I’m Shrinking!
I’m short. For most of my adult life I was 5′ 3 ½” tall. Then two years ago I had a check up and was 5′ 3″ on the dot. This year, I’ve lost another half-inch.
For years, I’ve watched Sally Fields hawking the once-a-month drug for osteoporosis, Boniva®(2). Yet, my bone density never concerned me … until I started shrinking. After all, I’m not yet old enough to qualify for most of the Senior discounts.
When my doctor recommended a bone-density test, I grudgingly agreed. Over the years, I’ve had my share of mammograms, pap smears, and other invasive women-oriented tests. Medical tests are not something I await with baited breath. They are more often tests I anticipate with gasps of horror. I really didn’t want some stranger prodding and poking at my aging bones.
The DEXA Scan
The bone density test, or DEXA scan, is a refreshing surprise.
- You don’t need to fast before the test, except if you take calcium supplements, you shouldn’t take them for 48 hours before your test..
- You don’t need to disrobe if you go to the test wearing clothing that has no buttons, zippers, or metal parts.
- You walk into a room and lay on a table. The scanner passes over you and you’re done.
- The test is no touch … well, almost. The technician did turn my leftfoot inward to get a picture of my hip.
- The scan took about five minutes. My appointment was for 8:30 a.m. I arrived at 8:15 and was back home by 8:45.
Best of all, I am relieved to find that I don’t have osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a debilitating disease that when left untreated, causes its victims to live out their “Golden Years” in excruciating pain. I have osteopenia. Osteopenia is the precursor to osteoporosis. In my case, it means that I am at high risk for a hip fracture if I don’t start taking care of my bones.
My DEXA scan recommended a bisphosphonate, a calcium supplement, and vitamin D-3. However, according to Consumer Reports, while there’s evidence that bisphosphonates reduce the risk of bone fractures among people with osteoporosis, there’s some concern in the medical community that the value of bisphosphonates is less clear for people with osteopenia (1). If I do need to start taking the drug, a weekly dose of the generic bisphosphonate is much less expensive than Boniva or its relative, the weekly Fosamax®.
Vitamin D-3
Vitamin D improves the body’s ability to use calcium, the stuff your body needs for strong bones and teeth (3).
I was quite surprised to learn that as our skin ages, it loses its ability to form vitamin D in response to sunlight. In fact, I was surprised to learn that my skin ever formed vitamin D at all. But, apparently that ability came and went without me ever knowing about it (4).
According to the US Government’s National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data, 70% of people over the age of 50 no longer get enough vitamin D from what they eat. Even multivitamins don’t contain enough vitamin D for folks over 50-years-old.
In addition to vitamin D-3 supplements, omega 3 fish oils are also a source of vitamin D. So if you’re taking fish oil for high cholesterol, you’re getting some vitamin D. Yet, do check with your doctor to get the correct vitamin D dosage. I was shocked at the amount of vitamin D my doctor recommended. Even the high-dose supplements don’t have enough for us older folks.
Resources:
- Jamie Kopf Hirsh. “Sally Field and Boniva: Great spokeswoman, misleading ad.” Consumer Reports Health.org. 28 Apr 2009. 11 May 2009.
<http://blogs.consumerreports.org> - Of course, it’s only fair to read both sides of the Boniva story. DTC Marketing, the firm that produced the ad has something to say about its Boniva commercials.
- “vitamin D.” A Dictionary of Chemistry. Oxford University Press, 2008. Answers.com 11 May. 2009. <http://www.answers.com/>
- Bone Mass Measurement: What the Numbers Mean. Winona Health. N.D. 11 May 2009.
