What Could Go Wrong? Well, Let Me Tell You
Old Bones
It started with my hips. My latest DEXA scan showed a sharp drop in bone density over the last three years. It was dramatic enough that my primary care doctor messaged me immediately: “It’s time for medication.”
That felt abrupt, especially since the report still placed me in the osteopenia category. But I’ve been around long enough to know when something’s above my pay grade, so I asked for a referral to an endocrinologist.
I’m very glad I did.
She spent over an hour with me, asking questions that spanned everything from my thyroid medication to the Flonase allergy spray I’ve been casually squirting up my nose for years. (Turns out even that can affect bone density). While the DEXA said osteopenia, she took one look at my chart, including the time I cracked my femur in two places from a not-very-impressive fall ten years ago, and moved me directly into the osteoporosis category. Apparently, your bones don’t care how old the injury is or how graceful the fall might’ve been.
I CAN’T BELIEVE I’M SMILING BECAUSE I WAS IN AGONY…NOTICE THE BLUE STRIPE IN MY HAIR 🤣
We talked about everything that could be contributing to the loss and how to slow it down. Pilates got a gold star. Weight-bearing exercise is at the top of the list. She wasn’t convinced I needed to lift weights, but I am. I asked about wearing a weighted vest on walks, and she quickly shot that down. She wants me to be very, very careful. Sheesh.
Then came the balance talk. Not the emotional kind…the “don’t fall and break something” kind. According to her, the biggest danger now isn’t the bone loss itself, but what happens if I trip. Apparently, hip fractures in older adults often lead to a rapid decline. Some never regain independence, and many don’t survive two years. That part landed.
She ordered what felt like every lab test under the sun…most of which I’d never heard of…and said we’d regroup once she’s had time to sort through it all.
I left her office feeling slightly stunned and a little fragile. Which I suspect was her intent.
And in the perfect twist of midlife irony, I caught my sneaker on the edge of the carpet while walking down the stairs. Luckily, I had one hand on the railing. There’s nothing like nearly face-planting after a fall-prevention lecture to keep things humbling.
New Phone
As if the bone scan wasn’t enough of a reality check, I also got a new phone. What was meant to be a simple upgrade turned into a full-blown reckoning.
The new iOS looked nothing like my old one. Icons had moved, apps behaved strangely, and basic settings I use every day had vanished into mysterious layers of menus. It looked like a phone, but it may as well have been a remote control from another planet.
I’ve used an iPhone for years, so I assumed I’d know my way around. But this time, I felt completely out of my depth. After several frustrating hours, I gave up and took it back to the store.
The very kind (and very young) man helping me gently explained that once I updated my old phone, it would’ve looked and worked almost exactly like the new one. Yikes.
So I kept the phone, and I’m pushing my way through it, one small annoyance at a time. Every app logged me out, and it refuses to stay connected to my home Wi-Fi. Every time I get in the car, it randomly blasts the audiobook “The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning,” which I finished over a year ago. Poetic or creepy?
Grandpa Sweater
I finally finished the gray cardigan I started knitting last year. It’s oversized, plain, and every bit as thrilling as that sounds. No awards were won for the knitting skills used nor the results. I’ve been calling it my grandpa sweater, because honestly, that’s who it looks like it was made for. It may end up as my cozy “inside sweater,” and that’s just fine. It needs buttons, which I may or may not get around to sewing on.
I wanted something calm and meditative…and that’s exactly what I got. The process was soothing. The result? A little dull, but dependable.
Now I’m wishing I hadn’t left my cable sweater project back in Vancouver. That one has texture, movement, and enough complexity to keep things interesting. I think I’m craving that kind of creative energy again with something that keeps me engaged and curious about what’s coming next.
Nose Cream Update
In slightly more encouraging news, I think the red spot on my nose is starting to fade. Emphasis on think. I followed the dermatologist’s directions (or so I thought), dabbed on the cream for four days, then patiently waited for… something. A reaction. A change. Any sign that it was working.
Nothing happened. So I kept waiting. Then one morning, I spotted a faint bit of flaking and thought, “Aha! Progress.”
