3 years ago I had a bone density test that was normal. After reaching goal weight, I asked my PCP for another test, as a baseline after weight loss. The results came back as osteopenia, bordering on osteoporosis! How could that be?That is what my 86 year old mother has! I cannot believe that happened just because of weight loss in a short time. I also know that I have exercised like crazy since my surgery. I was up to 10,000 steps by day 7. Presently, I walk 3-5 miles a day (much on hills), climb 20+ flights of stairs a day, lift weights, and do leg exercises. This is a LOT of weight bearing exercise so how could I lose so much bone density? My 6 month post op calcium and vitamin D levels were fine.

The recommendation is to repeat the test in 2 years. By then I will have the skeleton of a jelly fish if decalcification continues at this rate.

Has anyone else had a dexascan that was abnormal after weight loss.

I have just had my first DEXA scan and it shows osteopenia in my hip and spine. Not sure if it is because of surgery or if it was already like that, haven’t seen my Dr yet to discuss it with him.

My hubby who is only 51 and hasn’t had WLS has has osteopenia for the last 3 years and has to have 6 monthly injections

11 minutes ago, elcee said:

I have just had my first DEXA scan and it shows osteopenia in my hip and spine. Not sure if it is because of surgery or if it was already like that, haven’t seen my Dr yet to discuss it with him.

My hubby who is only 51 and hasn’t had WLS has has osteopenia for the last 3 years and has to have 6 monthly injections

I am wondering if I need to start on Prolia injections as well. Seems like 63 is way too young for that. I feel betrayed by my body. But this has to get stopped NOW. Osteoporosis could really curtail my ability to ride my bike or my mule. A fall could be disasterous.

most people do lose some bone density after all that weight loss because your body doesn't need all that bone to hold up the weight anymore. That said, yes - osteoporosis/osteopenia can be a complication of WLS - esp the malabsorptive types. I have osteoporosis that was discovered two years after surgery. I have no idea if it was caused by WLS or not since they didn't do a baseline before surgery, but osteoporosis runs rampant among women in my family, so it could have already been there. I'm 60 years old.

and yes - you can have osteoporosis/osteopenia that early. I have a 400 lb friend who has it (age 57), and a normal-weight friend who has it at age 62. Neither have had WLS. As I recall, my mother had it early as well. So although yours could be due to WLS, it may have happened regardless, too.

Well my DEXA WAS ABNORMAL long before WLS and I do have Osteopenia, not yet to Osteoporosis. I'm weighing in to confess this. Since I still have drinking more than 3 ounces of fluid when It came time for my yearly I call it : "my topping of the tank", no pill form, no shot either, due a bypass et all, I had an INFUSION of the appropriate medication in March and my PCP says that will be my mode yearly. My Mama, rest her soul, had full- blown osteoporosis, lost over 5 inches of height, had increased fracturing of bones due to it and even lost her remaining teeth, strange? Her Dental Surgeon and PCP concurred on that one. See why that's a bullet I'm trying mightly to dodge, although it is doubly bad because Daddy also was diagnosed with IT- Until HE got his diagnosis, had vertebrael fractures, I ALWAYS BELIEVED men might be immune, but he lost 3 inches of height, there's a were in my late youth , I was 5ft11, and both my parents were 5ft7, when we went walking into our church, it looked like an Hereford beef cow and her parents-- the Shetland ponies . Surely were people that thought I was adopted from some other family except facially I looked just like Mama! I did lose a little under 4 inches of height between menopause and WLSurgery Time but my bone/ spine specialists attributed it more to my disks saying " No Mas" ( yeah THEY COULD Speak Spanish!) than the "osteo" FAMILY. And Thanks be, my height has now stablized at 5ft8in, not as Impressive but with my weight loss of 1/2 my former self ( 365+ Down to My Current 180) I think I'm looking Pretty Doggone Fine.
If people don't think so and say Something, I Shall pretend Deafness, at 73 I Can Play the "Age" Card just like Jonnie Cochran played the "Race" card for old O.J.! Cause there won't be anyone trying to ☔rain on my WL Parade if I have anything to Say!

And it should have read "I Cannot drink more than 3 oz at a time" every since Ken the Internet Guru for Bariatric Pal told me downloading The Beta form of the Android App, I have lost the ability to edit after posting, it's " Look Quick Before You Submit" or Everybody will think You a Raving Loon if not a Poor Speller. And yes, I do know how to spell most things, only other excuse is: My mind runs on Overdrive and My Texting Fingers lag way behind! So the Great Brain is bouncing along to better Thoughts while I Post!

What would be your suggestion for those of us with normal labs? Should we get a DEXA scan yearly? Start that at a certain age? This scares me and I would rather be proactive.
Thanks

3 hours ago, 2Bsmaller18 said:

What would be your suggestion for those of us with normal labs? Should we get a DEXA scan yearly? Start that at a certain age? This scares me and I would rather be proactive.
Thanks

3 hours ago, 2Bsmaller18 said:

I don't know the answer to that. I have an appt with my orthopedic surgeon in a couple of weeks and I am going to ask him, as well as by bari surgeon, and my PCP as well. Everything I read says to take calcium and Vit D, and do weight bearing exercise. I do all that and I cannot fit any more exercise into my day. I power walk, climb stairs, lift weights, stretch, and do isometric leg exercises. I have just added swimming and biking as I train for a triathlon next month. I know I have lost 2 inches in height over the past few years. The only option might be to start on Prolia injections every 6 months. I will be talking to docs about that.

I am REALLY glad I asked for the DEXA scan, however. I never would have known there was a problem. My biggest question is if the bones can decalcify that much in just 6 months of weight loss. If so, then maybe things will stabilize with maintenance. So we get tested for every thing under the sun before surgery. Why is a DEXA not on that list of baseline tests??????

4 hours ago, AZhiker said:

I don't know the answer to that. I have an appt with my orthopedic surgeon in a couple of weeks and I am going to ask him, as well as by bari surgeon, and my PCP as well. Everything I read says to take Calcium and Vit D, and do weight bearing exercise. I do all that and I cannot fit any more exercise into my day. I power walk, climb stairs, lift weights, stretch, and do isometric leg exercises. I have just added swimming and biking as I train for a triathlon next month. I know I have lost 2 inches in height over the past few years. The only option might be to start on Prolia injections every 6 months. I will be talking to docs about that.

I am REALLY glad I asked for the DEXA scan, however. I never would have known there was a problem. My biggest question is if the bones can decalcify that much in just 6 months of weight loss. If so, then maybe things will stabilize with maintenance. So we get tested for every thing under the sun before surgery. Why is a DEXA not on that list of baseline tests??????

I don't think that could happen in just 6 months. Maybe it has been a problem for awhile and WLS exacerbated it or maybe had no affect. You are doing all of the right things.

On 9/7/2019 at 1:16 AM, AZhiker said:

osteoporosis! How could that be?

@AZhiker

I don't think osteoporosis has anything to do with a persons weight or the amount they exercise

in my case, it didn't have to do with age either. i inherited osteo.... from my mom (she's so good to

me! ?) - - doc diagnosed me when i was in my 40's. don't tell anyone, but i'm 65 now!!!.

good luck bud

kathy

So scary I was just reading a article about losing bone density after wls. Wish you all the best.

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Well with my parent's history my PCP ordered my 1st at 40, but most of his other "more normal" patients he starts at 50 to check things out with the DEXA. I was hoping against hope maybe my height might pop up since I'm dragging less of me around. Ah, it was a lovely "pipe dream" while it lasted!???