Have you noticed, age doesn't seem to matter???

dawnbath
0 Recommendations

I am a 33 yr old female diagnosed with Osteoporosis in my hips and low back. I have searched high and low for other individuals my age with the same condition.

I was diagnosed after I had a stress fracture in my right FEMUR !! Boy was that fun..........
Next came the Bone Density test which brought horrible news.........so now I am on Boniva.

I had to think back on how this came about...............
Hysterectomy at 23 yrs old
On and Off Hormone therapy
Smoking
along with several other risk factors (small, white, family history)..........

I am hoping to somehow get the word out to younger women to keep a check on their bone health especially if they have been put into early menopause by surgery or some sort of illness.

I hope to gain many friends here and learn news types of information.

It is sad to see that this diease affects people of all ages................lets catch it earlier so we can treat it soon..............heck lets teach them how to prevent it to begin with !!

Sorry for such a long post.

21 replies

JilleWhite

Dawn ~ You have found a cohort! :-) Even though I am now 46 (UGH!) I was 30 when I was diagnosed with SEVERE osteoporosis.

YOU/we are not alone!
Jill

kate5

Hi,
I was just diagnosed with severe osteoporosis (-3.2) and I'm 36. I've managed to get 7 compression fractures in my spine. My Ortho Surgeon wants to do kyphoplasty to three of them. Has anyone had that done? It sounds fine for a while, but I'm not sure how it will hold up over the long run. Also, has any young person used forteo?
kate

elsiemarie

I've been diagnosed with osteoporosis for ~6 years. I'm 46, almost 47. Fell and broke my femur 7 years ago. Back compression fracture (2), 1 unknown last year and then a wrist fracture. I used to smoke, am "small", white, etc. I have to say all of this is sooo discouraging. My orthopedic doctor ran tons of test to determine what was causing my bones to be so fragile. Ruled out myeloma, celiac disease, etc. Then put me on Forteo. That stuff was horrible for me. I don't want to have to take it again. My calcium level went up so I had to stop. Then endocrinologist removed one of my parathyroid glands thinking that might be the cause. Well, it wasn't! I'm now back to plain old osteoporosis.
I have to follou-up in a couple of weeks. Have any of you been through a similar experience and how are you being treated at this point in time?
Thanks so much,
Elsiemarie

butterfly1

I am a 34 female. Severe osteoporosis. Going to start forteo soon. Took Fosamax a few years ago and then stopped. Did nothing. Which was stupid. Recently broke my shoulder which was a wake-up call. Since then, have had news about how much worse my bones have become. However, I have no one to blame but myself because all of this is due to a long life struggle with anorexia.

You are not alone though! It is helpful to me to know that I am not alone... thanks for sharing your heart.

Hope things go well for you. I agree... young women need to be on top of this... young girls... especially with eating disorder awareness. Who am I to advocate though?

It is a journey...

Take care -

sdivas

Hi, you write in your post "Who am I to advocate though". I think each person needs to advocate for their own health, but also when we have life experiences that may benefit and help another person. I definitely wouldn't add blame for anorexia. Anorexia is a complex disease. I recently read an article where part of a treatment plan is shopping for food and making healthy meals for the homeless. The article was written because there was a success rate, but certainly no one should blame themselves for any disease. You are the right person to advocate because you have experienced on eating disorder. There are other community members that have also posted about eating disorders. You never know what may be said that just may be the one word that makes a difference to another community member. Place anexoria in the Search above on the brown banner. You may come up with previous discussions on eating disorders and bone loss. Thanks for posting. It's good for other people with the same concerns to know they are not alone. Sandi

Redleo

Hi All - I am 35 and just diagnosed with Osteoporosis back in late January. My mom has it and my grandma did, too. So having it wasn't a surprise genetically speaking, but at 35???

I have osteopenia in the hip and am osteoporotic in the neck and spine. I've also had chronic fatigue for 6-7 years.

After being diagnosed with osteo. my doc put me on Actonel. Then I saw an endocrine who told me to stop taking it and told me to get 1000iu of Vitamin D a day (blood test came back low in vit D). I'm also taking 300mg Lyrica at night. I still have to a blood test for Growth Hormone (it came back high, too). My mom had hypoparathyroidism but my parathyroid tests came back normal.

