Just lost an inch …. Off my height :(

Sinisterbarbie1

I just returned from a doctor visit where I learned to my (not so great) surprise that I have lost an inch in height over the last two years since I last saw her in person. While she was glad to see that it went along with a significant loss in weight as well, I am actually a bit alarmed to have my suspicions confirmed. I am only 53, but had very aggressive chemotherapy which resulted in premature, chemically induced menopause that can come along with a greater risk for osteoporosis and bone loss of other types. Is anyone else experiencing this sort of thing? Any good advice other than weight bearing exercise and good nutrition, both of which I do anyway? I am off to do a DEXA scan and see a menopause specialist and a rheumatologist who specializes in bone density issues, so obviously will be taking their advice - am just looking for common travelers on this path.
Also, I must say although at 138 lbs. I am still at a very healthy BMI I now have to calculate everything from 5’8” rather than the much nicer 5’9” I was all my adult life. How does that make sense - isn’t the bone weight still hanging around somewhere, just all compressed ?

AnnPT77

I lost an inch under similar circumstances. I'm blaming the aromatase inhibitor. In my case, the timing is wrong for it to have been chemo or menopause. I was OK on bone density for a while after those, then it showed up as depleted later, after the aromatase inhibitor. Not saying that applies for you, just speculating about triggers for me.

I took bisphosphonates for around 4 years, improved somewhat, no noticeable side effects from the drug, was told by the specialist it was OK if I stopped.

That was all before weight loss, mostly during and after building some fitness/strength.

More recently, I had another DEXA, bone density seems to have declined again (osteopenia to osteoporosis). Possible that weight loss contributed (just judging from timing), but all my other health markers (and my physical sense of well-being) improved, so it'll have to do, on balance.

I need to get back in for another consult; I assume they'll want me to go back on a prescription drug again.

I'd say you can calculate BMI on either your old or new height, as you prefer. But your bones did get lighter (some): That's what osteopenia/osteoporosis is about, right - bone loss? 😐

I've got no suggestions, other than exercise, good nutrition . . . and they'll maybe suggest supplementing calcium and D anyway. I'm supplementing vitamin K2 on speculation, for that and other reasons, though I'm skeptical. (I don't think it can hurt me, given the totality of my situation.)

To me, it's one of those "You are here" things: I might prefer to be elsewhere, but that's not an option. All I can do is the stuff that's logical to do, no use in worrying about it beyond that. 🤷‍♀️ About the only time I think of it at all is when I trip/fall or something: In those moments of inventorying the old body to see if anything feels broken.

corinasue1143

I’m just starting that journey. I’m down from 5’10” to 5’9”, but no dexa yet.
I’m very interested in following your story and getting some hints for myself.

nossmf

Just a thought, but how did they measure your height? I ask because when I was in the military getting an annual physical, my height bounced around from 5'8" to 5'10" and everything in between. So a single measurement taken may or may not be actually valid.

ythannah

Similar place at age 58 although no chemo and also 5'9". Maybe. My height hasn't been measured in a long time. Never been overweight and never deliberately lost weight. My family history suggested that I was high risk for osteoporosis as every female ancestor I have in both the maternal and paternal lines has developed it, assuming they lived long enough. I'm also an ex-smoker and have a very small frame with little bird bones.

Despite being aware of this, my doctor seemed unconcerned, even when I entered menopause. I figured that would be the time to start taking bone density more seriously but she doesn't "believe in" HRT. Read up on it a bit, learned that resistance training was the way to preserve bone density, so started weight lifting.

A few years ago I had some dental stuff going on and it became apparent that I'd lost some significant bone in my jaw (to such an extent that I can't even get bone grafting to fix it). I reported that to my doc and she told me to take more vitamin D. Without actually measuring my levels to see if lack thereof was even an issue.

Last fall I started having weird and horrible back pain that I thought was muscle spasms. Doc sent me for an xray and informed me that I now have significant degenerative disease in my mid-thoracic spine. Osteoporosis. I was pretty angry that this hadn't been monitored more closely and potentially addressed years ago since I'd known all my life that I was going to end up with it.

I still lift weights. Maybe it hasn't helped, or maybe I'd have been worse off if I wasn't doing it. Now I have to get a bone scan done and I guess medication will be considered based on the results of that.

kshama2001

I've just started a 6 month course of Lupron Depot for uterine fibroids. This carries a risk of osteoporosis, with less of a risk if one takes Norethindrone Acetate, which I've already been taking to stop bleeding. (While I no longer had horrendous periods, I've had daily light bleeding since February.)

Since my mother has osteoporosis, I'm concerned about it myself. However, she has a smaller frame and I've been overweight, oh, about 50% of my adult life.

