Women Over 50: How is Your Bone Density?

We spent last weekend in Bodega Bay, where I discovered a hazard of wearing multi-focal lenses. It made me decide I needed to get my bone density checked, fast. Because things have could have ended, much worse than they did.

We arrived late Saturday morning, and headed straight for the beach.

A do-rag is a great way to protect your hair from the wind. You can pop a hat over it, when the sun is out.

We hauled our chairs and books down the bluff, to sit at the shore. Several hours of reading, with the music of crashing waves, was my idea of perfection.

We did a little wine tasting, had a fabulous dinner, and crashed early.

 

 

The following morning was foggy and ethereal looking. I love that kind of weather.

We drove north to Jenner, where the Russian River meets the Pacific Ocean.

As I started back across the road, my toe caught on the raised edge of asphalt. I lurched forward and slammed to my hands and knees. My hands and knees were fine. But my hip was trashed. Game over.

We headed home. Worries of osteoporosis and hip fracture pounded in my head, throbbed in my hip. When was my last bone density test?
The moment we arrived, I downed 2 calcium pills followed by 3 Advil. How crazy was that? If I’d cracked my hip, those calcium pills weren’t going to help one bit.
I was sore, really sore, and upset. That classic scenario of older women falling and breaking their hip was on rewind through my mind. I felt old and frail.
Monday morning I called my Doctor. She was booked solid so I hobbled into urgent care. I couldn’t stand or sit without agony. My leg was tingling and the pain was off the charts. They immediately put me in a wheel chair and took me for X-rays.

The good news, nothing looked cracked on the X-rays.
The bad news, she wanted me to use a walker for the next few weeks! OMG.

The image,  the word “walker” conjured up, knocked me way out of my comfort zone. Horror, anxiety and denial collided right there in urgent care. Nope, not me, not happening. I just couldn’t use a walker. I actually begged the doctor to prescribe crutches instead.

What the hell is that all about?

I’m flat on my back, with anti inflammatory, and pain meds. I’m icing my hip, which isn’t easy. And thinking about my age. A lot.

 

I’ve been reading about calcium intake and bone density for women over 50. I’ve got a couple strikes against me.

• I’m postmenopausal, which can lead to bone loss. Decreases in estrogen causes an increase in bone absorption and decrease in calcium absorption.

• I went dairy-free, just over a year ago. Dairy is a major source of calcium.

• Vitamin D is necessary for absorption of calcium. I am always covered in strong sunscreen and avoid the sun like a vampire.

• Weight-bearing exercise is important for maintaining and building bone density. I stopped exercising about 6 years ago.

• Drinking too much alcohol can damage your bones. What’s considered too much?

 

This is a wake up call for me.

1. I’ll be getting a bone density test.
2. I’ll be starting an exercise regimen.
3. I’ll be taking my vitamins and minerals regularly, including calcium/magnesium with vitamin D.
4. I’ll be calling my optometrist to check on my new eyeglasses. They have larger lenses.

I suspect the uneven asphalt was visible below the bottom of my small frames. Sadly, I didn’t see it.

 

My son saw this from a different perspective. His comment to my whining?

“It’s not like you tripped over your walker and keeled over at a Bingo tournament, Mom.”

Thanks for that son, I feel younger already.

 

Do you take calcium?

Have you had a bone density test?