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• Bones & joints >> Osteoporosis >> Being diagnosed with osteoporosis >> Being diagnosed with osteoporosis

Being diagnosed with osteoporosis

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• Bones & joints >> Osteoporosis >> Age of diagnosis 70+ >> Carol - Interview 15 >> Following a wrist fracture Carol’s GP send her to have a DXA scan. But while waiting for the test results she put Carol on medication as a preventativ

Following a wrist fracture Carol’s GP sent her for a DXA scan and put her on medication for osteoporosis as a precautionary measure. She is on Bonviva (ibandronic acid) 150 mgs, once a month plus Adcal D3 twice a day. She fasts for six hours before taking Bonviva.

• Bones & joints >> Osteoporosis >> Age of diagnosis 60-69 >> Christine - Interview 18 >> A nurse raised the possibility that Christine might have osteoporosis and told her to ask her GP for a DXA scan.

Diagnosed in 2004 with what she described as a ‘mild form’ of osteoporosis. Medication since diagnosis: alendronic acid and calcium tablets. A second bone density scan revealed that her condition has improved after two years of treatment. Her mother has osteoporosis.

• Bones & joints >> Osteoporosis >> Age of diagnosis 50-59 >> Iris - Interview 24 >> After a fracture, Iris received a letter from the osteoporosis specialist nurse inviting her for a DXA scan.

Her diagnosis of osteoporosis was prompted by her being invited by the osteoporosis nurse for a bone density scan. The type of fracture she had was unusually severe for the type of fall she incurred and, her age. She takes Actonel 3mg once weekly and calcium tablets.

• Bones & joints >> Osteoporosis >> A health professional explains about Osteoporosis >> Dr Bhalla - Interview 42 >> Diagnosing and predicting an individual’s risk of fractures.

Dr Ashok Bhalla is a consultant rheumatologist at Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases, Bath.

• Bones & joints >> Osteoporosis >> Age of diagnosis 50-59 >> Keith - Interview 38 >> Keith was in his fifties when he learnt he had osteoporosis after a breast lump was investigated.

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 >> Sarah - Interview 27 >> Sarah had several years delay before she started taking medication because during a clinical trial her diagnosis was not sent to her GP.

In 2002 Sarah took part in a clinical trial were she was first diagnosed with osteoporosis. It seems that her diagnosis wasn’t sent to her GP. In 2008 she fell and hurt her back and her GP sent her for an x-ray and it was then that her condition was officially diagnosed. Current treatment: alendronic acid once weekly and calcium tablets.

• Bones & joints >> Osteoporosis >> Age of diagnosis 70+ >> James - Interview 36 >> After seeing his GP for backache, James was referred for a non urgent MRI scan, which found that he had spinal fractures.

James is on alendronic acid once weekly and calcium tablets two a day. He also takes Omeprazole and Domperidone for his acid reflux. For a dysfunctional bladder he takes amitriptyline at bedtime. He had vertebroplasty surgery done three times to repair collapsed vertebraes but the last time it was unsuccessful and is waiting to have it done again.

• Bones & joints >> Osteoporosis >> Age of diagnosis 40-49 >> Chris - Interview 23 >> Chris decided to leave an unhappy marriage after she was diagnosed with osteoporosis.

Diagnosed in 1999. She is taking Actonel and Calcichew D3 Forte. Initially she was taking Actonel 5 mg once daily but found it impractical, especially during working days. She now takes 35 mg once weekly. She still experiences back pain but not as severe as before diagnosis.

• Bones & joints >> Osteoporosis >> Age of diagnosis 70+ >> Carol - Interview 15 >> Having information which was easily accessible stopped Carol from thinking negative thoughts when she was first diagnosed.

Following a wrist fracture Carol’s GP sent her for a DXA scan and put her on medication for osteoporosis as a precautionary measure. She is on Bonviva (ibandronic acid) 150 mgs, once a month plus Adcal D3 twice a day. She fasts for six hours before taking Bonviva.

• Bones & joints >> Osteoporosis >> Age of diagnosis 50-59 >> Margery - Interview 40 >> There was no DXA scanner in the area were Margery lives and she had to travel to a big city to have it done and subsequently to see a consultant.

Diagnosed in 1994 after a DXA scan revealed severe osteoporosis. Her consultant prescribed Fosamax at first, then added Calcium, Vitamin D and HRT. Currently she carries with the same treatment minus HRT and takes Calcichew D3 Forte. She has regained bone density and is osteopenic.

• Bones & joints >> Osteoporosis >> Age of diagnosis 60-69 >> Sarah - Interview 27 >> Sarah feels bitter that she has lost six years of treatment after the results of her DXA scan were misplaced.

