Bones may weaken after weight loss surgery - Page 2 - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

Phoenixfire · 03-19-2009, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corrine

I'm truly sorry you're having problems with bone density Phoenix but I couldn't be happier that you've posted this.

Sadly, there are too few doctors who even mention this aspect of WLS. I know that mine didn't and I had to ask for a DEXA scan.

Exactly, too few docs mention it. Which is why I came and posted. It well help somebody else. It's pretty late in the game for me.

I just hope the medication he gave me even works for us postop. He doesn't know, so I have to do some work to find a doc who can answer if this drug works with my shortened intestine.

My doctor also ordered me to up my calcium and Vitamin D. Fortunately, thanks to TT, I knew to make it calcium citrate and not the other types. Thank you to all who have educated me here on the right type of calcium! I am very grateful!

EVERYONE PLEASE READ BETH'S POST WITH THE RECOMMENDATIONS ABOVE!

JimM · 03-19-2009, 01:21 PM

Thank you for posting this info, Phoenix!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phoenixfire

...I just hope the medication he gave me even works for us postop. He doesn't know, so I have to do some work to find a doc who can answer if this drug works with my shortened intestine.

I know there are forms of injectable calcium (need to be administered by a physician)... I wonder if it's possible you could get the injections... thereby bypassing the issues of the shortened intestine and possible absorption issues with pills?

LizzieShell · 03-19-2009, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phoenixfire

My doctor also ordered me to up my calcium and Vitamin D. Fortunately, thanks to TT, I knew to make it calcium citrate and not the other types. Thank you to all who have educated me here on the right type of calcium! I am very grateful!

What did your doctor up your dosage to? I am curious as my Doctor also has never mentioned this.

I had a dexa scan about 4-5 years ago, caused it seemed no one could get my height right and they said I have shrunk about 2 inches. Well for a woman of 42 ish that is not something you want to hear.

Good luck to you, I hope that the meds and extra calcuim will help.

Liz

Phoenixfire · 03-29-2009, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LizzieShell

What did your doctor up your dosage to? I am curious as my Doctor also has never mentioned this.

I had a dexa scan about 4-5 years ago, caused it seemed no one could get my height right and they said I have shrunk about 2 inches. Well for a woman of 42 ish that is not something you want to hear.

Good luck to you, I hope that the meds and extra calcuim will help.

Liz

Liz, my doctor upped my calcium to 1,500-2,000 mg. taken very specifically for ultimate absorption. That means following a specific vitamin regimen (not taking certain vitamins with calcium, dissolving it in water so I can get it all in easily, etc.)

He put me on Fosamax. Take it once a week for the rest of my life.

Also have to have a DEXAscan every year.

Also have to monitor blood levels of calcium, but that's pretty useless now since the issue is BONE LEVELS OF CALCIUM, and bloodwork does NOT accurately reflect your BONE LEVELS OF CALCIUM.

Everyone should be very aware of that. You can't rely on bloodwork to accurately provide the amount of calcium you have in your BONES and TEETH. Which means the blood amounts are irrelevant, but they DO provide a "clue" as to what's going on.

I say screw the blood tests for calcium and get a DEXAscan EVERY YEAR post WLS. What can it hurt? And with WLS being a known cause of bone loss, insurance must cover it. You just might have to fight it, or educate your PCP that this is essential. Your surgeon should have no problem sending you for a DEXAscan, if you have an issue with insurance coverage.

EVERYONE SHOULD GET A DEXASCAN POSTOP. NO MATTER HOW YOUNG YOU ARE.

THE STATISTICAL NUMBERS ARE:
An average woman my age (41) loses about 1% of bone mass, per a DEXAscan study.
Post WLS patients, in a study done recently, lose between 3.5% and 8%.

Scary shit huh?

Phoenixfire · 03-29-2009, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimM

Thank you for posting this info, Phoenix!

I know there are forms of injectable calcium (need to be administered by a physician)... I wonder if it's possible you could get the injections... thereby bypassing the issues of the shortened intestine and possible absorption issues with pills?

You're welcome Jim, haven't been on much so I didn't get back to this thread.

And thank YOU for the above. My doc didn't mention injections of calcium. Hmmm...never heard of this so I'll ask him.

I'm hoping the specific regimen of taking 1,500-2,000 (I take 2,000) calcium pills are adequate. Along with my freaking Fosamax: old lady bone pills.

BY THE WAY, EVERYONE, TAKE CALCIUM CITRATE ONLY!!! ONLY ONLY ONLY!!!

My doc didn't know this, or at least he didn't SAY it to me. So your doctors might not know about the best form of calcium for us either. There's like 3 or 4 out there. Only take the citrate. It's the ONLY legitimate one for us postop. See all the research and helpful info here on the forum.

I found a really good one after researching here mostly. I get it at Costco. It's cheap and EXCELLENT. Two tablets have the recommended allowances below:

Calcium Citrate-only 50% RDA so take 4 a day for 2,000 mg. You must take them seperate from all your other supplements
Vitamin D - 200% RDA
Vitamin K - 100%
Vitamin B6 - 500%
Magnesium - 20%
Zinc - 66%
Copper - 50%
Manganese - 50%

NOTE: these extra vitamins and minerals are recommended TO WORK WELL TOGETHER WITH CALCIUM. These are NOT sufficient amounts for your daily intake of vitamins, so YOU MUST take OTHER supplements in addition to this calcium citrate (never Flinstones for god's sake).