Naturally, that’s when I double-checked the instructions. Turns out I was supposed to use it for seven days, not four, before letting it rest and watching for signs of life. So now I may need to start the whole process over once my skin calms down. Because apparently, even prescription creams come with a learning curve in midlife.
The good news? It’s only my nose. The bad news? It’s my nose.
Round Peg in a Square Hole
In other small-but-satisfying wins, I finally found a round rug that works in our oddly shaped kitchen, which is technically triangular, with odd square angles. It’s not exactly an easy space to fit, but this one slipped right in and softened things up, just like I hoped.
The room needed a rug, and this one did the job. Bonus: it’s machine washable and dryable. Practical and unfussy, which is just how I’m needing things these days.
It wasn’t the easiest week, but somehow, in between the medical charts and rogue audiobooks, I finished a sweater, found a rug that fits, and didn’t fall down the stairs. I’m calling it a win.
What little victories are you counting right now and when was your last bone density test?
Jennifer,
Stay strong, especially with bone density concerns! If your doctor did not check your parathyroid, please do that. If you are losing hair, your teeth feel softer, and your spine/legs/joints hurt; you may have an overactive parathyroid. The PT tells your body you have plenty of calcium and that it does not need the calcium from your food and supplements. In 8 years I went from hard white and solid bones on my first density scan to brittle and osteoporosis, all because of my silent PT redirecting the calcium. Good Luck on your journey! Your doctor is steering you in the right direction to stay healthy and active longer.
All the best,
Lisa
Thank you Lisa! She did check my parathyroid and everything was good there. I don’t think many people know to have theirs checked.
Jennifer, obviously I am way behind reading the posts but just couldn’t let this one go by without a comment. My last DEXA scan was a year ago but I’m 75 so I’ve been having them for a while. I took Fosamax for 6 years while in my 60’s and just recently restarted it. As with you, my “numbers” still indicated osteopenia but my FRAX score changed because of (wait for it) my AGE, thus the restart of medication. I’m a retired RN and I understand the need to avoid hip fracture. As you pointed out, it is often the starting point for a marked decline in mobility and health, often leading to severe disability. Yes, exercise and medication can help us stay more mobile and safe. I’m so glad you were holding on to the handrail on the stairs! I told my husband the other day that he should think of the handrail as we do a seatbelts: Use it automatically EVERY time you’re on the stairs. (We are in the process of moving to a one-level home in the next few months.) I sympathize with the new iPhone experience; I’m due for a new one but keep putting it off. Two more things and I’ll end this much-too-long message: I love the gray sweater! And I LOVE the round rug! There’s always something positive, even on those days that make us feel cloudy and gloomy. I look forward to your emails; they’re one of my unfailing “positives” on any given day. Thank YOU!
Your sweater is gorgeous just like you
You’re very kind, thank you
I feel for you and identify w everything! Question, why are your bone density tests every three years? Mine is yearly.
I enjoy your posts and wish you the best.
Melinda
P.S. The sweater looks cozy.
Very good question. Hopefully my new endocronologist will be more proactive
I am in the early stage of osteoporosis. I’ve been taking prolix shots for about three years now and d it seems to be keeping it in check. Course I also take calcium and vitamin D. I fought the shots for quite a while because of things I read,but I seem to be okay taking it. I do “some “ strength” exercises and pelvic exercises almost every day. Helps with my prolapse and also my stability. I have the bone density test every year. I am 72.
I am trying to get through my eighth grandchild’s crocheted blanket. It’s slow going, she’s 8 months now. I need to get a move on🙃 I personally love your grandfather sweater. I love your blogs. Keep going!
Congratulations!! Eight grandchildren is such a blessing.
My OBGYN put me on Fosamax a couple of years ago and my bone density has actually improved. It wasn’t bad to begin with because I had jogged for 30 years and lifted weights for 10 of those. I also think that jogging saved my life when it was revealed that my arteries were 99% blocked! They said my heart looked strong but I had 3 blockages so after a quintuple bypass 10 years ago, I feel good as new! She also recommended Osteostrong, a subscription regimen with resistance machines but I didn’t do that. Results take a long time and it’s expensive. Remember, rugs add a tripping hazard! Good luck!
