• Clip
• Bones & joints >> Osteoporosis >> Age of diagnosis 40-49 >> Susannah - Interview 04 >> The only alcoholic drink that Susannah drinks these days is in a cold/flu mixture she prepares.

Susannah was diagnosed in 1978. Over the years she has had many fractures; to her spine, wrists, toe, ribs, etc. She describes her condition as “extreme osteoporosis”. Susannah does not take any medication. She is concerned about the side effects of drugs.

• Bones & joints >> Osteoporosis >> Age of diagnosis 23-39 >> David - Interview 37 >> David drinks occasionally and in moderation.

David was diagnosed with juvenile arthritis (re-diagnosed as rheumatoid arthritis) at the age of two and on 2006, following a hip fracture, he was diagnosed with osteoporosis. He thinks that osteoporosis is the result of his arthritis and the long-term use of steroids. On alendronic acid once weekly and calcium two tablets a day.

• Bones & joints >> Osteoporosis >> Age of diagnosis 60-69 >> Valerie - Interview 03 >> For Valerie drinking alcohol is a question of quality rather than quantity.

Diagnosed in 2004 following complains of back and neck pains; on alendronic acid, 70 mg once weekly. She has had three bone density scans and there was improvement on the second but the third revealed a small deterioration of bone density.

• Bones & joints >> Osteoporosis >> Age of diagnosis 50-59 >> Keith - Interview 38 >> Keith occasionally drinks more than the recommended units but he doesn’t ‘binge drink’.

His diagnosis came about in 2007 after medical investigation for a lump on his breast. The lump proved to be benign but the blood tests indicated that he had low testosterone levels and a DXA scan revealed mild osteoporosis. He was put on HRT treatment (testogel).

• Bones & joints >> Osteoporosis >> Age of diagnosis 60-69 >> Shelia - Interview 29 >> Sheila stopped smoking immediately when she had a heart attack.

For the last five years before her diagnosis in 2003 she suffered from severe and painful backaches. She was in a wheelchair and her husband was her main carer. She was eventually referred to a consultant who secured funding for her to go on to the teriparatide treatment (Forsteo).

• Bones & joints >> Osteoporosis >> Age of diagnosis 50-59 >> Gloria - Interview 06 >> Gloria gave up drinking alcohol and smoking thirty years ago when she became ill with kidney stones and needed two operations.

In 1999 and following a wrist fracture, the doctor at the hospital advice her to ask her GP for a bone density scan to test for osteoporosis. No maternal history of osteoporosis, but surgery to both her kidneys. On alendronic acid once a week and on Adcal D3 once daily.

• Topic
• Bones & joints >> Osteoporosis >> Osteoporosis, smoking and alcohol >> Osteoporosis, smoking and alcohol

Osteoporosis, smoking and alcohol