Glad to be talking to all of you!

sonia8

Thanks so much for posting!! I too, was diagnosed really early, at 27, after fracturing my hip -- wouldn't wish that pain on anyone!

I had no idea that my risk factors, PCOS, smoking, small, with family history, could cause osteoporosis to develop so early! And I guess my doctor's didn't either, because I move a lot, and each time I explain my situation the doctor looks as if he/she doesn't believe me. Jeesh!

Anyway, it's a great post--it's all about helping people with risk factors get information -- and educating the medical establishment that this happens in younger women more than they think!

windblown

Hi, I too was dx'd in my early 30's, but back then it was just calcium, vit d and exercise. I've been trying to figure out a way to get the word out, but so far it's been word of mouth for me, just talking to any one young who *will* listen. I know that the tv, ads need to be geared towards people *around* 50, but I wish there were some that could reach the younger market. When I talk to 20 year olds they always say well I don't need to worry about that for a long time, but that's not always the case.

I agree with Sandi, there should be NO blame involved with anorexia.

I don't know if it's my imagination, but there seems to be a lot of young girls going through early meno for some reason like I did. I wasn't given estrogen until it was too late, and when I was taking it my breast cysts got worse, so the Dr said I just couldn't take it anymore. Then years later I went on low dose HRT, but I was on Forteo, and the Dr felt that the estrogen was hampering the beneficial effects of Forteo so once again I stopped taking it.

One problem is getting the insurance co.'s to cover dxa's at an earlier age, because some won't pay for it until you are peri or post meno, so use the FRAX test, and hopefully younger women can get dxa's when they want to, if the word gets out, and the insurance co's listen.

kathleen1130

I'm happy that I found this post!!

I am 38 and only recently diagnosed. I'm not sure why I was blessed- it doesn't seem to run in my family, I don't smoke, don't drink, use drugs, I exercise on a regular basis (not so much nowadays- I've had to tone it down) Haven't even been on birth control pills!
I have 8 fractures that have developed over the course of a year and had a work up at Mayo clinic earlier this year to see if I had some strange disease or cancer that was contributing to the breakage.
MY DEXA scan also shows osteoporosis in my left hip, osteopenia in my right hip. Now my biggest worry is breaking my hip.
My lumbar DEXA numbers were in the osteopenia range, but with all my fractures, it automatically put me in the osteoporosis category. I've been taking Fosamax for about 8 months now, but wonder if that's the best one? I"ve read alot about Forteo and it looks promising.
Anyway, i'm starting to babble........ glad to see that there are others like me. Well, not glad in the sense that I'm happy you have this terrible disease, but glad to know there are others out there like me and we can support one another. Best, kathleen

dawner82002

I am 48, NOT post-menopausal (I wish), not a smoker and an avid exerciser but small-boned and white although no family history. No hysterectomy or anything to upset the hormonal apple cart. I got diagnosed with severe osteoporosis in May (-3.6) in my spine but I think I've had it for years. I broke my wrist two years ago. I have taken two doses of Boniva with absolutely no problems or side effects. All my tests came back fine except for low Vitamin D so I'm on a weekly prescription for that. How do you know if you have a compression fracture in your spine? Mine clicks and catches when I move lately which freaks me out a little and I've lost some height. I have a job where I stand all day- usually in heels so I wonder how that all will play out in the long run.
I have two daughters, 19 and 21 and I'm all over them about prevention for this whole situation.

kathleen1130

Dawner-
A simple xray can find fractures. Since you have a diagnosis of osteoporosis, loss of height and some questionable noises clicks in your back then I don't think it would be outrageous to ask your doctor to order one. I wish I had been more aggressive early on.... for the first couple months after the first fracture-it hurt really bad, my PCP told me to walk and increase my activity and should heal on its own. Well, it never did....and on my next xray I had 3 additional fractures. Never went to that doctor again.