In 2002 Sarah took part in a clinical trial were she was first diagnosed with osteoporosis. It seems that her diagnosis wasn’t sent to her GP. In 2008 she fell and hurt her back and her GP sent her for an x-ray and it was then that her condition was officially diagnosed. Current treatment: alendronic acid once weekly and calcium tablets.

• Bones & joints >> Osteoporosis >> Age of diagnosis 70+ >> Diana - Interview 22 >> Diana’s GP diagnosed a slipped disk and advised her to rest and take painkillers, and so when she later had episodes of pain she decided it was her sl

In 2003 Diana was diagnosed with severe osteoporosis of the spine. She paid herself to have the Forsteo (teriparatide) treatment that consists of daily subcutaneous injections for 18 months. Describes Forsteo as ‘marvellous’ Currently on Actonel once a week.

• Bones & joints >> Osteoporosis >> Age of diagnosis 23-39 >> Jane - Interview 19 >> After a neck injury, Jane was told she was too young to have a DXA scan even though she had a maternal history of osteoporosis in her family.

Jane’s excruciating back pain that started during labour wasn’t investigated until after six weeks later. Eventually she was diagnosed with osteoporosis through pregnancy but also with Coeliac disease. Jane says that she had coeliac symptoms for many years but again, these were not investigated. She is on Calcichew D3 Forte but not on medication for osteoporosis.

• Bones & joints >> Osteoporosis >> Age of diagnosis 23-39 >> Jane - Interview 19 >> Jane’s pain in her back hours after giving birth was not diagnosed until her friend took her to A&E and demanded further investigations.

Jane’s excruciating back pain that started during labour wasn’t investigated until after six weeks later. Eventually she was diagnosed with osteoporosis through pregnancy but also with Coeliac disease. Jane says that she had coeliac symptoms for many years but again, these were not investigated. She is on Calcichew D3 Forte but not on medication for osteoporosis.

• Bones & joints >> Osteoporosis >> Age of diagnosis 40-49 >> Robert - Interview 28 >> Robert had spinal surgery which left him disabled and in pain. No-one considered that he might have osteoporosis and he did not have a DXA scan.

Robert was diagnosed with osteoporosis at the age of forty-three. Robert had to wait seven months before been referred to a bone metabolic specialist who sent him without delay to have a bone density scan. Now his osteoporosis is under control but he continues experiencing severe pain due to the damage caused by the condition.

• Bones & joints >> Osteoporosis >> Age of diagnosis 40-49 >> Robert - Interview 28 >> Robert believes that there is still a lot of ignorance amongst (non-specialist) health professionals about osteoporosis.

Robert was diagnosed with osteoporosis at the age of forty-three. Robert had to wait seven months before been referred to a bone metabolic specialist who sent him without delay to have a bone density scan. Now his osteoporosis is under control but he continues experiencing severe pain due to the damage caused by the condition.

• Bones & joints >> Osteoporosis >> Age of diagnosis 70+ >> Carol - Interview 15 >> Carol felt very depressed and fearful for the first three months after she was diagnosed.

Following a wrist fracture Carol’s GP sent her for a DXA scan and put her on medication for osteoporosis as a precautionary measure. She is on Bonviva (ibandronic acid) 150 mgs, once a month plus Adcal D3 twice a day. She fasts for six hours before taking Bonviva.

• Bones & joints >> Osteoporosis >> Age of diagnosis 50-59 >> Iris - Interview 24 >> Iris doesn’t want her condition to affect what she wants to do in her retirement so she admits she is in denial about it.

Her diagnosis of osteoporosis was prompted by her being invited by the osteoporosis nurse for a bone density scan. The type of fracture she had was unusually severe for the type of fall she incurred and, her age. She takes Actonel 3mg once weekly and calcium tablets.

• Bones & joints >> Osteoporosis >> Age of diagnosis 40-49 >> Chris - Interview 23 >> When Chris was diagnosed with osteoporosis it was a wake-up call to change her life.

Diagnosed in 1999. She is taking Actonel and Calcichew D3 Forte. Initially she was taking Actonel 5 mg once daily but found it impractical, especially during working days. She now takes 35 mg once weekly. She still experiences back pain but not as severe as before diagnosis.

• Bones & joints >> Osteoporosis >> Age of diagnosis 40-49 >> Robert - Interview 28 >> Robert had spinal surgery which left him disabled and in pain. No-one considered that he might have osteoporosis and he did not have a DXA scan.

Robert was diagnosed with osteoporosis at the age of forty-three. Robert had to wait seven months before been referred to a bone metabolic specialist who sent him without delay to have a bone density scan. Now his osteoporosis is under control but he continues experiencing severe pain due to the damage caused by the condition.