Hello:

I was wondering if any Endos are educating their teen or younger patients w/CAH about bone loss due to taking cortisones (Hydro, Pred, or Dex)?

I wish that someone would of taken the time to educate me about the importance of a calcium rich diet plus the need for a supplement like Citracal+D when I was younger. I take Citracal+D /2 X /day and on Sunday, I also take something called Actonel to slow down the bone loss. A bone density test is a good thing, I wish that all the other Endos would of mentioned it and I don’t want to dwell on why they didn’t but I am glad that the Endo that I have now does make an issue of it and he got my attention of how important it is to take the calcium meds to help my bones.

My Endo is concerned about me fracturing my left hip due to the bone loss that is already there because of the long term prednisone use. I switched to hydrocortisone and I like it a lot better but all cortisones eventually may cause bone loss. Hearing that I could fracture my left hip because of bone loss was sobering and I needed to hear that. I think about all the stuff that I love to do and taking a few more pills is no big deal if they will help to protect my bones. I don’t take the calcium supplement with my Hydro, I think that they might bind together and I’m going to call the Endo ask for sure.     

This got me thinking that maybe if someone started a least 15 years earlier than me w/ being monitored for bone loss then most likely they could catch it before any bone loss would occur.

CAH is managed and not cured, I’m not a sufferer or a victim or a CAHer. My life is much more than this condition. When I take the calcium supplement, I’m taking it with some chocolate milk or V-8 juice as I walk out of a convenance store/gas station intent on filling up my gas tank. I went to a really cool restauraunt and I even remembered to take my calcium then. Than reminds me has anyone seen the reality show "Restauraunt" ? Oh ! the drama !  I love it!

Aimee