patriciaf
12-06-2008, 03:04 AM
you see a difference in your test results for osteoporosis?
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phylwill1152
12-06-2008, 09:20 AM
HI Patriciaf...I've been taking strontium for over 2 years but had a DEXA scan after about 9 months and it did show improvements. That was after stopping it for 30 days prior as requested by my dr. My next scan will be this coming summer, 2 years since the last one, i'm hoping that there will be even more improvements. I've also noticed that since starting strontium i haven't had a cavity and our dentist says my teeth are in great shape. So there are other benefits besides better bones. There are several of us here who take it so if you have more questions they'll get answered. take care...phyllis
patriciaf
12-07-2008, 01:46 AM
Thanks Phyllis! Does it really take 9 months? I really hate to be putting anything into my body if it isn't truly a benefit. Do you know of anyone having found out sooner by chance?
phylwill1152
12-07-2008, 08:51 AM
Hi Patrica...i haven't heard of anyone having results sooner, but i guess if you wanted to check after 3 months or so you could ask for an order to have another DEXA. Some insurance companies only cover them every 2 years, so you'd ahve to check with them or pay for it yourself. Strontium is a natural supplement with very few side effects and most people don't experience any. I feel safe taking it and will continue to do so. Our bones didn't lose their density over night so thinking they would build back in a very short time is IMO wishful thinking. I was very pleased to see gains after 9 months and hoping for even more. I also think that if you had a scan sooner you may not be as pleased with the results and think its not doing its job.
Are you doing other things to help build density? Weight bearing exercise, weigh training, other supplements and a good diet go a long way in helping the strontium do what it does. All these things work together to achieve better bones. Take care...phyllis
Are you doing other things to help build density? Weight bearing exercise, weigh training, other supplements and a good diet go a long way in helping the strontium do what it does. All these things work together to achieve better bones. Take care...phyllis
patriciaf
12-07-2008, 04:57 PM
Hi Phyllis... yes, I am actually a poster child of bone health: a runner, love the sun, health nut, no osteoporosis in my family whatsoever and I am only 44. Needless to say I have the doctors perplexed and worried. They cannot figure out what is leaching minerals from my bones (not that they have tried that hard to figure it out), but as you can imagine, they want to throw everything at the problem (standard drugs, that is).
My preference of course would be to get to the bottom of the underlying problem. In the meantime, however, I don't want to cause other problems by taking harmful drugs and/or supplements (not that strontium is harmful, but I am very skeptical of fosamax, actonel and the lot). That being said, I have to do something and I need to know what works (and quickly). If I wasn't deteriorating so quickly, I would be more willing to wait a year or so and see what the next scan has to say. It may be that I just have to be patient, but I was hoping for some miracle advice I suppose. Is there anything else you can think of for someone in my situation?
My preference of course would be to get to the bottom of the underlying problem. In the meantime, however, I don't want to cause other problems by taking harmful drugs and/or supplements (not that strontium is harmful, but I am very skeptical of fosamax, actonel and the lot). That being said, I have to do something and I need to know what works (and quickly). If I wasn't deteriorating so quickly, I would be more willing to wait a year or so and see what the next scan has to say. It may be that I just have to be patient, but I was hoping for some miracle advice I suppose. Is there anything else you can think of for someone in my situation?
starfish81
12-07-2008, 09:07 PM
Hi Patricia; you sound a lot like me and many others on these boards. Despite doing "all the right things", we ended up being slapped in the face with a diagnosis of osteoporosis. I was convinced there had to be an underlying cause, so I had a battery of tests done and specialist visits. All tests were "normal": no deficiencies, no underlying diseases....which is good, but I still have no idea why my lumbar density keeps plummeting despite guzzling calcium and magnesium-rich foods, taking every supplement known to be the teeniest bit helpful to building bone, exercising, weights, you name it.
I had to laugh when you indicated that your doctors "had not tried very hard" to get to the bottom of this. Neither did mine. It was me who did all the research as to what blood and urine tests to ask for and me who insisted the tests be run. One rheumatologist stands out in particular: when I said we should find out why a healthy woman like myself was losing so much bone for no apparent reason, here's his response: "don't worry your pretty little head about it, just take the Fosamax" :mad:!!
After spending many thousands of $$ to no avail, I've settled on strontium and vitamin K7. I have no idea if they're working or not, but I take encouragement from other posters who share their improved results.
Has anyone suggested to you to read "The Myth of Osteoporosis" by Gillian Sanson? Do it; it's an eye-opener!
