Educating Myself on Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis: A medical condition in which the bones become brittle and fragile from loss of tissue.

It is one of the common effects of anorexia nervosa. I know that I have osteoporosis - in fact, I've known for a while; ever since I've had a BMD (Bone Mineral Density) Test completed back in the middle of October while I was still at the intensive station. Yet it is only know that I have become curious and have looked further into the matter as the doctors sent me to the orthopedic station at the hospital today, in hopes of figuring out whether my osteoporosis is improving and if my daily calcium tablets are sufficient. 

The orthopedist was very informative and gave me an entire lecture on the causes of osteoporosis and what needs to be done; it was almost like being back at school, hearing a teacher explain a certain topic - the only difference was that I actually paid attention. Before his disquisition, he quickly glanced at my medical history and the tests that I have done, only to inform me that I have the bones of an eighty year old grandma or so. Great, I thought - just one more thing that anorexia nervosa has given me. He reassured me that my osteoporosis can improve with the right treatment; thank goodness. Basically, according to this article - which sums up what the doctor informed me on nicely - 

Anorexia nervosa has significant physical consequences. Affected individuals can experience nutritional and hormonal problems that negatively impact bone density. Low body weight in females causes the body to stop producing estrogen, resulting in a condition known as amenorrhea, or absent menstrual periods. Low estrogen levels contribute to significant losses in bone density.

In addition, individuals with anorexia often produce excessive amounts of the adrenal hormone cortisol, which is known to trigger bone loss. Other problems – such as a decrease in the production of growth hormone and other growth factors, low body weight (apart from the estrogen loss it causes), calcium deficiency, and malnutrition – contribute to bone loss in girls and women with anorexia.

The outcome of the meeting with the orthopedist was basically that since I also suffer from amenorrhea, which is one of the causes of osteoporosis, that I should first see a doctor at the gynecology station and then come back with the test results from there.

Although it was a very informative day, I wasted three hours of my precious time today, running around the hospital or sitting, waiting patiently to be called up - and the end result? nothing.

Hopefully I will get some answers regarding my amenorrhea and osteoporosis next week; we'll see.

Exhausted - Busy Day Comes To An End

Today was unbelievable; I had not a minute to spare or the time to relax even the slightest. It was all hectic, stressful, chaotic - the whole nine yards. Like I said, there was no room for de-stressing and unwinding as I was on the move the whole day because of my heel.

My right heel has been aching whenever I walk and come in contact with it through the movement. All of last week the doctor's tried to get me an appointment at the orthopaedic station here at the hospital but it is incredibly difficult to get one - just like it is almost impossible to find a four leaf clover in a vast grass field. As this debacle did nothing to help heal my heel or ease the pain, the doctor's decided on Monday that it would be best for me to go to the acute emergency ward as they would take several X-rays and hopefully figure out what is wrong.

Well, turns out that the wait at the emergency ward, that started at 8 am, and the resulting X-rays that I took did nothing to help my situation. The doctor simply told me that there is nothing visible on the X-ray and that I need to go to the orthopaedic station. Great, I thought, that'll take forever as it was impossible to set up an appointment. Luckily, as a nurse went with me, in the hope that it would help us get through the wait quicker, the wait was bearable.

Shortly after 11 am, after three hours of running around in the hospital for my heel, I was informed that I have a calcaneal spur on my right heel, which is nothing different than a heel spur. The doctor said that it is still in the early stages and can be regulated with insoles, a specific cream and distinct stretching exercises for the strained muscle.

Arriving at the station around noon, lunch was already here and I had no time to have a quick breather. After lunch I was told that the orthopaedic specialist would arrive at 1 pm to conform my insoles. Well, he never came at 1 pm and I was forced to wait as it was crucial for me to get these specialized insoles to ensure that my heel spur wouldn't worsen. I waited for him to arrive until 6 pm - which is when he finally showed up without an apology or a simple sorry; nothing of that sort.

I spent the entire day running around and completing tasks for my heel. At least now I know what to do to help ease the pain and hopefully, with time, the heel spur will lessen and go away completely.

And now it's time to relax with a bath - I deserve that after all the stress that was caused by my heel tonight.