Osteopenia Q?

[No Kidding!]

This is my first post to this group, although I'm not new to Usenet. I'm a
42 year old, slender white woman who is just starting with perimenopause. My
GYN recommended a baseline bone density scan. Well, the hospital I work at
(as a tech) had a health fair where I could get one (that does the wrist)
for $20.00 so my sister & I signed up.

The technician said my T score was -.06 and that my bones should be denser
for someone my age ( -.06
is what the average 55 year old has). So he told me to start taking chewable
calcium supplements with D(Vivactin?). I tried them but they had a nasty
metallilc aftertaste, so I gave them to my anorexic sister, who was
diagnosed with osteopenia.

My regular MD recommended a Dexa scan because it's more thorough so I had
that done. She said my spine and hips were fine, but my femoral neck
was -1.0 and to talk to my GYN about hormone supplementation. I really don't
want to go that route if I don't have to, as I've heard too many terrible
things about HRT.

To add to the confusion, my chiropractor did a saliva test which said I was
estrogen dominant (no progesterone) and he recommended a natural
progesterone cream to help. From what I've read though, most traditional
medical sources regard this as useless so I really don't know what to do in
this regard.

I do take Tegretol for obsessive-complsive disorder, which I've just learned
can interfere with calcium absorption so I am considering coming off of it
within the next few months.

I have never smoked & only drink one soda a day. I used to be sedentary but
just started exercising this June.

What else can I do to stave off osteoporosis? I like collard greens, but
once or twice a week is about all I can take. I just starting buying calcium
fortified orange juice and drinking dairy again (previously avoided it due
to high cholesterol. Now I take meds for it).

What do you all think about the Progesterone cream? What is the best calcium
supplement? I'd prefer something with magnesium because one of my nurse
coworkers said it will help to combat the constipation (a problem I already
deal with).
Any other suggestions?
NK

[cyli@visi.com]

On Fri, 22 Aug 2003 02:12:25 GMT, "No Kidding!"
<nokidding@ria.netNOSPAM> wrote:

>
>What do you all think about the Progesterone cream?

Progesterone creams are every bit as artificial as the oral hormones
recommended to you, if that's of any interest or help. And I believe
they're less standardized than the real meds.

It doesn't matter how much they babble on about the yams. By the time
they're done with them, the cream is all lab done and manufactured and
altered.
--

rbc:vixen,Minnow Goddess,Willow Watcher,and all that sort of thing.
Often taunted by trout.
Only a fool would refuse to believe in luck. Only a damn fool would rely on it.

http://www.visi.com/~cyli

[Shirley Thebaglady]

I am older than you. I can only take Citrate Calcium +D for my
Osteopenia (hip). The other calciums make me constipated. I take it 6
hours apart and only 600 mg at a time. You get this in a vitamin or
their is a brand name, Citracal.
This helps to rebuild bone.

I broke my arm a few years ago and I took a high Citrate +D calcium
vitamin (2000). My ortho bone doctor could not believe how fast the bone
healed .

shirley