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We just found out that my mother has lupus. She is 82! Was quite surprised. She also has osteo and during my research I found an article saying that there is a link between the two diseases. She was also tested for vitamin D and found to be extremely low and now is on the 50,000 units. She goes back to the dr in Feb and then he will plan her treatment for the lupus. Is there anyone out that also has lupus?
Asthma Exercise Cancer Boniva Uterine cancer GERD Forteo Falls Nexium Fosamax Reclast Pain Prednisone Lupus Osteoporosis Progesterone Prilosec
Hi Raindancer,
Sorry to hear about you falling like that . Wow..
I notice I have to look around me more to make sure there is nothing in my way.
I think Women mulit-task more then men do, or at least I notice that with my Husband. *no offence to men here -:).
I'm a fast mover, and stay out of my way lol..
When I go to the back of my house, I pick up everything that has to be put away in that area. So my arms are loaded with laundry etc.
I did take a fall a few weeks ago, cause my Husband left his Ugg boots where they should not be.
I was lucky I didn't break anything, but just layed there for awhile to get my self together. Glad I took that fall in the house.
Take Care,
April
Have not thought of hormones..my Dr said no to Forteo and I don't think my insurance would pay for it anyway. she really wants me to do ReClast and because of former immune diseases that hit one in 100,000 -200,000, I am not willing to try it. if I have a bad reaction, there is no way to get it out!
I have a family history of breast and uterine cancer so probably Hormones are not the right road for me to travel. At this point, I am just doing calcium citrate, 2,000 mg Vit d daily and trying to spend more time on my feet, along with moderate exercise and balance exercises.
At my age, 78, I would expect to have a little bone loss, but I have a lot and since the rest of my health is very good, I find it depressing not to be able to do the things and activities I love. But unless something new turns up I don't really expect anything but additional bone loss.
I had 2 bad falls last summer and might have broken my wrist but Dr never X-rayed it so I don't know if the right one broke or not..if it did, it finally healed itself and if it did that, it is probably stronger than it was because there would have been new bone made.
I am being more careful about looking where I walk as I am one of those always in a hurry people who ran across slippery floors and carried big armloads of things so I couldn't see where I was going but I am working hard on those things and have not had a fall since last summer.
Raindancer,
Have you ever thought, or looked into taking Bio-Identical Hormones?
Has anyone else tried, or taken them to rebuild there bones?
I'm thinking about it!
I went through a natural menapause starting at 38yrs. I took Estrogen & Progesterone a few years later, for 10 yr. When all the controversy came out, I stopped.
Boniva made me sick, which I think might of been a blessing , after reading allot of negitive things here about those types of Meds.
Take Care,
April
Dear Stirun;
It is natural that any 82 y/o would have bone loss. The older we get, the more of our bone mass has been lost through natural attrition over the years. The steroids that are given for lupus certainly speed bone loss if taken for for extended periods of time. The inactivity because of pain and fatigue further contributes to musculoskeletal deterioration. The steroids allow her to be more active, but this is a vicious circle! Take care to keep her safe and to reduce the risk of falls. You can find information here at the NOF website on fall prtevention.
Good luck!
Lucy Buckley PT aka Mother Goose
It is amazing that some of the drugs we take for one problem can have such a dramatic effect on our bodies. I really wonder sometimes if the women 100 years ago had any of these problems. They were out in the fields, cutting wood, hauling water in pails and various other things that would be considered hard labor. It was a hard life and short one but I doubt they suffered from osteo. Good luck to you. Take care.
I do not have Lupus, but I have had 2 other immune system disorders, one of them was treated for 6 years with Prednisone. My bones were fine before that, my Dexa scan showed that I had bones close to that of a 40 year old when I was past 60. Now I have -3.6 in spine and wrist.. I cannot take Fosamax or Didronel [tried didronel for about 4 years and ended up with bad GERD] and will not have reclast infushion. I have taken Prilisec and nexium for several years and recently found out that Cacium carbonate did not absorb [needs acid to do so and of course, Nexium and Prilosec shut down acid]. I have changed to cal citrate but it is too late as there is no way I can get back the bone I have lost.
My cousin was on prednisone for many years for Rheumatoid arthritis..her bone loss got so bad she could not even ride or fly. Finally broke her hip and died the next year.
Hope your mom comes along OK..whatever weight bearing movements she can do will be beneficial..that is my last hope along with balance exercises to prevent falls.
Paula
April, so sorry about your mother. I too have asthma but mild. I worried about the med. that I am on so the dr. has given me a lower dosage now. Yes we all need to be grateful and enjoy our lives. I am glad your friend is doing well. That is something I can pass on to my mother.
My Mother took Prednisone for Asthma for 23 years. It caused her to have Osteoporosis very bad. If anyone can avoid taking any type of steroids, Please try to find a better way. It could save your life.
My Mother passed away in 1992 of Asthma. With that said, I do not think there was much known about Osteoporosis back then. My mother lived in Los Angeles Ca. where we have fantastic medical. She went to UCLA for her Asthma but I don't think there where good Scans back in the 80's. She was never checked for Osteoporosis!
Strirun I have a friend that has Lupus, she is in her 50's and does very well.
I hope your Mother will be feeling better.
Karen, I hope your doing better also.
I know my Friend cannot be in the sunlight. She takes Vit 3 which is important for Calcium to aborb.
I think we need to be grateful for what we do have.
Take Care,
April
I am so sorry that you have both of these diseases. Are you able to get out and walk or do some sort of weight bearing excerise each day? That is my concern for her. She was in a lot of pain until ther regular dr put her on the steroid. The specialist cut that in half until she sees him in Feb. He is talking about putting her on another med at that time. Take care!
Strirun,
I have lupus. Was diagnosed in 1986. I also have severe osteoporosis. I believe many lupus patients get osteoporosis because of steroid use.
Karen
Sorry, did not mean to confuse anyone. Thanks for the prayer. She is in good spirits so far so that is a good thing. Thanks again.
Strirun,
That is a shame at 82, really at any age tho. The articles I found were mainly pointing out that people with Lupus frequently get osteoporosis, for the reasons you mentioned. When you first posted I got the impression that we OP patients were at increased risk of getting Lupus. Hopefully that is not the case, but I understand why you thought that, since your mom was first dx'ed with OP, then Lupus. I said a little prayer for her. Bad news like this is really hard to handle. Take care,
Tom
Actually, I found it under the Lupus Foundation web site. On the side bar, one of the items was How Lupus affects the body, in that section is a list in which osteoporosis was listed. The percentage of women getting lupus is higher than men, the pain causes inactivity and the medication can also affect the bone loss. It was just hard to believe that at 82 she could get something like this.
Hi Strirun,
Can you tell us more about the article? I'm very sorry to hear your mom has Lupus. I'd like to read the article. Perhaps you can paste in the URL (a link to the article). It is very scary to think that we all may have an increased chance to get Lupus!! Do you think there may be a connection to her very low vit-D? Is there a genetic element to Lupus i.e. are you at higher risk?
Tom
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