Good health and a question

There seems to be general agreement that calcium + vit.D is a good thing for folks our age.

Mind you I have just found the papers relating to my Dad's care 2 years ago, before he died at the age of 93, and the NHS was paying for a whole raft of preventive drugs for him, when his life expectancy was clearly very poor - calcium, simvastatin, aspirin etc. I guess we should be glad that being very old did not debar him from the treatments, but the carers were still trying to get them down him in the last few months of his life when the outcome was not in any doubt, and his ability to take these without distress was very poor. There must come a moment when they should be stopped.

Must admit I'm a sceptic about supplements because even if its proved we need such and such, the actual mechanisms the body uses to take up the vitamins and minerals vary so much. I'm being made to follow up my long term anaemia status. Its always been a bit low right from the first tests I ever had done 30 odd years ago when pregnant and apart from being periodically force fed iron tablets no one has really bothered about it. Nowadays however they won't let it drop so am going to have to have the unpleasant procedures to check out my innards. In my own mind I just see myself as a bit anaemic and that how I've always been. I eat a decent diet and am otherwise healthy.

However, having hit 60 I have been reminded of the saying 'old age is not for sissies' so I'm upping my physical stuff and knowing my lack of motivation in such things have gone down the personal trainer route. Its early days but the chap I've found seems to be very good and we get on well (definitely no funny stuff OH is in next room).
Ask me again in 6 months time.

Well done on the cholesterol Grannyknot. I had mine tested an the results came back last week it was 7 ( I am 66 also). The doctor has given me 6 months to get it down or it's medication for me. I don't eat much chocolate or cakes and have had a low fat diet for years. I'm not really overweight, maybe half a stone or so. I probably drink more than I should but have cut back considerably lately and am taking more exercise. I can't advise re the supplement side of things. We have to assume that our GP's know what they are talking about I suppose.

GPs not GP's.

Luckygirl - have just read your post and I do so agree with you. We all have to die....yes I've said the word and 93 is a jolly fair innings. All this trying to squeeze the last drop out of the very old troubles me. My dear old Grandma was so pragmatic and had me promise her that she was not to be allowed to hang around for ever.

Death is the natural end of life and why the health service seems to treat it as the enemy once we are well into dotage is beyond me.

A few years ago I fell on the ice and broke my left wrist. I had to have a dexo scan to check my bone density. I went back to the GP for the result. They found that I was borderline for osteoporosis. I asked if I should take a calcium supplement and the doctor told me that as long as I was eating a good varied diet there was no need. Also bones do not take up calcium after your teenage years. They have to be tricked into thinking they are young again. Alendronic acid is prescribed to do this, but it is only recommended in severe cases of osteoporosis, and he would not advise it. Therefore I do not take supplements as, apparently, they will do no good.

I have yearly infusions of alendronic acid for osteopenia, which is obviously not a severe case of osteoporosis.

Recommendations must vary throughout the UK.

You just don't know what to believe do you? I wonder if taking the supplement can do any actual harm.

I am waiting to see my rheumatologist who has proposed annual infusions of alendronic acid. I have osteoporosis in my left hip - the right one is an implant. I've been taking steroids for four years along with AdCal tablets because, like a few other members here, I have polymyalgia. Steroids are not good for bone density.

Yes, I should have added to my post that I am on aromatase inhibitors after having breast cancer, which are also not good for bone density.

It was over two years ago, jingl, I am fine now! (touch wood)

Have you have a second DEXA scan Hilda to see how your bones are doing? I have one every two years and the last one showed an increase in bone density, showing that bones can take up calcium even in later life. Oestoeporosis is a potentially crippling disease.

My last fall with a fracture was caused by osteopenia or osteoporosis. I also have to have blood tests and a DEXA scan. I have been taking AD CAL D3 since 2009 when I fractured my ankle very badly after my previous fall. To me it seems a waste of time.

I broke my right wrist 3 years ago and a followup dexa scan showed osteopenia. Since then I've been prescribed risendronate ( one a week ) and calcium +vit d.
When I had to have a tooth extracted a year ago my dentist was full of doom and gloom as risendronate can cause complications in the jaw bone. He referred me to our local dental hospital who explained that I was very low risk and proceded tp extract the tooth with no problems.
I asked gp at that stage if I could discontinue the treatment but was advised that I should continue as this is a 5year course. 2 years from now I should have another dexa scan and then a 2year break or stop altogether.
I simply hate the fact that the weekly tablet has to be taken on an empty stomach and I then have to wait half an hour before I can have my tea and toast!

Hip fractures, caused often by oestoeporosis are a leading cause of death. Whether or not you know you have weakened bones, it's wise just to be careful and not put yourself in a position where you might slip or trip and fall. In this case prevention is, indubitably, better than cure.

I think we are ( or were) a nation of milk drinkers and-more important we had daily milk at school. The generation to worry about is the present one with many teenage girls not eating a healthy diet, not eating enough cheese or drinking milk.
My yearly check up blood tests show I have enough calcium flowing in my blood sream although they don't know whether that is good because calcium is present or bad because its leaking out of the bones. Until they know this then I won't be taking supplements. I have had many falls but never broken anything.
I think a bone density test which is easy to do, should be offered for all who feel unsure about osteoporosis. ( family etc)

I have been extremely cautious since I had a fall - being careless and jumping off a bank where I'd been standing to take a photograph. That's when I remembered my dexa scan and realised what a risk I'd taken. Paranoid about slipping in baths and showers in hotels and other people's houses. I loathe milk but like cheese and yoghourt.