Ostopenia diagnosis --yetch!!

[Blazin'Jane]

I was doing so very well--losing 37 pounds, dropping one of my 3 bp meds, feeling like I had found the fountain of youth on raw foods. Then I got a form letter from my md regarding my recent bone scan. Apparently I am now osteopenic. (I am 66 and I read that about 50% of women over 65 have osteopenia) . I didn't see any numbers, but I know hat 5 years ago my bones were in the "normal" range and now they aren't. My md recommends that I continue my extensive exercise program, take calcium, get sunshine, and then get another scan in two years. If my bones continue to deteriorate, we "may want to discuss pharmaceticals....fosomas, etc. " Yetch! :(

Have any of you had experiences with this?? I am about 98% RAW for 11 mos. I drink 5 green smoothies a week and have 6 3cup salads a week for starters. I eat some broccoli, but it's a mess in my braces, so I don't go for it at parties for now.

Wisdom? Experience out there?? Thanks.

[rawbeliever]

Jane, sorry for your trouble. I have no experience with osteopenia, but you might want to check out fitday.com. If you create an account (it's free), you can track what your eating, and the levels of nutrients you're getting daily (calcium, b vitamins, zinc, etc.; it's pretty extensive.) It might help you to make sure you're getting everything you should be getting.

Best wishes,
Robbie

[Yeshia]

Hmmm

yes I was diagnosed with this about 8 years ago after early menopause due to cancer etc. and I refused the meds at that time , partly because I always forget to take them each week! and they are hell on the stonach.

Now I don't take cos I don't do drugs :eek: hehe

Good luck

that site sounds good I will take a look myself ,...thanks!:)

[Tootsie]

Howdy B.J.,

I recently had a bone spur removed from my thumb, and it is my opinion it was the results of taking a calcium supplement. If you take a supplement be sure it's the best one you can find (sorry, I don't have a direction for you here). Sesame seeds are a great source of calcium, and sea vegetables. Getting plenty of sunshine to make Vit. D is helpful for bones too. Do you do any weight lifting? Pharmaceuticals seem to mitigate one problem only to cause three more.

Best of luck with this new path you find yourself walking.

Bone strengthening hugs,

Tootsie

[Blazin'Jane]

Thanks, all. I've been asking around. A friend of mine sees a naturopath who prescribed Nature's Sunshine Skeletal Strength. Nature's Sunshine has an impressive web site, if any of you are interested. I was looking for the "cleanest calcium I could find. This may be a good pick.
someone else recommended a couple of websites: webmd.com is apparently good for a variety of reading material; exrx.com outlines soem free weight exercises among many other exercises, and is supposed to be a very good site for asking al sots of questions. I haven't checked out either of them, but will soon.
I did fit day for a while a few years back. I'm just not good at keeping track of measurements, etc. I just can't ahve food be that hard. (I think breastfeeding 7 children did that to me ---just keep it simple and eat the right stuff and it will all work outl
Also, my beloved chiropractor told me today to just not worry. Exercise, eat well, take supplements if you must, and don't worry. He's read some recent studies on osteopenia/porosis that suggest that all the numbers are skewed as long as we're calling "normal" the bones of 30 y.o. women. If it's "normal " to lose bone mass as we age, then then my numbers ought to be compared to the numbers of other 66 y.o. women........I love that thinking----Where DO we get all htese standards for how folks SHOULD be?
So, I'm feeling lots better for now. I'm going to check out my free weight program on that website, consult webmd.com, take a good clean calcium/Magnesium supplement, and get on with it.

[jacsam]

Sounds like your really getting your greens. I read in another post that someone went in to have (ahhh, what was it she had checked?) checked and it wasn't up to parr but she had it checked again at 9 months and it was great. I'd give yourself some more time and keep up what your doing. I'm sure it takes some time to regain bone mass. Like you said what is normal and what is normal for what age. I bet your doing better than you realize because your taking better care of yourself than most your age or any other age for that matter. Keep on blazing ahead Jane!!!

[Blazin'Jane]

Thanks for the encouragement. I think you're right. I'm feeling much better about things today. :)

[Cinnamon]

I was diagnosed with osteopenia about 8 years ago, I'm only 49 now! I continue eating my high raw diet, a quart or more of GREEN smoothie a day, salads, all sorts of raw foods and exercise daily including cardio and weight training. I just haven't worried much about it I guess, I'll have it rechecked at some point, then maybe I'll add more calcium in the form of a supplement. I've tried not to stress about it, I don't want my body to react to the stress and make it worse! My mom did break her pelvic bone and then her hip (in her 80's) and had very brittle bones by then. I hope I am doing everything right to prevent things like that from happening!