Peri with Osteoporosis

[Snoopy1612]

Hi all, I'm 43 and certain I'm in peri for the last 2 years - acne, night sweats, flushes, palpitations, joint and back pain, cyclical mood swings. I also have osteoporosis (now osteopenia) due to low body wiegh and 10 years on depo without a break until I was 33. I started to think I might be peri after reading threads on here as I'm getting horrendous pelvic pain, went to gp blood tests fine internal scan shows small polyp but nothing sinister. I'm now scheduled for a laporoscopy to see if there is anything else going on and they're swapping out my copper coil for a Morena as the same time. I told the gyne consultant my concerns surrounding osteoporosis and potentially being peri but felt they were ignored. Any advice? They seem very reluctant to consider hrt and I'm worried my bones will be dust by the time I'm 50!!!

I've a lot of personal experience of this (as well as professional research.)
It's clearly a really important issue and needs sorting; doing nothing is not an option.

You say you have osteoporosis then say it's actually osteopenia.

Osteopenia is the stage before oesteoporosis.
How was this diagnosed? Who has your results? Who is taking responsibility for your treatment- your GP or your gynae?

Without knowing your bone density scan results, it's hard to know how severe or advanced your osteopenia is, but your dr will know. It may be slight or it may be severe.

The advised treatment for women under 60 who have osteoporosis, is HRT. This is the advice of the British Menopause Society.

At 43 you are almost 10 years younger than the average menopause in the UK (51-52.) Without HRT you will almost definitely progress to full osteoporosis .

I don't know who is treating you, but you need to change specialists to one who is better or see your GP and ask for HRT from them. You have enough peri symptoms to use it anyway, regardless of your low bone density.

Go back and start making a fuss!

Thanks QueenoftheNights. My first dexa t-scires were 2.6 and 3.0 at 33, my next scan at 39 which I had to fight for were 1.9 and 2.3 treatment has been via GP diet and lifestyle, calcium +vitD, no consultant input as no fractures and they wanted to keep more intensive treatment in case there weren't improvements and potential side effects . It was only picked up as my GP at the time was looking for people to be part of her depo cohort study and was nearly as upset as me with the diagnosis as neither of us expected it!

I think I'll have to wait until after the laporoscopy and then kick off if there is no mention of bone health.

My frustration is that despite the diagnosis there seems to be an attitude of no hrt until your in menopause particularly as bloods came back ok but after reading on here they weren't taken at the right point in my cycle ( midpoint).

well done on reversing the changes from osteoporosis to osteopenia.

You don't really need bloods with all those symptoms! AND you ought to be on HRT anyway for your bones. the -2.3 score is low and although you might get it back up towards normal, it will be a hard slog with your hormones falling as well.

At the very least you ought to be on HRT now till 52 and there are no risks at your age as you are replacing what you should have at 43.

Go and bang the drum at your GP!

ps By the time you have had a fracture it's too late! Treatment is about prevention not trying to put things right once it's all gone belly up.

We can lose up to 5% bone a year after the menopause - this is a rapid fall and can go on for a few years. Don't let things slide that far. Keep up your exercise etc meanwhile.

Snoopy, as Queen has already said, you absolutely need hrt! It is vital for our future health and risks are minimal under 50. I am 43 and a year on hrt. It gave my life back and my bones are ok. Find a specialist who knows and cares! Hope it helps!