Hello Everyone,
Thanks to all who have replied my request for information on
osteoporosis. Linn was kind enough to send in a post for me. I am the
mother in this predicament, and was hospitalized at the time due to severe
pain. I was fortunate enough to have the baby stay with me in the hospital
and we are currently still nursing. I started using Miacalcin (thanks Dr.
Hale) yesterday and increasing my calcium intake. I feel my milk supply has
decreased some since beginning this drug two days ago. Breasts are
definitely softer and not as full. The let-downs take longer and are not as
strong. Baby is spending more time at the breast. Hoping that I will still
have enough milk for her. I am seeing an endocrinologist next Tuesday.
I am unable to care for my family due to the fractures needing time to
heal. This is requiring my husband to use his vacation time to take care of
me, kids and the house, kids are limited in activities so they can stay home
to help when Dad must go out, and friends and family are pitching in
temporarily. I can't stay alone with the baby because I can't lift her. I
feel like a terrible burden to everyone. It is a bad situation for a mother
of five, ages 14, 12, 8, 5 and 5 mo. It is very frightening to think of
being incapacitated this way for the long term.
It seems clear from the research that bone will be regained after
weaning, however, I have a number of other questions that I am hoping someone
here can answer. I am worried that I cannot regain any bone mass during the
time that I continue to lactate. I am told that I am in a very fragile state
now and even a sneeze could result in more fractured bones. Neither MD or
Xray technician has ever seen osteoporosis this severe in a woman of any age.
On the bone density test the number, which I do not understand, was -4. How
quickly can bone be lost and regained if I do or don't wean? Brian, perhaps
you can explain. My personal history is that of long periods of ammenorhea,
usually 2 years, while nursing for 3 years. I am wondering if it is possible
or wise to stimulate return of menses somehow, maybe pergonol or
progesterone, an herb???? Would that facilitate uptake of calcium and allow
me to continue to nurse my baby? Will the calcitonin even work while I am
lactating if other hormones are suppressing it in my body naturally? What
about estrogen? Will mega doses of calcium through supplements and diet help
or just give me kidneystones? Also, I had 3 miscarriages prior to this
successful pregnancy. Is it possible that there is some relationship to an
ovarian dysfunction and the osteoporosis? Is there any information regarding
osteoporosis, possibly from other cultures, when there have been many years
of ammenorhea due to pregnancy and lactation. From 1985 to 1996 I had a
total of 6 menses. From 1996 until now I have had 3 miscarriages, 8 , 14,
and 6 weeks, and finally a 38 week pregnancy. I had a lot of menstrual
problems/PMS in this time which I treated homeopathically.
Barbara, would your docs have answers to these questions? Will you
please email me their phone numbers?
Dr. Jack, thanks for the encouragement. I am terribly sad at the tought
of weaning, but also afraid to burden my family with being an invalid. How
do we know for sure?
Laurie, thanks for the info. I have been working with a PT prior to the
diagnosis of fractures and osteo. We have already talked. I have Lawrences
chart on calcium rich foods and have been adding those to diet along with
supplements.
Wishing for prayers and any information to give me some hope for
maintaining lactation and living a normal life.
Judy Gutowski
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