My Experience with Osteoporosis

We are all familiar with the saying, "We are what we do." As I get older, I understand that more and more. I often find myself saying to others, "Why didn't my mother tell me getting old happens so young?"

Five years ago, at the age of fifty, I was diagnosed with Osteopenia. In my own words, Osteopenia is bone loss. It is less bone loss than being diagnosed with Osteoporosis. Bone loss is very normal with aging, especially in menopausal women, such as myself.

My family physician suggested I go for a BMD - Bone Mineral Density test because I had turned fifty years old. A BMD test measures the calcium and other types of minerals in your bones. I made an appointment and went for the test. When I arrived for my test, the technician first measured my height. Immediately, I became aware that I had some bone loss when she told me I was a half inch shorter than I always knew myself to be - now 5 feet 5 inches. Then she proceeded to give me the BMD test. It was a very simple test - painless and non-invasive. All I had to do was lay still on an examination table as a scanner went back and forth above my body. The BMD test was completely done in less than 10 minutes.

When I went back to my family physician to discuss the test results, he informed me that I had Osteopenia. He also told me that most of the time Osteopenia leads to Osteoporosis. He suggested I take Calcium and Vitamin D supplements every day to strengthen my bones and stop the bone loss. I do. I take one of each every day, or occasionally I'll buy a bottle of Caltrate-D, or something similar, which has both Calcium and Vitamin D supplements in one pill. Whether you take each supplement separately, or in one pill, the dosage your physician recommends will determine whether you need to take one, or two pills each day.

If you are fifty years old or older, ask your family physician if you should go for a BMD test. If you do and you are diagnosed with Osteopenia, or Osteoporosis, follow what your physician recommends to do, to strengthen your bones and prevent further bone loss. I believe that preventive medical care is very important to a long and healthy life.