Newly diagnosed with Osteoporosis and have other health issues as well

New to osteoporosis & osteopenia
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Hello. Newly diagnosed with Osteoporosis. A little bit about me. I’m a 52 year old female with early menopause at 42 ( post menopausal after coming off the combined pill) been on HRT for 9 years. I’m petite at 5’1 and have always been slim. Generally my BMI is around 19. Diagnosed with PMR (polymyalgia rhumatica an autoimmune inflammatory disease) in Sept 25 and put on Prednisolone ( glucocorticoid steroids) Also have a subclinical hyperthyroidism. Had a DEXA scan in December and got the results on Thursday. Not good at -2.8. Now been prescribed Alendronic acid. Am actually surprised at how bad my score was for only having been on the steroids for 5 months. I realise early menopause isn’t helpful to bone health but having been on HRT thought it would be better. Previously very fit and healthy, Woking a physical job ( gardening) and looking after and riding 3 horses. Lugging round bales of haylage, bags of feed and pushing wheel barrows full of dung around daily. Had a fall from the horse about 4 years ago ( high impact as he’s a big horse) and walked away with a concussion but noting else at all. Lost around 6 pounds at the start of my PMR and not really put it back on. Also steroids have made my blood sugar creep up ( having previously been fine) so am having to watch carbs and sugar intake which isn’t helping with not putting weight back on)?

Am now worried about breaking bones doing the stuff I do everyday and feeling a bit sorry for myself with all the tablets I have to take (8) having previously been on nothing but my HRT.

Thank you for reading.

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Hi. I understand how you must be feeling. I had a similar T score and felt very “let down” considering how active I am. Like you, I felt a bit fragile, but the Fracture Liaison Nurse said I’d probably be OK with even doing impact such as star jumps and so much of the advice recommends lifting/strength training. The shock of the diagnosis does diminish though.

Take a look at Honest Clare on YouTube, a journalist who has documented her parents’ (in their 89s) weight lifting journey.

Good luck with your care.

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Thank you for replying. Having been worried about doing anything since diagnosis I’ve now decided to carry on as normal. This didn’t happen over night and I’ve been ok (:crossed_fingers:) for the last year or so. I actually think they may have got my results mixed up with someone else as my friend’s horse chucked me off rather spectacularly last week and I landed flat on my back and walked away with nothing more than a soggy, wet, muddy coat and bottom! Actually think I was just lucky to land on a very soft muddy verge. Suffice to say I don’t think I’ll ride that one again. I was worried about dismounting from my very large horse ( 17.1hh) but again I’ve had no issues this far so will continue to ride him.

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You’ve got a lot of thrings going that could have affected your bones - the premature menopause, hyperthyroidism, PMR and steroids.

Why don’t you see about going back on HRT? Ask about body identical HRT.

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I never came off the HRT, still on it now. 100mg patches ( highest licensed dose ) for the last 6 years having worked up from 25mg over a few years trying to control symptoms. Only had just under 1 year without from the onset of symptoms in Feb 2016 till diagnosis of POI in December 2016. Didn’t help that much really with bone health did it. I suppose it could have been much worse without.