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Dexa scan results not good

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Posted 6/29/2015 5:22 PM (GMT 0)
Even though I take Vitamin D, Calcium with Vitamin D my bone density is low which explains losing 1.5 inches in height. In particular it was the spinal density.

Recommendation was to consume vitamin D and weight bearing exercises.

I already squat/bench and 10 other exercises, I lift nearly every day I just do not drink milk since getting UC.

Any advice on what else I can do here ? We are testing serum Vitamin D next and I was told not to refrain from taking it so we can gauge the absorption and determine if it is effective. I could eat more salmon and mushrooms but I already eat eggs every day. UC strikes again with yet another blessing.
Posted 6/29/2015 5:50 PM (GMT 0)
I was prescribed alendronic acid which is meant to slow and in some cases marginally improve bone density. I had a depressing scan about a year ago ... Hips were my issue.

However this did cause a lot of hair loss. At the time I was going through a particularly bad time health wise and this was a step to far. I talked to my GI who was understanding (didn't treat me like I was irrational thankfully but appreciated that issues one on top of the other wear you down) and said to focus on trying to up my dairy intake.
Posted 6/29/2015 6:12 PM (GMT 0)
i started taking algaecal when my doc told me i had osteoporosis. i havent had another dexa since i started it but maybe in a few years i will see if it has helped.
Posted 6/29/2015 6:34 PM (GMT 0)
Besides weight lifting add some jumping exercises into your routine. Jumping up and down increases bone density. I tried jump-roping, not for my bone-density which is fine, but for cardio. Jump-roping is exhausting so I switched to playing pickleball, way more fun.

Eating more leafy greens can help. My understanding about milk products is that too much can actually leach calcium from your bones.

Vitamin K has been mentioned here as improving bone-health but do some research because there are some drugs it does not play nice with.

Post Edited (imagardener2) : 6/29/2015 2:54:46 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/29/2015 7:36 PM (GMT 0)
@Duffle - Agreed I would not welcome hair loss.

@bananagirl - She said it is not osteoporosis but it was 'low' enough to recommend more D etc.

@imagardener2 - Presently the plantar fasciatis has me unable to do any cardio, I tolerate it for 20 mins of tennis to help my daughters game. I cannot run which is really frustrating because I had iron shots for anemia so I am ready to go. Now K I can do because I am not on coumadin. I will look into it.
Posted 6/29/2015 9:23 PM (GMT 0)
You may have lost some bone density because of prednisone. I hope you can avoid it in the future.
Posted 6/29/2015 10:12 PM (GMT 0)
Would they prescribe Fosamax? It is the dreaded Pred...this helps folk regain lost ground. i bet insurance would cover if they show any bone loss and can identify Pred use in the past.
Posted 6/30/2015 4:28 AM (GMT 0)
Yes too much dairy can cause calcium to be leeched from the bones because of its high protein content
Too much protein will leech calcium form your bones
Have you tried bone broth?
Also trying getting some of the other minerals that are in bones aside for calcium
Is the salmon your eating with the bones?
Try getting canned salmon with bones and than making that into salmon burgers if you blend it well you will hardly notice the bones
Good luck!!
Posted 6/30/2015 12:38 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry to hear of scan results.

From all that I have read vit K2 is vital for absorbtion of vit D and to prevent calcium deposits in the wrong place. However, I did not get on well with K2 supplementation myself (it was a natto based formula), it seemed to increase my dysbiosis. I now eat grass fed butter and hope for the best.

Also best to take vitD with fat I believe to aid its absorption.

Other elements are important such as magnesium and boron I believe.

How much sun do you get on your skin? They say this is the best way to get your vit D.

Interesting new fact that I just learnt, sun exposure uses up your folate stores so be sure to keep up your consumption of folate containing foods during times of sun exposure.
Posted 6/30/2015 1:04 PM (GMT 0)

IamCurious said...
You may have lost some bone density because of prednisone. I hope you can avoid it in the future.

It is absolutely from prednisone, the doctor say repeated use in my history and asked for the scan. Critical I not rely on prednisone ever again, I get sloppy and off my program and then it happens.

