Bone density and PBC

[berg944]

Anybody have any information on this?

My bone density is -2 (osteoporosis is -2.5).

Laughed when doctor told me to eat more cheese!

Blood test for calcium and vitamin D has come back normal.

[littlemo]

Hi yes another lovely possible side effect of PBC is that one can take Osteoporosis. My last bone density scan showed I am Osteopenic rather than Osteoporotic. Basically its to do with how strong your bones are. A good calcium intake (eg cheese but u can get low fat ones), yogurt, milk etc and doing weight bearing exercises such as running walking aerobics can strengthen the bones prevent osteoporosis. Best of luck.

[Hidden in reply to littlemo]

Sorry but I have no experience or much info on bone scans, etc. My bloods so far are checking out fine with regards to this subject of bones.

I am currently 49 but expect at some point in the future when I reach 50 or over, I'll be chalked down as someone who may suffer with osteoporosis due to having PBC due to possible malabsorption of certain vitamins.

I have always been pretty hands on, lifting, carrying, done manual work and do a lot of walking, uphill, downhill, etc and I do know now I do have a bit of wear and tear in certain places (cracking ankle joints (but I did break my ankle when I was 10), wrists (due to typing as once was a typist and still use a keyboard, well it is the day of all this technology!) and I try not to sit on the floor beneath me to add stress to my knees which aren't in such bad condition at present).

It is also said that women going through the menopause with the reduction of hormones, that has an impact on our skeleton too. Smoking is also said to make bones more porous (never smoked).

I think I'll still go with how I feel. How do you feel yourself berg944? I now I am going to try to not be informed I have this starting up as time goes on as sometimes what you don't know.....?

I do think that these days we can have all this what is known as health checks and preventative medications when we perhaps may never really need it all along.

A good source of calcium is said to be spinach (had some juiced today with apple at lunchtime and raw with tea) and also buying tinned salmon or sardines/pilchards with the bones in them. Go for salmon that has brine as opposed to oil. Apparently skimmed milk is supposed to have a slightly higer content of calcium in it than the fuller fat milks. Given we have PBC now I think it wise to try and get calcium in particular from lower fat sources as bile is needed for break down of fat and in my opinion the more fat we partake of the more bile our system is going to need to digest.

[littledragon23]

LOL - you probably could eat more cheese to get more calcium as your doc suggested. However, I am on calcium and vit D supplements for severe spinal osteoporosis and osteopenia of the hip and femur and I am to start on bi-phosphate as well now. Well, to make life a bit easier for yourself (and if the cheese idea doesn't appeal to you) you could start taking calcium and vit D supplements which you can get over the counter. I should imagine that they usually would suggest that with this kind of results anyway. I do know that you get started on calcium/vit D the moment you are diagnosed with osteopenia (if you are based in the UK), they usually don't wait for osteoporosis to manifest.

Yes, and as littlemo suggested, especially once you start getting bone problems it is quite important to try to strengthen your bones by building muscle. I try to go to the gym 3 times a week and do muscle building exercise.

[Vivante in reply to littledragon23]

I had a dexa scan in 2006, I had osteopenia, my GP prescribed calcichew. A second dexa scan this year, lumber area increased risk of fracture. I told the person who did the scan I was prescribed the medication, she told me to stop taking them, thankfully I did not take them often. She stated calcium is provided through dietary sources, including broccoli, Vit D from the sun

Osteoporosis New Zealand stated some time ago to avoid taking supplements and this year Osteoporosis Canada made the same statement. I am not taking any medication for osteopenia at this time,There are some who may need the supplements, you should not buy supplements over the counter. you put yourself at risk of other conditions,

[Val02]

I have osteoporosis and have done since 45yrs. As soon as you become osteopenic they put you on calcium and Vit D to help with your bones. For me I couldn't tolerate them but I do take Vit D tablet. If you become osteoporotic then you go on bisphosphonates - although again I couldn't tolerate them either. In other words there is a staged system in place. It is all part of PBC I'm afraid - good luck!

[berg944]

Thanks for the replies.

As my calcium and vit D are normal why would I need supplements?

[Val02 in reply to berg944]

I think it is just to enable your body to make as much bone as it can.

[Magnolia]

I also have osteoporosis, and was treated for 11 yrs with Fosamax and 2 yrs with Reclaspe, which is by IV. I see an osteoporosis specialist and the last thing he was having me use was Forteo by injections. The needle is about as small as a diabetic needle and you can't feel it. This Dr. was trying to tell me, that after many years of using Fosamax the bones could become too dense. I didn't understand it then, but learned that it could cause the death of the jaw bone or femur bones. It could cause the loss of blood supply to the bones because of denseness. My spine is a -3 and I've been treated for 14 years. The Fosamax can cause stomach and esophagus problems, and did me, is why I was changed. But my PC dr. said she only gave her patients this med for 5 years.