Hotchamama - Keep on Keeping On

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Hello, I'm in So Ca. I was diagnosed at age 50; (now 61, fracture free), told to exercise and take calcium. At the time, I was left on my own. I wasn't aware of any online discussion groups. I didn't have any clue about osteoporosis. When I began phoning hospitals; etc, my request for an osteoporosis support group or exercise group was followed with laughter or comments about going through menopause. I was in the -3 range hips/spine. I took the frustration and all the roller coaster emotions that many of us go through at first and used as motivation to advocate for myself. Although I eventually found an osteoporosis exercise/support group, I have continued to advocate; not only for myself, but for others with bone loss. So. Calif. has the Cordelia Knott Center For Wellness which focuses on cancer healing, but also has other programs and services; including Bones for Life which is based on the teachings of Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais. It may be helpful to phone any cancer wellness centers in your area. I haven't attended any of the classes to know what type of program Bones For LIfe offers, but at least, the cancer community has realized the need. Cancer patients that have been on chemo often have bone loss and cancer organizations tend to focus on the total person; the importance of a healthy mind, body and spirit. Somehow, bone loss has not yet been given the importance of focus in the same manner as cancer. I share your frustration, but I think for those of us with assertive personalities (smile), may be able to make a difference by not giving up, and continually requesting that bone loss be taken seriously. Please post if you have any success. Sandi

8 replies

Sdiva - Thanks for your rational, level-headed response to my distress. It truly does encourage me to get on and stay on the track toward my goal which is finding bone-savvy people in my area. I KNOW they're here and I will find them...or a source. I'm not a candidate for the pharmaceutical route. The puzzle to me is this: If thousands (or millions) of us are struggling with creeping disability, wouldn't the overall costs of caring for our bone-health needs be less in the early stages rather than when we can't take care of ourselves? And I'm more than willing to buy most of that help right now! I'm so happy to have your input - thank you very much.

I feel with the information and options available, and so many new advances ahead, we may stand a good chance of avoiding disability. It isn't a given that all of us with bone loss will fracture. But I agree, it is a puzzle with people living longer lives and so many of us with this disease, it should stand to reason that osteoporosis should stand beside heart disease and cancer. Sandi

I have some leads for you which I am going to send via the message center. In case you don't receive, please post. Sandi

I agree with you that osteoporosis should be getting as much attention as heart disease and cancer. Since I was diagnosed with severe osteoporosis 3 years ago, I've been on a quest not only to research everything I could find on the subject, but also to share it with every health and exercise professional I've interacted with. In many cases, what I shared was news and I came away feeling that I knew more about the subject than the "experts" (not a good feeling...) Osteoporosis shouldn't remain the silent disease.

There is no comparison to this disease and heart disease or Cancer. You people are making this disease sound terrible. In fact most people have it and are never aware of it. Yes, it can be debilitating , but for most it is not. I disagree. This is not comparable to heart and and cancer!

I agree with Floridagal. I've just finished reading "The Myth of Osteoporosis" which was very helpful in taming the mounting, internal hysteria I've been experiencing. Of course there are those out there who have repeatedly fractured or are very young who definitely need to be treated. But I think an extreme amount of unnecessary stress is being created by something that will not necessarily end up as a problem and is, unfortunately, a normal part of aging. Not to mention the fact that none of us know what numbers we've started out as. I don't have great numbers, -2.5 all over. But on the other hand I am very strong and have never fractured. Honestly , the body part in the worse shape is my head. I'm all for taking the best care of your self as possible, excerise proper nutrition and reasonable monitoring. But I don't think it is comparable to heart disease or cancer, Just my opinion.

Hello Floridagal, perhaps you misunderstood my post. My post wasn't intended to compare diseases. Many of us know people that have cancer ... my friend is currently going through chemo. My family background has heart disease. My mother died a year ago from heart disease. I don't take either disease, or any disease for that matter lightly. However, both heart and cancer have fundraisers, walks, golf tournaments which are well publiciized so people are aware.Osteoporosis does not have such awareness. I am 61, physically active and fracture free. My diagnosis actually placed me in the direction of a healthy lifestyle; exercise, nutrition, vitamins, minerals, calcium. Osteoporosis has not altered my lifestyle, but I have talked to people offline that have effects from bone loss. Are you reading the community posts? There are many community members that are having effects from bone loss. I don't think we should take this disease lightly. I feel it is important that bone loss doesn't lose it's importance in menopause discussions.

Hello HSB, "The Myth of Osteoporosis" was written in 2003 by Gillian Sanson. Gillian Sanson lives in New Zealand and seems by her writing to have a lifestyle that keeps her and her family physically active through-out most of the day. I'd like to have a follow up on the many members of her family that she wrote about in her book. To my knowledge, bone loss is not a "normal" part of aging. I know women in their 80's that have had a dexa and don't have any bone loss. Hopefully, people that are diagnosed and have the mounting internal hysteria will share their thoughts on the community and community members will help to sort through the feelings. I didn't have mounting internal hysteria when I was diagnosed 11 yrs ago, but I did feel feel and anger. Also, I kept very quiet about this disease. Aside from my immediate family, I did not share with my friends. It took some time for me to realize that osteoporosis was like having any other disease. I looked healthy and was physically active, but I had a sense of embarrassment that I had a disease that I couldn't really explain because it didn't make any sense to me at the time. My intention is to remain fracture free through-out my life. I certainly don't stress over my bone loss, but I also have great respect, caring and compassion for the people that are suffering from bone loss. I don't believe that osteoporosis is a myth. I think by using the word "myth" in regards to osteoporosis is negating all the feelings of people that have effects from this disease. As I wrote in my previous post, I am not comparing diseases. But I would like osteoporosis to have the awareness that heart and cancer have. Certainly, we can learn from heart and cancer disease what may help a person with any disease. Cancer has a wonderful buddy program in place, which I feel can be very beneficial for anyone diagnosed with bone loss. Having a buddy available may have eliminated your mounting hysteria which is not a pleasant feeling to have. Fear increases fear. Although we are not all alike, I like to think that if I tell a person that I'm in the -3 range hips and spine, but am physically active and fracture free, it may give that person some peace of mind.

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