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recently diagnosed with osteoporosis

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Posted 4/27/2010 12:09 AM (GMT 0)
i have been diagnosed with uc for three years now. recently ended (my first) an eight month round of pred. went to my obgyn for a check up and he wanted to do a dexa scan to check for osteoporosis/osteopenia. didn't think i would have either at the age of 29. had the dexa scan last wednesday and sure enough, my t score was -3.5. i couldn't believe i have osteoporosis.

i want to have another baby (only have one child). i am currently flare free with pentasa maintenance (finally). no pred. dairy free diet. lots of supplements. doc wants to put me on boniva, but i have not consulted my gastro doc yet (will do so 5/11/10). does anyone have any input on if i should get pregnant before i start taking boniva or should i just not get pregnant again?

my last flare began while i was pregnant and lasted for two years. want another baby pretty bad, but am also scared of flaring again while pregnant. need input please. thanks!
Posted 4/27/2010 12:52 AM (GMT 0)
Ohhhhhhhhhhhh...........I'd study the side effects of Boniva before starting. My mom who is 85, has a doctor who will not put patients on that drug unless there is no other option. My brother, a dentist, encourages his patients to try other things first. Weight bearing exercise and taking supplements of calcium and D could turn this around. Be very careful with Boniva or Fosamax.

Sue
Posted 4/27/2010 12:58 AM (GMT 0)
I would think your ob/gyn would be the best one to ask about getting pregnant and boniva.
My mom was on Fosamax and now is on boniva..... but she's a good bit older than you are, so the side effect issues are very different.
I would google boniva, get a list of questions, and call the ob/gyn even before you see your GI.
Posted 4/27/2010 1:15 AM (GMT 0)
freckles,

I am a physical therapist and I have quite an interest in osteoporosis / osteopenia. Most of my patient population has been diagnosed with bone health issues. Personally I have been diagnosed with osteopenia. From what I understand, us with bad colons have trouble absorbing calcium and vitamin D, so the low bone density may have been there way before your 8 months with prednisone...but the prednisone didn't help matters.

I agree with the others below. Exercise is important. You need to find someone (a physical therapist) like myself who specializes in, or at least has some special training in working with patients with osteoporosis as there are quite a few exercises that you need to avoid in order to avoid putting extra stress on your bones, your spine, specifically. Google Sara Meeks, PT as she is one of the therapy gurus of osteoporosis and you might be able to find a therapist in your area who will know how to work with you.

I asked my rheumatologist (I always say that UC has made me see lots of "ologists") about boniva / fosamax, etc. I am 35, no interest in any more babies. He said that if (or when) I get back on prednisone, I should take one of those drugs to protect my bones from further loss...personally I would take it as I have seen far too many times the consequences of young women (and old women / men) like us with compression fractures in their backs, the pain, disfigurement, etc...

Just my 2 cents worth, I guess...

Jen
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