osteoporosis

I had a DXA scan last week to check my bone density since I was on prednisone for a year. I finally got the results today. My density is very low for my age (22 yrs) but not quite osteoporosis yet. My dr wants me to start taking calcium with Vit D to see if that will help any. Anybody have any helpful hints on this or are dealing with it themselves?

At the current moment its just one thing after another. CD gets better, then worse, now possible RA and borderline Osteoporosis. I guess I'm lucky that I haven't landed in the hospital yet and bubble wrapped from the inside out. :)

Hi, my husband was just diagnosed with osteopenia as well. He also is on vitamin D and calcium. He's taking approximately 2000 mgs of calcium a day and 1500 IU of vitamin D a day. Calcium is best absorbed in divided doses (don't have any dose exceed 500 mgs). One of the best forms of calcium to take is calcium citrate. Vitamin D aids in calcium absoroption, so take vitamin D along with Calcium.

My husband's doc just decided to see how his bones are doing this time next year, before deciding if any more aggressive treatment is needed. Darn that pred, I'm sure my hubby has osteopenia from the high doses of pred he's been on. The hope is that he can stay off the pred and add some bone density.

Also, weight bearing exercise is key to building bone density. So, whatever exercise you can do to (like walking, etc - I'd talk to the physican about exercises that are appropriate), will help you gain bone density. I know, easier said that done, especially with RA. But I hope you can do some light exercise that will help both keep range of movement with RA, and add bone density.

It's rough, hang in there, hopefully you'll get everything under control soon, and your bones will pick up some density. If possible stay off the pred.

(((Hugs)))
PV

I have osteoporosis from years of prednisone use. I advise you to take it seriously and to commit to taking your calcium and vit D. I buy the formula with calcium, Vit D and magnesium included as this helps with proper calcium absorption. (Magnesium may make your stools looser).
Also increase weight bearing excercises as it helps to build bone density. Conserving bone is like a savings account, what you put in now pays off in the future. Keep those bones strong.

sgirl,

Having being diagnosed with CD at 21 my input would be that if you are able to (not sure about your physical condition, how much excercise you can do) start an excercise program if you dont do so already. I did a lot of weight bearing excercise (not walking, but with weights in a gym) and still have "Normal" bone density after being on doses starting at 80mg/day. Once you have started to lose bone density, excercise is the only way you are going to truly get it back, and since you are still young you have probably a better oppurtunity then someone say double your age who physical might not be able to manage it anymore. If you can "hit the gym", as stated by others Vit D and Calcium are definitly essential/a necessity, as even for a normal healthy person, without the building blocks of bones you wont gain anything back.

In many aspects of CD i truly believe my gym life has done a lot for me in controlling my disease, whether it be staying strong or getting rid of the days stress, its seems to keep my CD in check, the only times i have been in flare since my first remission is when i have been out of the gym for more than a month, i strongly encourage those who can to get to the gym, to do so as often as their body lets them.

Vit D is stored in your body like other vitamins (if you dont get any vitamin C for a week you wont get scurvy) so the basis for the large monthly dose is it elevates your blood serum levels of Vit D from what i understand, and since it takes a while for those levels to drop you have a higher level of Vit D for the month.

From the way its explained i was always under the impresson that Vit D had to be taken at the same time as Calcium for proper absorption, but i guess as long as you have the Vit D IN YOU is all that matters for proper absorption. Calcium is different in the sense it would be really bad for your kidneys to take a month does of calcium in one sitting since your body cant "store" calcium, it has to absorb it while creating new bone.

Thats i guess how it seems to work i think, correct me if i am wrong.

I'm in the same boat as you. I am 29 though.  I'm taking calcium, a high dose of Vit D, prescribed by my doc and just started on Fosamax.  It stinks to think we have to think about osteoporosis as such a young age.  I 'm just glad I have docs who are on the ball and thinking about all of my health and not just Crohn's.