We all need bone density tests

[nogutsnoglory]

My doctor told me all crohn's patients need a bone density test regardless of age or gender. I was skeptical since I am young and a male but I went in for x-ray and sure enough I now have osteopenia which I guess is the beginning stage of osteoporosis.

Please everyone make sure to get a bone density test, and make sure to take calcium and vit d supplements, and exercise! I know I definitely will have to incorporate this into my already long list of crohn's to do regimen.

 

[imisspopcorn]

Mine was normal??? Only normal thing about me Been on prednisone off and on for 10 years too. Definitely good to get it checked no matter what your age.

 

[Jeff D.]

Yeah, I'm getting my bone density scan Jan. 4th before a colonoscopy. It should be fun.

 

[dustydshook]

Bone density

I was 10% below what someone my age should be.

 

[s.a.m.]

I had one done, and I get the results back this month. How do you interpret the results?

 

[Pirate]

Had one earlier this year and everything was a-okay. Boy was I happy. Had a stress test a few months ago and passed that with flying colors. Now why can't I have good results on all of my other tests for the CD.

 

[Wiles]

Makes sense to get it tested. I've had a lot of tests over the years, but never a bone density test.

 

[shazamataz]

Had one earlier this year and everything was a-okay. Boy was I happy. Had a stress test a few months ago and passed that with flying colors. Now why can't I have good results on all of my other tests for the CD.

What's a stress test? Is it bone related?

 

[Mazen]

I had one about 2 years ago. I was low normal. I now take Calcium and Vit D, but i forget to take it many times !!!!

 

[CrohnieCarolyn]

I have one about 10 years ago - probably should have another one but I just thought you needed one because of the steroid use - I shall talk to the doc. Mine was okay back then - I do take a big dose of Vitamin D by prescription so hopefully this has helped...thanks for the info.

 

[BWS1982]

Mine turned out okay last year, it was normal, though they were frightened of the pred effects, but I was healthy enough to compensate, although I sure as heck didn't feel like it.

Shaz, normally a stress test is a psychological test (unless Pirate is referring to some other form) that measures how you physically handle "stress"...how your vitals and all perform under stress. Think of what they'd test for in the military or as a policeman/woman, and how you'd react, physically, to the variables of stress. Sometimes they make you run on a treadmill and check how your body reacts, etc... From what I gather it's part mental and part physiological. I've never had one, though. I wonder if you crap yourself during the test you automatically fail. :lol2:

 

[Peggy]

We have both had one My Husband has osteoperosis, He takes meds for this daily, mine was fine. Peggy

 

[shazamataz]

Shaz, normally a stress test is a psychological test (unless Pirate is referring to some other form) that measures how you physically handle "stress"...how your vitals and all perform under stress. Think of what they'd test for in the military or as a policeman/woman, and how you'd react, physically, to the variables of stress. Sometimes they make you run on a treadmill and check how your body reacts, etc... From what I gather it's part mental and part physiological. I've never had one, though. I wonder if you crap yourself during the test you automatically fail. :lol2:

Okay, so why do a stress test on a Chronie? I'm curious now as I KNOW for a fact I don;t handle stress well at all!

 

[BWS1982]

Well the test from what I understand (I don't administer them or anything) is for a multitude of purposes, some for occupational aptitude, some for cardiac health, some mental health. Perhaps because as Crohnies we're prone to other complications? I'm not sure, really, but I can think of possible reasons, the stress affecting our disease being a good one. I think Pirate might have to elaborate on why, it could have been non-Crohns related too I guess, just a coincidence.

 

[Crohn's 35]

I have had 2 or 3 so far. First one detected Osteoarthritis and the others were a baseline so the Gi knows how your bones are reacting to meds, especially Steroids. Plus I am older than most of you on here so I am glad I got it done.

 

[fenway1971]

Never had a bone density test...but I think I'll ask for one next visit.

 

[Creepy Lurker]

I'm close to osteoporosis at the moment. I've started taking calcium and vit d to try and undo some of the damage.

 

[imisspopcorn]

Okay, so why do a stress test on a Chronie? I'm curious now as I KNOW for a fact I don;t handle stress well at all!

I'm thinking his stress test was a cardiac stress test???I could be wrong though.

 

[Colt]

I am right on the mark between osteopenia and osteoporosis with a score of -2.4. Because my gender and age the score is artificially high and I am actually clearly osteoporotic.

I am a 25 year old male who was only on significant doses of prednisone (in recent times) for about 6 months. They completely dropped the ball because of stereotypes about my age. I've already had a ton of damage done and frankly you can never undo it without serious medications, and even then you'll never be normal again. I have live with this forever thanks to doctors completely ignoring the signs and not following the damn ADA guidelines on prednisone therapy that demand extensive monitoring. The only reason they did this one at all was because they wanted a baseline to compare against 10-20 years down the road. I was floored and I can't wait to see my GI's face at my next visit.

On top of that, as much as my doctors don't want to think about it, there's probably a lot more than 6 months of prednisone behind results that bad. Malabsorption of vitamins and minerals associated with bones and inflammation have likely been beating the crap out of my bones for years.