We will be interviewing Alice V. Roberts, a courageous lady who has had osteoporosis since she was very young.  Alice will take us through her journey with osteoporosis and its many difficulties. 

Alices' Bio: I was diagnosed with severe osteoporosis in 1991 at the age of 35, by doctors at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, AZ. In 1980 I had a complete hysterectomy because of severe endometriosis and did not receive any hormone replacement therapy (HRT). At that time doctors did not know early surgically induced menopause could lead to osteoporosis if there was no HRT. As I broke bones I was asked to admit I was being abused and could be placed in a "safe house" with my daughters. In 1991 doctors at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, AZ  diagnosed me with severe osteoporosis and I finally had an answer to all my fractures.

In Washington, D.C. in the capitol, I have spoken in the offices of Representative Ann Kirkpatrick, Senator Jon Kyle and Senator John McCain. In 2009 I spoke in Dallas, Texas for World Osteoporosis Day. I have spoken at health expos and done talk radio in Phoenix. I am one person trying to make a difference and prevent others from going through what I have been through. It is painful and debilitating. Osteoporosis needs more public attention.

Welcome Alice!  Reading your biography is so much like reading mine.  I know that young people get osteoporosis too, but most think it’s an elder disease.  I was diagnosed at 32 and you were at 35.  Since you’ve been dealing with this for a long time you have insight into bone loss that would be different than those newly diagnosed from menopause in their fifties or sixties.  We hear about young girls, in high school, with similar stories but they aren’t on the six o’clock news, so we need to get this information out to help those who are surprised they have osteoporosis.  Your book, Living Day to Day with Severe Osteoporosis-2012 Update, advocacy work and interviews will help so much to spread the word on osteoporosis in the young.

Q: Did anyone in your family have osteoporosis?  Heredity is a major cause for osteoporosis, so I’m curious if this was the case for you?

My mother, grandmother and great-grandmother had osteoporosis and stooped posture. My mother had to buy blouses two sizes larger to accommodate her dowager hump.

Q: Since you had a total hysterectomy, at an early age, do you feel this was the cause of your fractures and bone loss?

In 1980 I had a complete hysterectomy at age 24 due to severe endometriosis. Because of bad migraines I was unable to tolerate hormone replacement therapy (HRT). At that time doctors did not know that early surgically induced menopause could lead to osteoporosis if there was no HRT. The National Osteoporosis Foundation did not even exist.

Q: How many fractures did you sustain, and which would you say was the worst, or hardest to recovery from due to limited mobility and recovery time?