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Posted 12/7/2010 8:59 PM (GMT 0)
My GI had sent me for a bone density test and it came back that I have Osteopica which is the beginning stages of Osteoperosis. He had me tested because I've been on Prednisone for so long. I'm now down to 5mg and will be on 2.5mg shortly. I need to get this dam steroid out of my body. My UC isn't too bad at all right now...I am anemic with really low iron levels but I'm not seeing any blood. I'm only in the bathroom about once a day, usually first thing in the morning. I would say that still 60% of my BM's are loose or Diarrhea but other than that, just some mild abdominal discomfort throughout the day. I go to see my Primary on Thursday about the Osteopica to see if he what he wants to do.
Posted 12/8/2010 8:31 AM (GMT 0)
Not good news. How much vitamin d are you taking?

q
Posted 12/8/2010 4:51 PM (GMT 0)
I feel your pain blk, I was just diagnosed with Osteoporosis last week after a bone scan. I'm a 34 year old male. Stupid prednisone.

I won't even go into the fight I went through trying to get the test done and the results back....I'm losing faith in my GI. Maybe it's time to start looking for a new guy who actually reads the results instead of just filing them away and saying "everything is fine".

Makes me wonder about how thorough he is with my blood tests Re: Imuran now.
Posted 12/10/2010 1:58 AM (GMT 0)
I saw my doc about the results...my lower back is -2.3 and I believe he said Osteoperosis is a -2.5. He's contacting a Rheumatologist to see what course of treatment to go with. I'm almost off the prednisone so he possibly mentioned Boniva but also said there was a shot you can receive that will last you a year. I just have to wait and see.
Posted 12/10/2010 3:25 AM (GMT 0)
I had a similar result from a bone scan. I am a 53-year-old male with a healthy diet and regular exercise, and the scan came up with osteopenia, especially in the neck, arms and shoulders. I have been on prednisone 4 times and 4 times on entocort, plus 7 years on Pentasa. I refused to take the bone-builder meds like Boniva and so on, since the doc advised that they can cause stomach and gut problems.
Posted 12/10/2010 11:57 AM (GMT 0)
I've also heard that the benefits are hard to measure with the meds. It is true that some are able to build up bone, but some of the research I read seems to lean towards a very minimal reduction in the total number of fractures versus not taking the meds at all.

Maybe I'm a bit skewed because I'd rather avoid adding any additional meds to my regimen if they are not necessary. for my case, I know it would be a great benefit to build up the muscles around the troubled areas. 10 hours a day in an office chair for 15 years probably hasn't helped my spine or hips either.

BTW, my doc was going to send me to an endocrinologist for this, does that seem weird to anyone?
Posted 12/10/2010 12:31 PM (GMT 0)
I would go slow with any treatment for osteopenia and start with dietary changes. 

I was diagnosed with osteopenia a few years ago and looked for more info.  It's a strange diagnosis because bone density naturally declines with age and all of the baselines are set for 30-year-old females. 

The NYTimes ran a few articles not too long ago about the overdiagnosis (and treatment) of osteopenia.  Basically, if you're older than 30, there's a good chance you have osteopenia.  That doesn't mean it should be treated, though "luckily" Big Pharma has some pills for you.

One of the articles liken it to being diagnosed with a wrinkle disease because one has more wrinkles than a 30-year-old.

Posted 12/10/2010 5:37 PM (GMT 0)
I was also diagnosed with osteopenia and was able to reverse it with dietary changes and weight bearing exercise. There's alot you can do before resorting to drugs. Here are tips from Dr. Weil's site:

  • Get enough calcium. Choose non-fat dairy products such as yogurt and non-fat milk. Eat more sardines (with bones), dark green vegetables like collard greens, bok choy and broccoli, whole soy products like tofu, and calcium-fortified soy milk and orange juice. Consider taking a calcium supplement if you are not eating at least three servings of dairy per day and/or calcium-fortified foods, if you are postmenopausal or if you have a family history of osteoporosis.
  • Get enough vitamin D. Dr. Weil recommends supplementing with 2,000 IU daily for adults.
  • Decrease your sodium intake. Avoid salty processed foods and fast food. Don't salt your food before tasting it.
  • Eat plenty of vegetables and fruit. Potassium, magnesium, vitamin C and beta carotene (found in fruits and vegetables) have been associated with higher total bone mass. A diet rich in vegetables and fruit and moderate in animal protein and grains may minimize the acid-ash residue of the diet.
  • Limit caffeine intake.
  • Avoid alcohol or drink only in moderation.
  • Increase weight-bearing activities, such as walking, weight training and calisthenics. Try to do at least 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week.
  • Eat magnesium-rich foods every day. These include spinach, tofu, almonds, broccoli and lentils. Pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds are also good sources of magnesium.
  • Eat vitamin K-rich foods every day. The best sources are green leafy vegetables (see the calcium-rich greens listed above), but most vegetables are good sources.
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