I also have Vit D deficiency and take that once a week.... I've noticed that it ruins my appetite for the day. Not a big deal, just don't crave any snacks. Wish that was a pill I could take everyday! hahahha

ps- Heels? I miss wearing heels. Do you stand all day or can you sit down? Someone once told me that heels aren't the best choice for footwear, but I'm not sure if that was for comfort or if there was some scientific background saying it causes more damage. Probably just a personal comfort thing.....
I tend to go on and on and on ......I need to cut myself off and stop typing every single thought I have. haha :)

best,
kathleen

JilleWhite

I just started Forteo two weeks ago, and also found out that more studies are showing that Vit. D is SOOO absolutely important....!!!!

Kathleen, I can relate to your wanting to type every thought you have. It is a syndrome of mine on every issue that i discuss.. LOL!!
Jill

dawner82002

Kathleen- Thanks for your thoughts. I see my ob/gyn on Monday so I'll aks him to order an x-ray. What does anyone think about this: I have four children and I nursed each one for about a full year each. At the time, I was a skinny little 110 lb. thing and probably didn't eat the best. Can that rob your bones of all the good things you need later in life?
As for the heels, I work in an upscale jewelry store and we have to DRESS UP. The only time my back really bothers me is when I hit the bed at night and it reminds me that it's not 100%. I'm anxious to see if the Boniva is working. Do I have to wait a full year for another DEXA? Probably depends on my insurance, huh?
Dawn

BoneLady

Dear dawner82002,

Lactation can rob the body of calcium. See my post, "Men and Young Women with Osteoporosis," at http://strontiumforbones.blogspot.com/

SaraMeeks

Hello:
I've been traveling, teaching etc for two weeks and have missed many discussions. This one definitely speaks to my heart as I hear about so many devastating injuries and conditions in people so young. I am now 68 and, although diagnosed at age 56 or so, I probably had the condition earlier and (fortunately as I had no fractures) didn't know it.
As I read the posts, I can't help but wonder what's going on in our society. I've long known about studies that show deficiencies in Vitamin D, calcium and other nutrients in the US and am wondering if it's now "catching up" with us. Even in those who can afford good nutrition, there are severe deficiencies picked up. Perhaps our chemicalized food supply, fast food industry and our collective obsession with body image might be related? Just a thought.
Also, we have an increasing problem with movement and exercise as our dependence on the automobile has increased along with "structured play" in our children, legislating physical education out of schools, the advent of the computer and more sedentary activities etc.
Is it all adding up?
Anyway, there is much that can be done for this condition at whatever age it appears. And, Sandi, you are right, it doesn't do any good to "blame" ourselves (although we might naturally go through that stage) because the condition itself is complicated, just like anorexia. Learning safe and therapeutic movement and body mechanics to help protect and strengthen bone is such a big part of management. Unfortunately, it's difficult to find good, trained people to help.
I travel and teach as fast as I physically can but am constantly looking for more outlets for safe information to reach the public (and other professionals too.) Ideas on that?

SaraMeeks

P.S. Wearing high heels is not good for back alignment as it causes a change in the normal spinal curves to adjust for the position of the feet. In particular, the lumbar lordosis increases and this, in turn, will cause changes higher up the back (the back has to adjust to maintain upright posture.) Wearing a dress shoe occasionally probably will not hurt but everyday wear of such shoes will definitely cause back problems.

sdivas

Sara, would you mind if I Subject your last statement in a new discussion thread for the community. "I travel and teach" "any ideas".
I have some ideas of my own (smile), but I wouldn't be surprised if other community members come up with some good suggestions for you. Sandi

SaraMeeks

Go right ahead and post a new thread.

I suppose at the end of that last post I should have said "everyday wear of such shoes CAN cause back problems." Nothing is ever 100% for certain.

Anne_

I'm so glad to find this site. I'm 39 & over the past 2 yrs. have had breast cancer, chemo, radiation & due to my high risk of other cancers, I had a hysterectomy & oopherectomy. My gyn did a DEXA to get a "baseline". Boy was I surprised to find out I had osteoporosis. From reading the replies it seems like there are more younger women with this condition than I would think.

sarah812

hi there I get to join in with you I am 42 years old and have osteoporosis. I now take medicine watch what I eat and exercise. I am glad to find some close to age to talk with.

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