EVERYONE POST WLS MUST ALSO TAKE THESE SUPPLEMENTS DAILY. EVERY FREAKIN DAY FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE:

A QUALITY multivitamin
Vitamin B Complex
Iron 180-200 mg of ELEMENTAL IRON (or 100mg 3 times a day of iron sulfate)
Vitamin B12 sublingual tablets

I get all mine at Costco and these vitamins alone are worth the annual membership fee of $50.00. Not to mention the gas savings.

PLEASE NOTE THAT HERE ON THE FORUM THERE ARE A COUPLE OF OTHER EXCELLENT THREADS ON HERE WITH THE NECESSARY VITAMINS LISTED, AND THE REGIMEN FOR TAKING THEM.

GrandmaRose · 03-29-2009, 05:37 PM

I had osteoporosis issues BEFORE surgery! I walk a lot - will be more faithful to do that now.

I take the Celebrate Bariatric calcium and will raise my dose, too.

I will also schedule a DEXAscan immediately.

You are wonderful to warn the rest of us - thanks a heap!

Love you,
Rose
Lap RNY 05/08/08

princesse · 03-31-2009, 10:22 AM

Hey sweetiew...

Can you find this and send it to me? I have an app't tomorrow & this is actually one of the problems we are addressing right now.

JimM · 03-31-2009, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phoenixfire

You're welcome Jim, haven't been on much so I didn't get back to this thread.

And thank YOU for the above. My doc didn't mention injections of calcium. Hmmm...never heard of this so I'll ask him.

I'm hoping the specific regimen of taking 1,500-2,000 (I take 2,000) calcium pills are adequate. Along with my freaking Fosamax: old lady bone pills.

No problem, Phoenix. I haven't been on here as much lately, either.

Here's an article from Mayo Clinic regarding bone loss and, among other things, calcium injections. It was written by the endo that saw me when I started the whole weight loss process: Osteoporosis treatment puts brakes on bone loss

Also, from what I've found, there's a nasal spray that can be used, instead of the injection (actually the drug is available in either form)... it's called Calcitonin.

I'm really hoping you get a good resolution to this whole issue.

Phoenixfire · 03-31-2009, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimM

No problem, Phoenix.

Here's an article from Mayo Clinic regarding bone loss and, among other things, calcium injections. It was written by the endo that saw me when I started the whole weight loss process: Osteoporosis treatment puts brakes on bone loss

Also, from what I've found, there's a nasal spray that can be used, instead of the injection (actually the drug is available in either form)... it's called Calcitonin.

I'm really hoping you get a good resolution to this whole issue.

Jim thank you SO much. I had no idea (and neither does my doctor apparently) that this existed!

Seriously, thank you. This will help me for years, so I am so glad you are here on the forum. (((Jim)))

I'm going to do my damndest to make sure I don't lose any more bone mass.

AND I've been working to up my protein. This far out I figure it can't hurt, plus I've noticed I don't have near as much muscle as I did a year ago. Frankly that scares me.

Princess....Uh, I'm not sure what you mean about "send me this"....??? I don't have anything to send other than the thread, or maybe the statistics on bone loss after WLS? I think those are here on the thread...PM me if you need more info and I'll try to help.

Phoenixfire · 03-31-2009, 02:17 PM

Here's the deal with how our bone health is at risk for MORE reasons than just having had this surgery.

"Good nutrition in general is key, but you should also make certain that you're getting enough calcium and vitamin D. Being underweight or losing a lot of weight unintentionally is associated with poorer bone health and a higher risk of fracture — even if you're taking a bisphosphonate."

We don't get good nutrition for awhile after WLS. Some don't get good nutrition ever after surgery. Don't be one of those!!!

This is also GREAT information for those who freak out about losing slowly. CONSIDER THIS A BLESSING! Your risk is reduced!!!

I lost all my weight in 10 months. And then I've been underweight for quite a bit of time, on and off since my surgery 6.5 years ago. So in spite of my surgeon's opinion that being underweight is healthy, being underweight has potentially contributed to my decreased bone density...which leads to a much higher risk of fractures than the average bear.

I'm seeing my PCP, the doc who caught this, on Friday to discuss these other injectable and nose spray options of treatment with prescription meds. I have to be sure my PCP knows that my absorption is an issue, and that the injectable may be better. Interestingly, it can be BAD for you if you take TOO MUCH of this sort of medication (biophospates). Ugh.

The most serious issue is, obviously, I am at risk for serious fractures. Ones that I wouldn't be at risk for if I didn't have osteoporosis. Imagine how a bone fracture would affect you, and you'll see why this is a critical health issue for those of us who lose a lot of weight with these surgeries!!!

BTW, I'm going to keep posting on here sporadically so that people see this. Besides worrying about this for MYSELF, I'd hate to think that anyone else didn't know about it and end up where I am now.