I had to laugh when you indicated that your doctors "had not tried very hard" to get to the bottom of this. Neither did mine. It was me who did all the research as to what blood and urine tests to ask for and me who insisted the tests be run. One rheumatologist stands out in particular: when I said we should find out why a healthy woman like myself was losing so much bone for no apparent reason, here's his response: "don't worry your pretty little head about it, just take the Fosamax" :mad:!!
After spending many thousands of $$ to no avail, I've settled on strontium and vitamin K7. I have no idea if they're working or not, but I take encouragement from other posters who share their improved results.
Has anyone suggested to you to read "The Myth of Osteoporosis" by Gillian Sanson? Do it; it's an eye-opener!
patriciaf
12-08-2008, 03:25 AM
Thanks starfish. I ordered the book off Amazon this evening; I'm looking forward to it. Can I ask you ladies, are you hunched over from your osteo? I am already a bit hunched over. To be honest it feels more like a muscle weakness than anything else, but it doesn't make sense as I actually have some pretty decent abdominal muscles. I just can't seem to hold my posture well; I get tired quickly and before you know it I am slumping. I have upped my workouts and have even gone to physical therapy specifically for this, but to no avail. I guess that is why I am wondering if it could be the osteo?
phylwill1152
12-08-2008, 12:00 PM
Hi Patricia...it sounds like you are doing all the right things..but like Starfish said even doing the right things doesn't promise good dense bones thru out life. And we really don't know what our density was at our prime...it could've been on the low side our whole lives. So far i don't hunch or have a hump. I've worked hard to keep my shoulders muscles strong...did the PT give you exercises for your deltoids, lats and shoulers? Its the upper back muscles that help keep the shoulders back and your posture nice and straight. Good core muscles help keep the lower back strong and protected.
Are you lifting weights in addition to the running? Are you very thin? Are you still having periods? While being too overweight isn't good for us, carrying more weight is better for the bones. Is the muscle weakness and tiredness something new or has it been ongoing? Standing up straight shouldn't make you tired. Have you mentioned this to the dr? Sorry for so many questions...take care...phyllis
Are you lifting weights in addition to the running? Are you very thin? Are you still having periods? While being too overweight isn't good for us, carrying more weight is better for the bones. Is the muscle weakness and tiredness something new or has it been ongoing? Standing up straight shouldn't make you tired. Have you mentioned this to the dr? Sorry for so many questions...take care...phyllis
patriciaf
12-08-2008, 02:22 PM
Hi Phyllis... here are the answers I know: yes, the physical therapist has had me doing all sorts of things for my delts, lats, shoulders and neck even. Yes, I definitely lift weights but even though I am fairly muscular, I am slightly on the thin side. I haven't always been thin (no one in my family is) but I lost about 25 lbs in a month's time when I first got sick with Sjogrens (and celiacs). No, I don't have periods (had a hysterectomy for endometriosis about 10 years ago). I am on HRT (vivelle-dot patch). And no, the muscle weakness wasn't all of a sudden. It has been ongoing for a few years now. Does any of this prompt any thoughts? Thanks for your help!
phylwill1152
12-08-2008, 05:39 PM
Hi patrica...you are getting plenty of exercise and the hrt should be protecting you. How often do you workout and run? Are you eating a good healthy diet most of the time? Has you dr. ever looked into why you have the muscle weakness? With all the exercise your getting you should have lots of energy and very strong muscles. I'm not familiar with Sjogrens, does it have an effects on bone and muscle? Sorry about more questions. take care...phyllis
patriciaf
12-08-2008, 11:26 PM
Hi Phyllis... I run and lift weights practically every day and do yoga a couple times a week as well. My eating is really good (I know, I sound really boring. I am I'm afraid.). I have always been pretty good with all of this, but even more so once I was diagnosed with Sjogrens and Celiacs last year. And yes, apparently there can be muscle issues with Sjogrens, but the medical profession doesn't yet know how or why really.
I have also been told that it looks like myasthenia gravis but there are no truly conclusive tests to be done for that either, so until you are so poorly deteriorated that a 5th grader could diagnose you by looking at you, you are really out of luck there. I wish I could say that I have tons of strength and energy, but unfortunately I cannot sustain it so maybe it is the MG. I am indeed very strong, but it comes and goes throughout the day.
