hello - I am 52 and have always eaten a good diet of cheese, milk and other dairy products - I went for a Dexa Scan in June and got the results printed up today. Doctor says I have Osteopenia and have been prescribed to take ideos chewable calcium (tablets?) and go walking and light excercise and have another scan in 5 years - and a blood test 2 months after taking the ideos tablets. Looking up my results on the internet though, unless I am not reading it right or understanding it right, to me those figures on my results dont even fall into the category of even mild osteopenia. - so I am just wondering if I should even take these tablets? - anyone else on them (1 tablet twice a day) if so how are you getting on? much side effects (if any?) - thanks.
What are your results? Between -1 and -2.5 is considered ostopenia, or low bone mass. Nearly all adults are likely to go into the mild osteopenia range as they age, and taking calcium and D3, plus other important nutrients (please look up Vitamin K2) is the right thing to do. Also weight bearing exercise, which can be a simple as walking!
I am not sure what you are saying. Are you only taking vitamins?
Can you state the tscores?
Vitamin K2 is another good one to take as well as it aims the calcium onto the bones.
It does not sound like you are having any drugs. Your blood tests will keep an eye on your calcium and vitamin D levels.
You can also address this with your diet by including things like yoghurt, leafy greens, bony broths, prunes, skin of cucumbers, etc.
All the best AndyinIreland.
Sorry , I was sure i posted a picture of the dexa results / T scores with the main post , but it didnt seem to post. I will try it again now.
Those results are very minor. My worst back one is -4.3 so that puts your results into perspective.
I would just look at my diet if I were you and do weight bearing exercises.
Skip sugar and make sure your food is containing all the vitamins and minerals you need.
Keep an eye on your calcium and vitamin D levels each time you have blood tests. Definitely take vitamin K2 as well.
thanks, yes I was thinking they were minor results too. Do you think doctor was too quick to prescribe the ideos tablets? - I suppose there is risk if you overdose on calcium as well as if you dont get enough.
Take vitamin K2 that will put the calcium onto the bones. Wait to see your blood tests because you may need vitamin D in particular. People are short on that even in sunny countries now which is a puzzle.
I would take the calcium along with the vitamin D and then keep an eye via your blood tests.
K2 is really important.
My husband has two vitamin D3 per day and I have one and we live in Australia.
Magnesium is another one to check out.
Our food is not as good as it used to be for a variety of reasons such as soil quality and chemicals.
thanks for all your replies - will get some of those K2 suppliments. Have been on magnesium since 2009 . I have been on these multivitamins for the last month. They have 5ug of D3 and 40mg of calcium in them:
That is not a lot of calcium so stay with them until your doctor says you are getting enough.
I'd be dubious about all of it if I were you. At 52 you're likely to be getting andropausal so hormone levels will be changing which can upset general health for a few years. Too much Mg can upset Calcium levels as they work in combination. Personally I would stop taking anything apart from your normal food routine for a few months then repeat blood tests to get a base level then see what's what. I have only just started Adcal as my neck femurs are -2.2 but not particularly worried as yet.
Iv been diagnosed also with Osteoporosis, the shock lasted for couple weeks but decided to research the drugs I was offered and I decided to accept the Adcal-D3 but refused the BISPHOSPHONATES. The side affects were just too scary for me. I'm taking Vitamin K2 M-7, by SOLGAR.
I'm also taking (after research ) something I'm not allowed to say. The downside to the ADCAL-D3 is chronic constipation.
Me too, I tried to come at taking the drugs but kept baulking and putting it off. So, for now at least, I am trying to improve my bone density naturally.
My back is also -4.3 which frightened me. I was just told I had osteoporosis and offered the Bisphosphonates.
Can I ask what particular foods are you eating, also do you know how lng between DAXA scans can you have another one?
Do you mean you also get constipation with the ADCAL-D3?
HI dolly my consultant told me not to have a dexa without a year gap. Kathleen and I are conducting our own little experiment as just over 2 years ago, we had the same T score. As I had always done the "natural method" and still developed OP I started on Bisphosphonates. I have had no side effects and my score has improved greatly. In another few months I should not need them as my hips are alread into the LBM category.. i was devistated when I got my initial results but I am still running, walking 15,000 steps a day, and doing everything I always did except for my bike.( I have a brain tumour on my balance nerve, lucky me,) Although I don't fall over, I have had fractures in the past. Good luck with your decision.
We make soups with bones. I have yoghurt every night but my husband cannot have dairy. I have cucumber with the skin on as part of salad for lunch. We use avocado as butter with lunch every day. Leafy greens are always included with dinner vegetables. Prunes are another good one to have. Jellies are good especially if you are vegetarian and not having the bone broths.Fruit and vegetables are really important. We try to have some grass fed beef and they even have grass fed mince now.
We are not having sugar at all but we do have honey on our porridge.
Basically, we have good food with no rubbish and low calories.
In Australia, we can have them annually but it is over a year since my last one. Last one I had showed little difference but I had just started watching my diet and I cannot manage much exercise unfortunately.
No. I cannot afford to have constipation as I have crohns. I take vitamin D3 but not usually calcium. I keep an eye on it in my blood tests.
I have come to realise that the tscores are only a number and not to worry too much.
I actually regret ever having the first Dexa scan as I would have been oblivious of all this. A lot of people I know in their seventies have never had one and are unaware of the term osteoporosis.
Kathleen thank you for your reply. Yes I also wish I'd never had a Dexa a scan I seem to have become quite subdued now because I worry. Some people say it's best to know, but I would rather be oblivious to the whole damn thing. Anyway hopefully your next scan will show more positive results.
But dolly, now you know, you can change your eating habits, if necessary, change your exercise regimen, if necessary, look at other meds that might have caused you to have OP and many other lifestyle changes, again if necessary. Forearmed is forewarned. Pervention is best and now you know, perhaps you can stop it getting any worse.
Thank you Alison I shall take this all on board
Hi Dolly, my apologies for coming late to this conversation, I've just been diagnosed with Osteopenia after I fell and broke a hip 3 months ago, I asked my doctor if we could check my bone density and got the results a couple of days ago. I've been put on Calceos Calcium and Vit D3 supplement which I have no problem with. However, I've also been prescribed Alendronic Acid, I've read the side effects and I'm very reluctant to start taking it . . . there has to be another way, surely? I was looking at bone health supplements?
I may also start this as another thread as I'm desperate to learn more, I find I've become quite anxious over this diagnosis, but even more anxious about the potential side effects of the treatment.
Thanks,
Sue
I am vegetarian and jellies are not suitable for a vegetarian diet as they are made from animal derived connective tissue. You do get substitutes derived from seaweed but not sure how much they would contribute to bone health. Might be like other greens and be benificial. Will need to look into this. Great for iodine though