Re: Next week, it's mamogram and bone density time

MomCat · ‎09-12-2010

I had a reaction to the meds for bone loss, so I'm not sure why I need to do the bone density test, but my doctor will probably order it anyway. I'm still angry that I ever took the meds. I don't know what I would do on the mammos, but I certainly respect other's decisions on that.

ROMARY · ‎04-28-2010

I received a card to have a bone mineral density test, whatever that means. I'm thinking, though, that since I haven't any ambition to take bone hardening meds, why bother to have the test.? Nothing much agrees with me (vitamins, etc.), so I keep away from everything that isn't life or death necessary. Also, it's probably more important to just be careful, keep away from steep steps, watch where we walk, don't rush across the room to answer the phone (that's another story re: telemarketers......), just take our time and watch where and how fast we walk. Slow down, in other words. And be as careful as possible. That's winning at least half the battle......

'More or less', 'Right or wrong', 'In general', and 'Just thinking out loud ' (as usual).

Nightowlz · ‎03-11-2010

Never had a bone density test. At waht age do the doctors have you do that?No doctor has ever mentioned it to me. I'm 58. How do they do a bone density test?

vermint · ‎04-05-2010

@Nightowlz I just had my first bone density test last week (I'm 61), and it was no big deal. No prep of any sort except to not take any vitamins or calcium supplements that day. You lay on a table and the tech turns your left foot inward and puts a weighted bag on it to hold it in place. The scanner them moves over your hip and spine area. Then you sit beside the table and put your left arm on it, and the scanner moves over that. Voila! Done! No needles or anything...you don't even have to take your shoes off. The only thing is don't wear pants with buttons/zippers or you may have to remove them.

halfpint1 · ‎03-10-2010

I had my mammogram yesterday.. I am 78. My sil is a few years older and they found cancer. I hope I don't have to go back for one time they said my breasts were dense.

It was quicker this time and didn't hurt as much.

patbz · ‎03-10-2010

I'm 72 and have my yearly physical scheduled in 3 weeks. I am in excellent health and will get my yearly mammogram but not bone density test. My Dr. no longer orders it, although I have had several with no issues in the past. She feels the medicine, if I had the problem, is not worth the benefits in my case. I have a yearly app smear with a gynecologist specializing in ovarian disorders (my Mom found she had ovarian cancer at 78). I'm lucky to have excellent insurance in addition to Medicare part B so I always have a stem to stern physical with a cadre of specialists (slight thyroid issues plus cholesterol and high blood pressure are my only ongoing issues).

ROMARY · ‎04-28-2010

In general: I've been thinking about this for at least thirty-plus years: Certain people give me a puzzled look when I ask: If our blood pressure is always low (say 109 over sixty something), wouldn't that mean that our blood flow isn't obstructed by calcification/cholesterol deposits? Even though our cholesterol 'count' is high. I often think about this, and have yet to get an answer from anyone, including professionals. 'The way I see it' is that, in some cases, the cholesterol might be flowing throughout the blood flow, but it isn't attached to our arteries. 'Just flowing on by' without any attachments to anything. Well, it is possible. Right?

'More or less', 'Right or wrong', 'In general', and 'Just thinking out loud ' (as usual).

SilleeMee · ‎05-22-2016

@vermint wrote:
@Nightowlz I just had my first bone density test last week (I'm 61), and it was no big deal. No prep of any sort except to not take any vitamins or calcium supplements that day. You lay on a table and the tech turns your left foot inward and puts a weighted bag on it to hold it in place. The scanner them moves over your hip and spine area. Then you sit beside the table and put your left arm on it, and the scanner moves over that. Voila! Done! No needles or anything...you don't even have to take your shoes off. The only thing is don't wear pants with buttons/zippers or you may have to remove them.

They didn't tell me I should'nt take supplements prior to my scan! Oh no...I did this morn and my scan is 4 hrs from now. I wonder if I should say something to the tech.

JeanLouiseFinch · ‎10-03-2011

@SilleeMee wrote:
@vermint wrote:
@Nightowlz I just had my first bone density test last week (I'm 61), and it was no big deal. No prep of any sort except to not take any vitamins or calcium supplements that day. You lay on a table and the tech turns your left foot inward and puts a weighted bag on it to hold it in place. The scanner them moves over your hip and spine area. Then you sit beside the table and put your left arm on it, and the scanner moves over that. Voila! Done! No needles or anything...you don't even have to take your shoes off. The only thing is don't wear pants with buttons/zippers or you may have to remove them.
They didn't tell me I should'nt take supplements prior to my scan! Oh no...I did this morn and my scan is 4 hrs from now. I wonder if I should say something to the tech.

@SilleeMee You should probably call and reschedule since your calcium supplement could skew your results.

JeanLouiseFinch · ‎10-03-2011

@Nightowlz - I will be 59 next week and I just had my first bone density test a couple of months ago. @vermint has provided a very accurate description of what you can expect. If you are a milk drinker, it's OK for you to have milk the day of the test, just not the supplements containing calcium. Wear some comfy, stretch waist excercise pants. You just lay there on the table, the tech puts your parts in position, and let the scanner do its thing. A piece of cake. In general, I think bone density tests start around age 65 unless there's a reason to start sooner. Our mom had osteoporosis in her later years so my sisters and I started sooner with our scans.