bone density scans post op

SarahLee1969
on 7/20/12 10:28 am - NY

At my support group meeting last night someone mentioned they had bone density testing that reavealed. Decreased bone density over the past year.The guy asked the doctor present if he should increase his calcium intake.The doctor said that all post ops will see a decrease in bone density as bone is constantly changing based on several factors including the physical stress placed on them. As weight goes down, the stress on bones decreases, and bones lighten up as they dont have to be so dense to support a lighter body. The doc recommended, instead,looking at PTH , vitamin D, and calcium levels to determine if supplements need adjusting.
Just wanted to share and see what others thought.

poet_kelly
on 7/20/12 10:53 am - OH

RNY on 11/04/08

Well, I think we should look at our labs, including PTH, vitamin D and calcium, AND get bone density scans. It's time for me to get another. I had my first one year post op and I had nothing to compare it to but my results were good. I don't think all post ops have significant bone loss and I think we should keep an eye on it.

Kelly

Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.

Price S.
on 7/20/12 11:09 am - Mills River, NC

RNY on 09/09/10

Interesting thought. I am old enought that I have had several, but none since surgery. Not sure when I am due for the next one. I know you can also increase bone mass with exercise.

66 yrs young, 4'11" hw 220, goal 120 met at 12 months, cw 129 learning Maintainance

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Dave Chambers
on 7/20/12 11:21 am - Mira Loma, CA

RNY on 05/10/06

I got a bone scan at 2-3 years post op, as a baseline for comparison. Keeping your D up around 80-90 helps you absorb your calcium citrate. I use the calcium citrate only from Vitalady, 1035mg per capsule with 300mg elemental calcium. I take 2 in the AM and two in the PM. These don't have any D3 in them, but are high in elemental calcium, which is what I prefer. I take the 50K IU dry D3, so I'm fine with no D3 in this form of calcium citratate. DAVE

Dave Chambers, 6'3" tall, 365 before RNY, 185 low, 200 currently. My profile page: product reviews, tips for your journey, hi protein snacks, hi potency delicious green tea, and personal web site.

Cicerogirl, The PhD
Version
on 7/20/12 11:28 am - OH

RNY on 08/27/07

My surgeon does not agree with your doctor. She indicated that if we were getting a reasonable amount of physical activity and enough calcium and other vitamins that interact with the calcium and bones, we should not have any significant loss of bone density until the natural aging process started to take its toll. I was also told that once your bones thicken to help support an extreme amount of weight, the bones do NOT revert to their previous size after weight loss.

I don't know for certain which is true because I have done only limited reading on it (and no serious research on the issue). Based on what I do know, however, I would be very surprised if there is any evidence that just losing weight (with no nutritional factors/deficiencies considered) affected the bone density.

Lora

14 years out; 190 pounds lost, 165 pound loss maintained

You don't drown by falling in the water. You drown by staying there.

SarahLee1969
on 7/20/12 11:45 am - NY

This as not my surgeon.... just one attending the support group that evening. He did mention weight bearing exercise as helping to maintain good bone density. I think his point was that the bones of someone at 400# NEED to be denser that those of someone at 125# .
I thought it was an interesting perspective. I work with renal patients and we monitor PTH, calcium, and phosphorous closely as any or all of them being too high can result in calcification of soft tissues-namely blood vessels.The muscle cells actually convert to bone cells adding to cardiac complications. We use a variety of meds/ vitamins to help keep these labs in established parameters.

Another interesting thing. We have parameters for each of these labs which are significantly different than for the "normal" population.Makes me wonder when /if parameters will be set for bypass pts for labs like vitamin D, where we know we are better off with higher than "normal"population values.

poet_kelly
on 7/20/12 11:54 am - OH

RNY on 11/04/08

We aren't really better off with higher vitamin D levels than "normal" people, though. All people need vitamin D levels of at least 80, according to the Linus Pauling Institute.

Kelly

Please note: I AM NOT A DOCTOR. If you want medical advice, talk to your doctor. Whatever I post, there is probably some surgeon or other health care provider somewhere that disagrees with me. If you want to know what your surgeon thinks, then ask him or her. Check out my blog.

KittenLove
on 7/20/12 12:31 pm - Around Knoxville, TN

RNY on 09/02/08

Had my first about two months ago. They said it was above average for my age etc. I hate to admit it but I am HORRIBLE about taking my calcium

Be happy.

bone density scans post op

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bone density scans post op