, but they told me after the density

test, which they did on my spine not to worry about my hands. I guess

osteoporosis shows up first in your spine if you are going to get it. I've

been on fosamax and actonel to try and slow down any osteo, but I couldn't'

handle them with my stomach. They are wonder drugs too, but can really

cause GI problems. I'm 48 so at least I can expect some damage from all the

drugs on my bones. I hope they gave you some options to help stop the bone

loss. I know exercise helps, but it isn't easy to do with PA. Hopefully

one of the new drugs will help you. Good luck and let me know how you do.

Wish I could be more help. Take care, Fran in Florida.---Original

Message-----

From: Aprle Hudson [mailto:sixhudsons@...]

Sent: Wednesday, April 28, 2004 10:33 PM

Subject: [ ] Prednisone and Osteopenia

I know many of us have been on prednisone for years, many on high doses.

My doctor in Virginia gave me a bone density test to see if the prednisone

was causing osteoporosis. At the age of 26, I was already in the early

stages. Has anyone else had bone density tests?

Aprle

[Guest guest]

Aprle, wow, you are so young to have osteopenia. I believe I was 45 when a bone

density test revealed osteopinia. I am now 54 and have full blown osteoporosis

in one hip. Given you have osteopenia, has your doctor prescribed any

medication specifically for that?

Wishing you wellness,

Kathy F.

I know many of us have been on prednisone for years, many on high doses.

My doctor in Virginia gave me a bone density test to see if the prednisone

was causing osteoporosis. At the age of 26, I was already in the early

stages. Has anyone else had bone density tests?

Aprle

[Guest guest]

Hi Kathy,

My Dr. in Virginia had me on Fosomax. We moved last summer and my new dr.

says he doesn't believe in having someone as young as myself on Fosomax. He

says I'm young enough (I'm 30 now) to rebuild bone. So I'm off of the

prednisone now and on a hardy dose of calcium and vitamin D.

Hugs,

Aprle

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/29/2004 9:36:27 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

sixhudsons@... writes:

, I was already in the early

stages. Has anyone else had bone density tests?

I am 50 and had a bone density for the first time a few days ago. The

technician told me it was normal. I laughed and told her that was the first

normal thing about me.

JANET

[Guest guest]

Hi Aprle,

Your doctor's line of reasoning escapes me. If your body was capable of

rebuilding sufficient bone mass, you wouldn't have shown bone mass loss in the

bone density test - so how can your doctor say that your body is doing a fine

job of rebuilding it? I hope that you have another bone density test to see if

the calcium and Vitamin D alone are sufficient. If they are - that's great, but

if they are not, then you possibly NEED to be on Fosamax or Actonel or one of

the other medications that provide a boost in this area.

Just food for thought. Wishing you the best,

Kathy F.

Hi Kathy,

My Dr. in Virginia had me on Fosomax. We moved last summer and my new dr.

says he doesn't believe in having someone as young as myself on Fosomax. He

says I'm young enough (I'm 30 now) to rebuild bone. So I'm off of the

prednisone now and on a hardy dose of calcium and vitamin D.

Hugs,

Aprle

[Guest guest]

It could be that the meds depleted bone mass more quickly than her body

could rebuild it. So, it wasn't neccesarily a defeciency of her body, but

actually the med that caused the bone density issue. Seems to make sense if

you are off the steroid, young and taken vitaimin d and calcium, then your

body should regenerate itself.

jenn

Re: [ ] Prednisone and Osteopenia

> Hi Aprle,

> Your doctor's line of reasoning escapes me. If your body was capable of

rebuilding sufficient bone mass, you wouldn't have shown bone mass loss in

the bone density test - so how can your doctor say that your body is doing a

fine job of rebuilding it? I hope that you have another bone density test

to see if the calcium and Vitamin D alone are sufficient. If they are -

that's great, but if they are not, then you possibly NEED to be on Fosamax

or Actonel or one of the other medications that provide a boost in this

area.

>

> Just food for thought. Wishing you the best,

> Kathy F.

[Guest guest]

Jenn, you are absolutely right. It isn't necessarily a deficiency of her body

that caused the depleted bone mass. However, rather than speculate as to whether

it was the medcations or her body that caused the loss in bone mass, I continue

to believe that a follow-up bone density test should be done in a year in order

to confirm that her body is successfully producing adequate bone mass. If it

is, great, if it is not, it might be appropriate to be given Actonel or Fosamax

again. My point really is that it would be a pity to assume that her body is

building bone mass when a simple test is available that could confirm her

doctor's assumption.

Kathy F.

It could be that the meds depleted bone mass more quickly than her body

could rebuild it. So, it wasn't neccesarily a defeciency of her body, but

actually the med that caused the bone density issue. Seems to make sense if

you are off the steroid, young and taken vitaimin d and calcium, then your

body should regenerate itself.

jenn

[Guest guest]

Oh, completely ... I'm a big believer in follow-up tests !!! I should've

been more specific, I thought that was implied. Always, follow up with a

professional !

Jenn

Re: [ ] Prednisone and Osteopenia

> Jenn, you are absolutely right. It isn't necessarily a deficiency of her

body that caused the depleted bone mass. However, rather than speculate as

to whether it was the medcations or her body that caused the loss in bone

mass, I continue to believe that a follow-up bone density test should be

done in a year in order to confirm that her body is successfully producing

adequate bone mass. If it is, great, if it is not, it might be appropriate

to be given Actonel or Fosamax again. My point really is that it would be a

pity to assume that her body is building bone mass when a simple test is

available that could confirm her doctor's assumption.

>

> Kathy F.

[Guest guest]

I'll ask my doctor about another Bone Density Test next time I'm in. It

can't hurt to follow up and make sure my body is doing what he is assuming

it will do. It's so hard seeing two different doctors and getting two

different answers. My last doctor made me feel like a lab rat. She was

very thorough but almost overly so. She had me get my tonsils removed

because she was coming to the conclusion that strep in my joints was causing

my problems. OUCH!!! Anyone else familiar with this theory. My new doctor

says it's all very controversial right now and he'd rather treat my sypmtoms

rather than treat what *may or may not* be causing them.

Hugs,

aprle