Ageism in hospital letter

I think it should read
“In view of her age, I think it would be wise…..” etc

Could it possibly have meant you are too young to suspect it?

avitorl

Could it possibly have meant you are too young to suspect it?

Well, this.
Suggests to me that your clinician thinks you are possibly on the young side for the condition.
See no ageism there.
Hope all turns out well.

Elsewhere you wrote that you are 80. Anything between 40% and 70% of women that age will have osteoporosis.

Taking common medications such as corticosteroids for inflammation, proton pump inhibitors for reflux, SSRIs for depression or will increase the risk.

“Despite” suggests an assumption it will be be present but whatever words are used it seems sensible to check to see a) if it is present and b) the severity.

Depending on age NICE guidelines re osteoporosis suggest treatment can be started without confirmation of diagnosis. Your doctor is indicating that he's varying the guideline and wants confirmation by scanning even though at your age that's not strictly necessary. He 's justifying varying the guideline to whoever he's writing to so they don't question your referral.

Basgetti

avitorl
Could it possibly have meant you are too young to suspect it?
Well, this.
Suggests to me that your clinician thinks you are possibly on the young side for the condition.
See no ageism there.
Hope all turns out well.

I am 80 so doubt they think I’m too young.
I read it that she was saying ‘ Although she is 80’, meaning normally we wouldn’t bother!
She’s lovely otherwise so I expect it was a little slip up so won’t take offence.

80 is old tho, and whatever’s wrong in owning that?

"For others, particularly older people over the age of 75, the risk of breaking a bone may be so high that there's no need for them to have a bone density scan before treatment is prescribed" taken from the NHS guidance on DEXA.

www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/dexa-scan/why-its-done/

foxie48

That makes sense thank you

avitorl

Could it possibly have meant you are too young to suspect it?

That’s how I read it.

Witzend

avitorl

Could it possibly have meant you are too young to suspect it?

That’s how I read it.

Although it’s certainly not unknown in younger women. Didn’t I once read that Gwyneth Paltrow was diagnosed with a pretty bad case some years ago?
Probably down to some fad, supposedly ‘healthy’ diet, but IIRC it’s also associated with certain anti-cancer drugs, IIRC tamoxifen is one such.

When my DH went to a day assessment unit after having a stroke the letter sent to our GP later described the assessment unit as geriatric care. It is just a medical term.
Condescending attitudes are another thing altogether.

Some people will pick holes in anything.

DH was sent for a Dexa scan yesterday, he is 80. It assessed his risk of a hip fracture as only 6.9%, I think that is amazing for his age. Since the treatment doesn't really have any effect on bone density for 1 - 2 years and has side effects, I don't think we will be wanting to start that, whatever our young and very enthusiastic GP suggests!

We have a family joke about DHs NHS app. On one of his consultations is noted "speaks in full sentences".

The copy of a GP letter sent to my mother (93 but totally compos mentis and an ex nurse) in reply to the GP's request for an ECG basically said that in view of her CKD, osteoporosis ongoing heart problems and age they wouldn't bother as they were more or less writing her off!
It was the first she had heard of the Osteoporosis or kidney disease! High-handedness and ageism to my mind!

My notes read “she wanted to talk about her swollen feet, I wanted to talk about her test results”. Huh, my first thought was who is ‘she’ the cat’s mother? My second thought was “who made the * appointment? I didn’t expect such ignorance from my GP.

Well,I had to pay for a Dexa scan some years ago.
I am now 80 and could do with another one.
But I doubt I can get it on the NHS.

Any checkups as you age should be welcomed.
But I do worry that us oldies will sideline or overlooked as we are considered too old! .

My first thought would have been puzzlement and "I must be looking very good for my age" if I'd had a comment like that.

But yep....on reflection I'd change my interpretation to "Are they thinking 'Is it worth it to do much at that age?" and they would be on very dangerous ground - as I've never had any medical care for children or pregnancies and had to pay for my own sterilisation operation back along !!!!! I'd be holding out a virtual balance sheet of money the NHS has spent on me over the years - and they'd get "You owe me - a LOT - as I've taken so little from you. So we''ll have no attempt at rationing me/thinking I won't be around for long".

I don't see why age comes into it at any point with any illness - but then I had a doctor implying I had arthritis in my 30's!!!! I refrained from what I would have liked to do to him at that point - and just walked out the door and sacked him. Here I am in my 70's - and I don't have arthritis.

Mentioning age is not ageism.

foxie48

"For others, particularly older people over the age of 75, the risk of breaking a bone may be so high that there's no need for them to have a bone density scan before treatment is prescribed" taken from the NHS guidance on DEXA.

www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/dexa-scan/why-its-done/

😲

That is wrong as not everyone has osteoporosis and may break a bone despite not having it.

I've known two people who have been seriously ill because they were advised to tale calcium tablets despite not having a DEXA scan. Having treatment without investigating first can cause problems.

Wow that’s awful

Doctors shouldn't have to pussyfoot around facts. I have many hospital letters that routinely describe me as 'obese'. It's true, even if I'd rather you didn't mention it in daily conversation!

Ageism isn’t only about making judgements concerning older age. Ageism is also reflected in making judgements about younger age, evidenced by young women being ignored with various symptoms usually connected to older people.