Hang in there, Jennifer. That is a lot!
Thought I would share that I have osteopenia. I go to an integrative MD who isn’t big on calcium. I take Vitamin K2 with D3. I just had my dexascan two weeks ago and it had not changed in two years!!!🙌🏻 I also follow a guy on Instagram “movemeduk” who does A LOT of balance training. Another good one on YouTube is “elignedmovement.” She does excellent (sometimes weird🤣) training for your brain health and balance. Hope this helps someone. The best thing is you can get both on your phone, so you can take it anywhere!😍
I’ll check them out! Thanks
I so enjoy reading your stories and I love your fashion posts!
Aren’t the golden years fun!
A blast but the alternative is the pits
I’m right there with you. Had a colonoscopy last week. Two days of awful prep, only clear liquid the day before, and then woke up the day of the test nauseous. Threw up til noon when they gave a medication in my iv. Got an A+ on the exam and threw up all the way home. Took me six days to get my bodily systems back on schedule. That right after a visit to the Pulmonologist to find out that my shortness of breath was emphysema. I’m at the age of, well something is going to go wrong.
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I’m so sorry! That’s awful. Mine is coming up son. Hang in there
You did a great job on that sweater! You have great knitting skills!
Ha ha, love your take on life Jennifer. It is interesting the longer we live! Lots of challenges for growth, that’s for sure. I’m a knit or two, just about to head into the Yarn store and I love getting a project that is so mindless like your sweater, although to me that looks like it would be a challenge! It looks just right on you, nice and cozy.
Thanks for sharing. I love the beautiful sweater. Take care.
I love rugs and had a houseful of exotic designs in my previous homes. However, after a very bad fall two years ago, I got rid of all of them except for one at our front door that lays completely flat and is practically superglued to the floor. I am terrified of falling.
Falling is very scary. I hear you!
I too have moved to osteoporosis. My endocrinologist recommended prolia shots as well. Waiting for my dexa scan timing to see how they are working. May be time to consider weights as well. At least we are all still here and kickin’, which is better than the alternative. Thank you for your posts. Always useful information Jennifer.
I like the sweater–a little oversized and a good blank canvas for some interesting jewelry. And I don’t think it needs buttons either (except if it has buttonholes of course).
And walking will help with your bones–I have had osteopenia for years and improved my bone density by walking and drinking at least a couple of glasses of milk every day. I also take calcium.
Good luck!
I’m upping my yogurt each day too. She prefers I get my calcium from my diet
Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. The good thing about the time we are living in is that there are so many options for us when we get a diagnosis like this. You are very proactive in seeing an endocrinologist for more information. And you are a very special person for sharing this with all of us. Keep us posted on this osteoporosis journey. You help all of us with so very many different aspects of our lives. I for one appreciate it greatly.
BTW, that is a cute little black top you are wearing!  Where did you purchase??
It’s very old so I don’t really remember, sorry.
I like the gray sweater. Maybe silver buttons would spice it up.
I’m going to try several options
When did our main job become taking care of our bodies full time? From the side effects of menopause to the prevention of bone loss to the management of cholesterol and blood sugar, it doesn’t seem to stop! My mother also used the Prolia injection for her osteoporosis and it worked great…but ask about it soon because it took 6 months for the insurance approval (it’s very expensive), and she had multiple stress fractures in her back by the time she could start taking it. You sweaters is beautiful…i can picture some really pretty crystal buttons on it…add some and you will change your mind about it!
Hang in there – you are doing all the right things. Same scene here. Fell last year, shattered my wrist, and went from osteopenia to osteoporosis. Taking my calcium, ( had med for years and now a break) and choosing not to take some new infusion. Walking, weights…will try Pilates. Careful about tripping, don’t get on step stools unless my husband is near to steady me, – and yes, new phones are awful. Even updates to the one you have are awful. BUT…we smile, laugh a little, and keep up…in style!!!