This summer we are near a pool while our house is being built, my daughter is 14 so tanning is important to her and that means I often go over there for 30 minutes myself for Vitamin D and color.

I made bone broth myself, it was a long process and had no effect on my UC. I think Neocell is equivelant.

3 big problems

1 - Low bone density
2 - Not much protein seen in blood tests despite consuming it all day long ( no dairy, little bit of kefir )
3 - Plantar Fasciitis will not go away on right foot limiting my activities, biking is ok if I do not jump etc and going to try swimming in the morning to get some kind of cardiovascular workout

Unfortunately squatting heavy irritates the Plantar Fasciitis and a website said not to do it but post prednisone cycle Feb 2015 - April 2015 it is necessary to lift in order to regain lost muscle from prednisone.

I will start eating salmon again ( always good for UC ) but when I consumed Cissus I pulled a groin muscle off the bone and when I took collagen powder ( Neocell ) with vitamin C I tore the bicep off the bone earlier this year. For some reason these products meant to improve collagen backfire on me or at least it seems that way and prednisone might be too strong of a headwind for it to help. Certainly if collagen synthesis is blocked by pred then supplementation is pointless. Collagen might allow the Plantar Fasciitis to heal so tempted to re-introduce it in small amounts.

Natures Life - Reinforce Bone Formula
NeoCell - Super Collagen Type I & II
Now - Vitamin D-3 & K-2

Adding these to the daily regime.

Thanks
Posted 6/30/2015 1:34 PM (GMT 0)
aguy

Have you gotten PT for your plantar? I developed that due to tennis 7x/week and PT knocked it out never to come back again. If you can't get it from a pro look online for simple exercises. The exercises my PT'ist did were very very no-brainer, not involving fancy equipment, just her know-how and taking it slow.

edit to add: I hope your daughter is not fair-skinned because skin cancer is a real threat. I am having 2-3 skin cancer operations a year (age 60) due to growing up in Florida trying to get a tan. Introduce her to airbrush tanning. Tell her NONE of the movie stars or models have sun-created tans, they are all airbrushed (on their bodies as well as Photoshop haha). Last year I had 50+ stitches in 3 skin cancer removals.

Post Edited (imagardener2) : 6/30/2015 7:39:29 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 6/30/2015 2:15 PM (GMT 0)
I had Plantar Fasciitis as well as UC. My UC was responsible for serious inflammation in my joints that disappeared when my flare ended. But I really don't think UC was responsible for my Plantar fasciitis which I believe is a separate issue.

I went to a foot doctor who prescribed Orthotics. He measured my foot for custom inserts and I haven't had a problem with Plantar fasciitis since.

But I suspect that my foot pain originated from lack of exercise. I thought since I started jogging again that I didn't need to perform calf raises in my gym workout anymore. I cannot prove it but I suspect that if I continued with calf raises that I would never have had foot pain. But the orthotics worked for me.
Posted 6/30/2015 3:14 PM (GMT 0)

IamCurious said...

But I suspect that my foot pain originated from lack of exercise.

High does prednisone, moving everything out of a large house box by box into the garage after clearing the large garage using 4 3,000 lb bagsters, running with new shoes from a store that insisted I change my running style ( I was doing fine landing heel first regardless of how clunky it seems ).

That did me in, I suppose it developed only on the right foot only because when the left bicep tendon burst I had to begin carrying all loads including work backpack on the right side, right foot has the problem.

I notice all the talk on the boards is about 'heel pain'. My heel is fine it is right outer portion of right foot that hurts when I run or play tennis. Most orthotics backfire because they load that part of the foot in an attempt to relieve the heel. Stretching and doing downward facing dog yoga position.

I finally learned to swim correctly this morning, key to breathing was chin-to-shoulder and was doing it left then right with ease, never before as I used to look skyward when breathing. Really got the heart banging way, unlike bicycling and my foot did hurt probably from pushing off pool wall each time. Oddly hot water helped the foot pain after yet all I read besides 'heel pain' is about icing the foot.

I bet if I improve my diet and the dislocated and stretched tendons of the largest finger improve I will see improvement on the foot unless it is really a stress fracture.
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