Am I back to the blog? Yes, I hope so.
This summer has been so hard. So hard. Of course it isn’t over yet, but the first part kept giving WTF moments.
Most of you know that I was dealing with a neverending metatarsal stress fracture. After I finally saw the orthopedist, got a boot, and then started seeing a very good physiotherapist, everything should have been calm and on the way back to a normal and good life. Should have.
In late June I went for a bone density scan. I didn’t expect it to show anything, but it did.
Perhaps when you think of osteoporosis, you imagine a crooked frail old woman of maybe 80 years.
But.
I’m 49 years old and I have osteopenia in my back and osteoporosis in my hips. This is most likely caused by coeliac disease, which untreated causes malabsorption of nutrients, and even when treated (which simply means eating strictly gluten free food), a chronic malabsorption of calcium. I was diagnosed coeliac in 2010 and was never informed about the high risk of developing osteoporosis. If I had known, I would have made other lifestyle choices earlier in life. I heard of other possible complications of untreated coeliac disease, but not this.
After I got the news, I felt my life was over. I was terrified of what it would mean to my life and future. Before, I felt strong and healthy, even with the injury. Now what was I? Old and frail? Suddenly past the best-before date? All the good lifestyle choices I had made recently, was it all too late? Could I still have any quality of life? Did I even want to grow old?
Taking control
After a week in shock and misery, I decided that I had to regain some control of my life, and learn everything there is to know about how I can help myself.
Sadly, most easily accessible information seems to be targeted at people aged 75+ who have never moved their bodies in their entire lives. Honestly, for younger, active women (and don’t forget that men can get this too), most online information is absolutely rubbish and doesn’t help at all because it’s not relatable.
But I’ve been browsing Pubmed and read tons of research, and found interesting studies about the role of resistance training in managing osteoporosis. I already knew it promotes bone strength, but now I learned about how it can increase bone density even in people who have already lost bone mass. There are countless studies supporting this.
The support people
My physiotherapist is an absolute gem. I wasn’t able to start calming down until I saw him about a week and a half after diagnosis. He seemed to know about everything I was thinking and feeling. We talked about lifestyle, exercise, altered self-image, and he confirmed I can continue what I’m doing with only small adjustments and that I can still live a good life. Talking to someone who would take time to listen, deal with my fears and focus the discussion on helping me get back to living my life, made a huge difference.
My personal trainer is the other very important support person, who helps me reverse my thinking, get things into perspective and get back into the jävlaranamma mode, in his usual no-bullshit way. And especially after my foot is back to normal and I no longer go to physiotherapy, he will be the most important person to keep me on track, working on my muscles and bones – and mindset. In addition, when I’m in the gym I feel so normal.
I’ve also learned that a fiddle playing friend of ours has chronic osteoporosis since childhood, she said it runs in her family. She is the best role model to have – now in her 60s, living a good active life with walking, hill walking, travelling and even horseback riding. She’s a huge inspiration to me now.
Learning to live in the moment
But there is still the problem – the future, and what will happen when I get older and enter menopause?
This was an eye opener that made me focus more on health, and if anything, it will teach me to live in the moment, be happy for what I have now, and focus on what’s in my control. I thought I learned this during Covid but I didn’t. For my sanity I’ll have to stop worrying about the future, and honestly, what do we know about the future anyway, with or without medical conditions? We’d better enjoy the life we have now and make the best of it.
I won’t run again because of the risk of getting another stress fracture. But I will be able to walk, hike, lift weights, ride the stationary bike, use the rowing machine. I still have music and other good things in life. I’m still young and in a decent place fitness-wise.
Life goes on. I’ll keep living it. And I’ll take with me the simple words of wisdom my support people have given me lately.
“Don’t let this define you” (physio)
“Don’t overthink it.” (trainer)
This is what’s been on my calendar in July. I’m linking up with Jo, Donna, Sue and Debbie.
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