Question of the Week: Osteoporosis Advice from Someone Who’s Been There

Another good question Pam...when i was first dx i was just like everyone else...scared.  Over time i came to realize that it was just another thing to be aware of and to do all i could to prevent it getting worse and better yet what things to do to make it better. If i had to give  just 3 tips to a newly dx friend i would tell them...

1.  First and foremost i would them them that your're the same person you've always been and that you can still do the things you've always done and enjoyed, but maybe with a change or two in how you do it.  No one wants that "damaged feeling" we get when we are told that we are not perfect anymore and its best to get over it quick.

2. The second would be to educate yourself to all options before making a decision of what is best for you.  Your dr. can give the advice he/she goes by, but that may not be the path you want to take.

3.  The third would be to get active if you already aren't.  Exercise and keeping active is not only great for the bones but for the rest of you as well.  Exercise is so important in preventing many of the things that can go wrong as we age.

take care..phyllis

Great question because there are emotional repercussions of a diagnosis of osteoporosis. With quite bad dexa numbers- I definitely felt a gut punch. I felt like my life had changed. Having now lived with this diagnosis for several years, my advice to the newly diagnosed would be:

1 Be aware of what is going on for you. It is possible that you may feel depressed, angry, afraid.  It is ok to feel these things. These are feelings that will come and go, they are not you. In other words, see these feelings but don't overly identify with them. There is more to you than these feelings.

2. Accept that things will be different. But that is not necessarily a bad thing. Try to make something good of this news. You will probably learn somethings about yourself, how you deal with difficult news, how you deal with fear, how you close down/open up with yourself and others. Maybe you will need to learn better coping skills. Maybe you will learn you don't have much of a support network. Well, just like our diagnosis , these are good things to know. 

3.Act --if your support network wasn't adequate do something about it . Reach out to others. If your coping skills were lacking, do something about learning new skills. And learn all you can about osteoporosis. Read books, share information, decide about your plan to improve your situation.....look at ways to become stronger and healthier.

You may have lost some bone, but you can work to develop an exercise program that is safe for you but challenges you. In studies they show that even the elderly  can gain muscular strength. Examine your nutritional intake,  you need to eat well to be   as strong as you can be.

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, just take the first step in the direction of your personal healing and strength, and then keep going in that direction. My personal journey has not been entirely smooth, and that I would think is the way things go for most people. But, you just pick yourself up and take the next step .

Best wishes to all.