Mostly my doctors are scratching their heads over the oddities. You know the story from there. The ones who don't want to claim they don't know what to do next simply suggest I must be causing these symptoms through some voodoo mind bending (in other words, they can't claim it is IN my head because they can see the odd symptoms for themselves but they have to have some way of sending me on my way). The others simply suggest I wait until things get worse and therefore become more obvious. Needless to say, I am tired of being bothered by the medical profession. But I digress. What is a gal to do?!!
I have also been told that it looks like myasthenia gravis but there are no truly conclusive tests to be done for that either, so until you are so poorly deteriorated that a 5th grader could diagnose you by looking at you, you are really out of luck there. I wish I could say that I have tons of strength and energy, but unfortunately I cannot sustain it so maybe it is the MG. I am indeed very strong, but it comes and goes throughout the day.
Mostly my doctors are scratching their heads over the oddities. You know the story from there. The ones who don't want to claim they don't know what to do next simply suggest I must be causing these symptoms through some voodoo mind bending (in other words, they can't claim it is IN my head because they can see the odd symptoms for themselves but they have to have some way of sending me on my way). The others simply suggest I wait until things get worse and therefore become more obvious. Needless to say, I am tired of being bothered by the medical profession. But I digress. What is a gal to do?!!
starfish81
12-09-2008, 09:28 AM
Hi Patricia; this is just a thought, but I'll mention it because it happened to me--or should I say I unknowingly did it to myself. You exercise a lot, but could you be "overdoing it"? For a good 25 years I did lots of cardio exercise: hikes, sking, gym equipment, some weights. People who knew me said I was "so active and therefore in great shape". A couple of years ago we were temporarily living in the US and I had found a very small gym and started a Pilates program plus personal training sessions-something I had never done before.
One training session the trainer sat me down and said we were just going to talk for the first half-hour...which kind of annoyed me at the time because personal training is about $70/hr and I wanted maximum exercise out of it. Well, turns out that was the best $$ I ever spent because she asked me to think about why I was so skinny-looking given all the exercise I did. She then pointed out that she'd watched how I "pounded" the treadmill, running with such an intensity that I appeared exhausted, then I'd go do weights and leave the gym totally wiped. This was a regular occurence.
I explained my fears of osteoporosis as one major reason; the other was I wanted some muscle definition and I was terrified of "getting fat". The trainer gently explained that if you overdo it and drive your body to exhaustion, you can't build muscle. Tall thin people will never get the definition of a mesomorph body type, but you can get some sculpting.
After that (and it took a while), I gradually changed my workouts and eased up on myself. We're now back in Canada and I've found an equally superb and supportive trainer who does exclusively Pilates. The other day I looked at my bare back in the mirror and...wow....muscle definition AND I've lost my "hunched over" look.
I realize you may have other issues at play, but thought you might find something of help in my story. My posture had been poor ever since childhood because I was a tall kid who was very self-conscious so I slouched; then I went into a profession that entailed constant bending over from the upper back. Thankfully, I was able to retire at 49 and concentrate on undoing the years of slouching/hunching.
One training session the trainer sat me down and said we were just going to talk for the first half-hour...which kind of annoyed me at the time because personal training is about $70/hr and I wanted maximum exercise out of it. Well, turns out that was the best $$ I ever spent because she asked me to think about why I was so skinny-looking given all the exercise I did. She then pointed out that she'd watched how I "pounded" the treadmill, running with such an intensity that I appeared exhausted, then I'd go do weights and leave the gym totally wiped. This was a regular occurence.
I explained my fears of osteoporosis as one major reason; the other was I wanted some muscle definition and I was terrified of "getting fat". The trainer gently explained that if you overdo it and drive your body to exhaustion, you can't build muscle. Tall thin people will never get the definition of a mesomorph body type, but you can get some sculpting.
After that (and it took a while), I gradually changed my workouts and eased up on myself. We're now back in Canada and I've found an equally superb and supportive trainer who does exclusively Pilates. The other day I looked at my bare back in the mirror and...wow....muscle definition AND I've lost my "hunched over" look.
I realize you may have other issues at play, but thought you might find something of help in my story. My posture had been poor ever since childhood because I was a tall kid who was very self-conscious so I slouched; then I went into a profession that entailed constant bending over from the upper back. Thankfully, I was able to retire at 49 and concentrate on undoing the years of slouching/hunching.
patriciaf
12-09-2008, 12:29 PM
Thanks starfish! I do actually build muscle (not grossly so, but I do look "muscular"), but if pilates can further strengthen my core (or 'properly' strengthen my core might be more accurate) and get rid of the slouching, I am all for it!! I understand pilates to be tough, so I will work into it and let you know how it goes. Thanks again!