I've always associated strength training with reducing risk of osteoporosis. Mom loaned me her copy of Yoga for Osteoporosis. Almost all of the postures are in my long yoga routine, which I had not been doing regularly, partially due to a wrist injury and partially because it is gardening season, but this would certainly encourage me to get back into it.

However, Yoga for Osteoporosis kind of seems too good to be true. @springlering62 - thoughts?

springlering62

Well you hit me at a ticklish time. I just got the results of my bone density scan, and my density is notably less than the last scan, even with weight loss and a *kitten* ton of “weight bearing exercise”, including yoga 6-7x a week, a couple of weight sessions a week, and the HIIT I’ve taken up recently.

The Amazon blurb doesn’t give any indication of what poses they’re recommending. I think it’s fair to say I run the gamut between various classes and instructors.

OTOH, I’ve had a couple of near falls lately, thanks to High Anxiety Dog antics, and have very capably been able to avoid hitting the ground. I chalk that up to yoga.

A good thing, since I have a 8% chance of breaking a major bone in the next ten years, if I read the report right.

kshama2001

springlering62 wrote: »

Well you hit me at a ticklish time. I just got the results of my bone density scan, and my density is notably less than the last scan, even with weight loss and a *kitten* ton of “weight bearing exercise”, including yoga 6-7x a week, a couple of weight sessions a week, and the HIIT I’ve taken up recently.

The Amazon blurb doesn’t give any indication of what poses they’re recommending. I think it’s fair to say I run the gamut between various classes and instructors.

OTOH, I’ve had a couple of near falls lately, thanks to High Anxiety Dog antics, and have very capably been able to avoid hitting the ground. I chalk that up to yoga.

A good thing, since I have a 8% chance of breaking a major bone in the next ten years, if I read the report right.

Oh dear, sorry to hear that

There are dozens of poses, the majority of which are in standard sun and moon salutations, and floor poses. That's why it sounded too good to be true - these are already mostly all in my repertoire.

AnnPT77

kshama2001 wrote: »

springlering62 wrote: »

Well you hit me at a ticklish time. I just got the results of my bone density scan, and my density is notably less than the last scan, even with weight loss and a *kitten* ton of “weight bearing exercise”, including yoga 6-7x a week, a couple of weight sessions a week, and the HIIT I’ve taken up recently.

The Amazon blurb doesn’t give any indication of what poses they’re recommending. I think it’s fair to say I run the gamut between various classes and instructors.

OTOH, I’ve had a couple of near falls lately, thanks to High Anxiety Dog antics, and have very capably been able to avoid hitting the ground. I chalk that up to yoga.

A good thing, since I have a 8% chance of breaking a major bone in the next ten years, if I read the report right.

Oh dear, sorry to hear that

There are dozens of poses, the majority of which are in standard sun and moon salutations, and floor poses. That's why it sounded too good to be true - these are already mostly all in my repertoire.

Too good to be true? This may more be another case of "there is no magical on/off switch". If Spring has osteo despite much yoga, weight lifting, HIIT, or whatever . . . that doesn't mean that those things aren't beneficial, y'know?

There isn't some magic thing that will turn off osteopenia/osteoporosis. I know you know this, but I'm not sure - given your last couple of posts - that you're really internalizing it? (I wish there were such a thing.) There's really no way to know at n=1 if things would've been worse without some given intervention, after all.

Even the drugs aren't magically curative - even ignoring the side effects. I saw some improvement when I was taking bisphosphonates, but it was modest. That was improvement from drugs on top of being active, taking the recommended supplements, eating a nutritious diet, blah blah blah.

springlering62

kshama2001 wrote: »

There are dozens of poses, the majority of which are in standard sun and moon salutations, and floor poses. That's why it sounded too good to be true - these are already mostly all in my repertoire.

That’s kind of what I figured. All my classes, except a couple of Universal, are heavy on salutations, and they’re generally good on covering all parts of the body, even when focusing on one.

Because of that stupid density test, I do catch myself thinking now when I’m in an arm balance “what if my bones collapse on me?” But I guess same would be true benching or squatting and with uglier results. At least an arm balance is typically less than a foot high fall.

BTW, worst yoga bruise I ever had was on my face, from Gorilla pose, of all the stupid things. 😬

I was trying to tip all my weight forward onto my hands and fell flat on my face because my hands were literally stuck under my feet and I couldn’t brace the fall. It was really scary to have zero control.

I’m going to rely on my husband excellent byline “it’s better than it was before”.

Yes, my density may have decreased, but I’m not in the same kind health I was three or four years ago when I was obese.

Should the wind pick me up, Mary Poppins style, with my umbrella like it did my 90 pound grandmother, hopefully I have the tools now to stop the roll before I break the hip.