 Posted 21/06/2012 16:40:58
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Hello,
I am 26 years old and have was diagnosed with severe osteoperosis in my spine and hips last year and was started on alendronic acid and calcium (diagnosed due to anorexia and no menstruation)
I had a repeat scan this year and same result and have been told that as i only have a year where i can effect my bones (28 being the cut off point) I cannot improve them and can only hopefully prevent any further deterioration before i'm 28 and will be being started on a contraceptive pilll for this.
I am really worried as i know no improvement will be made and have been told to expect onset of broken bones and fractures in my 30's.
Is there anything else I can do to help my situation and is anyone else in the same boat as I am very upset and scared after todays appointment.
Thankyou
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Posted 21/06/2012 16:52:48
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I had anorexia from age 13 until I was 30. In those days they didn't know about osteoporosis being caused by anorexia and they didn't have DEXA so I never knew I would have had osteoporosis till much later. I'm sure that recovering from the anorexia when I was 30 and getting to a normal weight then is what helped me. Yes I have osteoporosis but I have not fractured. It is vital that you get all the help you need to recover from anorexia, not just for the sake of your bones but for the sake of your whole body and because anorexia is such a torture to live under - I was not 'alive' until I was 30, my life before then was a torture and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. Get help with your anoreixa and weight and your bone density will improve 
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Posted 21/06/2012 18:25:53
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Hello, thankyou for your reply,
I've had anorexia since i was 14 and am currently getting help although struggling alot at the moment and this just seemed like one more knock. I thought my bone mass would increase when my lifestyle was healthier and i have gained weight however my doctor said i will only be able to halt the deterioration at best. what you have said however has given me some hope that i can do better fingers crossed
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Posted 21/06/2012 19:55:03
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Hi anonymous
Sorry to hear about your anorexia and to have OP at such a very young age. I suffer from OP although not brought on be anorexia I believe mine might have been due to smoking 20 a day for as many years. I can only say that although you may not be able to reverse your bone density you can do so much to halt any further deterioration. There is so much information you can gain from this site together with support from people who have OP brought on by so many different reasons.
Wishing you all the best for the future
Susan
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Posted 21/06/2012 21:12:25
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Hi Susan
Thankyou for your reply. I've not had a proper look at the site yet, i will have to gather as much information as I can. I just feel at a loss at wear to start and a bit overwhelmed.
Clare
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Posted 22/06/2012 09:19:55
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osteosue (21/06/2012)[hr I can only say that although you may not be able to reverse your bone density you can do so much to halt any further deterioration.
unlike sue i believe that it is possible to increase bone density. in simple terms your bones are renewed every 4-5 years, so your bones are 'living'. osteoclasts take away the old bone (resorbtion) while OSTEOBLASTS build new bone. you can help to stimulate osteoBLAST activity by exercise,especially by weight bearing ( i do weights very slowly, 10 secs to lift and 10 secs down). also pilates can help - but you must tell your instructor you have op and avoid twisting,turning, jumpy movements, and keep spine straight).
another way you can help youself is by what you eat - which may be extra traumatic for you. but one theory is that if you eat food that creates acid ash in your stomach your body will neutralise the excess acidity. this is done by taking calcium from bone to alkalise the acidity. so the less food you eat that creates acid ash the more chance you have of not losing bone density.
dr marilyn glenville book osteoporosis how to prevent treat and reverse it - explains it all far better.
sarahw
Tscore Lumbar spine -3.3, Femoral neck -2.6, Hip -2.2
Alkali diet (+ no caffeine/sugar/salt/rhubarb/spinach) and exercise and supplements of Vit D (2,000IUs daily), Vit K2 as MK7, vit K2 Menatetrenone, Cod liver oil.
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Posted 22/06/2012 09:29:41
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Anonymous (21/06/2012)
I am 26 years old and have was diagnosed with severe osteoperosis in my spine and hips last year and was started on alendronic acid and calcium (diagnosed due to anorexia and no menstruation)
on the info for alendronic acid it says it is for post menopausal women.
have your docs checked your vitD levels? because if they are low you will have difficulty absorbing calcium. (i have op as i am on anti epileptic drug - aeds- and after menopause women on aeds must be given vitD. but my gp did not know so my vit D level dropped so low i could not absorb calcium - result op.
sarahw
Tscore Lumbar spine -3.3, Femoral neck -2.6, Hip -2.2
Alkali diet (+ no caffeine/sugar/salt/rhubarb/spinach) and exercise and supplements of Vit D (2,000IUs daily), Vit K2 as MK7, vit K2 Menatetrenone, Cod liver oil.
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Posted 22/06/2012 09:47:26
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Low body weight with loss of menstrual periods are what causes osteoporosis in women with anorexia. I know because I had severe anorexia for many years and it was the cause of my osteoporosis which I would have had from right back in my 20's even though I didn't know it then.
The very best thing anyone with anorexia can do for osteoporosis is to get help with their anorexia. Once their body weight is in the normal range and periods resume that can help strengthen the bones even if bone density can never get into the normal range because of the years lost when bone density should have been building up.
Getting help with anorexia is the hardest part of this I know. All the very best Clare !
Osteoporosis - Strontium Ranelate, Dekristol vitamin D3 20,000 IU/week, weight lifting, walking and vibration platform exercise, alkaline loaded diet, vitamin K2 MK-7 200mcg/day. Diabetes - Repaglinide, low carb diet and exercise. Congenital heart defect - Omacor and CoQ10. Small airways disease/asthma - Qvar 100. Probable coeliac.
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Posted 22/06/2012 11:00:01
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Hi Anne and Sarah,
Thankyou so much for your helpful replies. I will deffinatly look into reducing the creation of acid ash. I havent really been given an awful lot of information just doom and gloom about how I will never be out of severe osteoperosis range and I have until 28 to halt further deteroration, to do this the doctor wants to try me on a contraceptive pill and then went on to tell me how it will make me gain weight which automaticaly triggered the anxiety with my anorexia which is really bad at the moment. I know logicaly I need to look past the weight gain as the osteoperosis could effect my life but that was all i could think about so it really wasnt helpful.
I think you are right that the best thing is to get my anorexia under control but I do need to do something managable for the osteoperosis also.
Have either of you heard of the Zoledronate yearly infusion? I've just been doing some internet research and a lot of other treatments have been coming up which wasnt mentioned only AA, Calcium and contraceptives
Clare x
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Posted 22/06/2012 11:57:53
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Hi Clare
I just knew you would get a lot of support from this site and from people who are far more knowledgeable on the subject than me. That together with your own determination to get better has set you on the road to recovery already.
Take care
Susan
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