Wednesday's Word

[DonnaBoll]

osteoporosis

This condition refers to the thinning of the bone making patients at greater risk of fractures especially to the hip and spine.

Although it usually happens with age, anyone with a liver disease has a greater chance of it - including those of us having PBC.

One of the factors what contributes to the instances of it in PBC is that many of of us have a lowered Vitamin D level, a fat soluble vitamin, that has a reduced rate of absorption when you have a liver disease.

An effective tool for screening for osteoporosis is a bone density test. It is quick and painless to have done. This is also an important reason for everyone, with PBC especially, to have their Vit D and Calcium levels checked periodically along with the other liver enzymes being tested.

Vitamin D helps with the absorption of Calcium into our bones. Most Vit D and Calcium should be checked so you know your exact levels. Just taking OTC supplements may not be enough.

[iagra]

Thanks Donna. I've delt with osteopenia for years and recently with osteoporosis in some areas. Everything you said is correct and good information to know.

[DonnaBoll Administrator in reply to iagra]

Have you had your vitamin levels checked recently to see what are?

[iagra in reply to DonnaBoll]

Yes. I'm according to my doctors is the most self-aware medically speaking patient they have. 😀

[DonnaBoll Administrator in reply to iagra]

Me too.. I've had osteopenia for many years. Last bone density a month or so ago showed osteoporosis.

[iagra in reply to DonnaBoll]

Me too. I still have osteopenia in my hips (though in the right one is the borderline), and I have now osteoporosis in the spine. I was offered to take the medication for osteoporosis, but I refused. I continue taking calcium supplement, vitamin D3 and vitamin K2, since the supplement I take doesn't include K2, like some others, which do.

[DonnaBoll Administrator in reply to iagra]

just be sure to get take the right amount of Calcium and Vit D. We need Vit D for our body to absorb the Calcium. Some simple weight bearing exercises, even like walking, can help over time.

[MissusTee]

Just waiting for my decal scan results. I’ve had 2 very serious vitamin d deficiencies! They make you feel awful.

[DonnaBoll Administrator in reply to MissusTee]

are you taking Vit D supplements down? - the dose should be given by your doctor to make sure it's right for you. what about Calcium?

[MissusTee in reply to DonnaBoll]

Yes, on both thanks for life I just don’t seem to absorb it properly!

[DonnaBoll Administrator in reply to MissusTee]

hmmmmm --- is it a dose prescribed by your doctor based on your lab results? Like it said in my first post, those with liver diseases generally do have trouble with absorbtion.

[MissusTee]

I’m on calci- d. My vitamin d levels are good, but I actually have no idea about my calcium levels.

[DonnaBoll Administrator in reply to MissusTee]

maybe have it checked... if there isn't enough for the Vit D to help absorb it then maybe it could be part of the problem.

[Zelda5]

So, does it matter on which part of the body they do the density test on. Seems like I remember a conversation, I had with my sister when she was a point away from osteopenia. I remember her Dr. was happy that it was technically within normal range. Anyway, I remember her saying the scan should have been done on her arm. I've broken both pinky toes and a finger in the last 3 yrs. Nothing major, but this last time it seemed like it broke a lil too easily. I'm worried about the strength of my bones.

[DonnaBoll Administrator]

I had a bone density done in November. The results were taken from the lumbar spine area, the right and left femoral (hip/upper leg) neck bones. To my knowledge this is the way it's always done - assessing those areas for bone health. I have always had osteopenia but this time it was assessed as osteoporosis.