i have osteoporosis!!!!!

[Guest guest]

i picked up my dexascan results today at the radiology diagnostic

center since i hadn't heard anything from my doctor (my dexascan was

done on 3/27) and the results are:

" Moderate osteoporosis with decreased bone density in the hip and

spine and increased fracture risk "

The BMD values are: spine is decreased at -2.85 SD in L2-L4

hip is decreased with femoral neck at -1.55 SD

For the spine the values are below fracture threshold and the mean

for my age group; for the hip the values are above the fracture

threshold and the mean for my age group. Moderate osteoporosis T-

score is -2.0 to -3.0 and Osteopenia is -1.0 to -2.0. Severe

osteoporosis is -3.0 to -4.0.

__________________________________

i had a hysterectomy 8 years ago when i was only 26 and i wasn't

very good about taking calcium and the first year post op i took

Tums & Viactive (carbonate) until I found out that calcium citrate

is better absorbed....

none of my docs EVER recommended getting a dexascan and my serum

calcium levels have always been normal -- well i did some research

and found out that only 1% of your calcium is in your blood, 99% is

in your bones so the serum calcium test isn't a true reflection of

how your bones are doing! AND you only build bone in your

20's...once you get past that, you can only try to STOP bone

loss....you can't make new bone!!

so the lessons here are:

1. go get a baseline dexascan -- even if you are pre-op!

2. take your calcium regularly!!! faithfully!!! and take citrate

please...

3. exercise regularly!!

{{hugs}} kate

ps i am only 34

Make the most of yourself,

for that is all there is of you.

- Ralph Waldo Emerson