Tom: Age 62
I found out that I had osteoporosis when I broke some ribs by coughing. I
was just sitting in a chair when it happened. I knew something was wrong from the pain. I went to see my
doctor for something else and mentioned the pain in my ribs. He sent me to a specialist for a series of
tests, including a bone density test, and osteoporosis was diagnosed.
I've tried to think of the reason that I might have osteoporosis. It's in
my family - my grandmother had it - and I'm also slight, so my bones are relatively small. Other than that,
I've always loved to exercise and I've tried hard to watch my diet.
Naturally, I wish I didn't have this darned disease. I was only in my
early 50s when I was diagnosed - too young to be thinking about it. I injured myself playing golf awhile back
- did something to my hip- and I know if I'd been healthy that wouldn't even have bothered me.
I've joined a support group that is mostly women. I'd like to see more
men come out to it. I think we're going to see a lot more men with osteoporosis as the population ages. We
need even more research and more literature about men with osteoporosis.
Ernie: Age 70
I wasn't quite 50 when I fell and injured my back. After a few days of
excruciating pain, I went to the doctor who took X-rays. When he phoned me to tell me that I had
osteoporosis, I was stunned. He showed me some sample bones - one with osteoporosis and one without. I had a
hard time believing that my bones could look like that. I had a bone density test that showed I had lost 35
per cent of my bone density.
I looked back at my life to see if I could determine the cause of my
osteoporosis. I know that my mother had osteoporosis. I was also extremely slight as a young man - I was
6' 3" and throughout my 20s weighed no more than 120 pounds. I also developed a hyperactive thyroid later in
my life and had to take thyroid medication for that condition.
I have been on calcium and vitamin D supplements since I was diagnosed
and I look after myself. My bone density tests indicate that my bone density is improving, although I have
lost several inches in my height over the years. I attend a support group, which I find helpful - it's hard
to get information and understanding from others if you don't belong to some kind of group. I've had to
restrict my life somewhat - I'm much more aware now and I don't take the risks that I used to. I'm encouraged
by the fact that my bone density is improving - it shows that you can make progress in controlling this
disease.
Tom and Ernie: Some Conclusions
Neither Tom nor Ernie knows for sure why he has osteoporosis. Men often
believe that osteoporosis is a woman's disease. It is not just a disease of the elderly: Tom and Ernie were
both relatively young when they were diagnosed with osteoporosis. Both men and women must pay attention to
their bone health -- at all ages.
Tom and Ernie's stories also point out the need for men living with
osteoporosis to find support and first-hand information from others coping with the same situation. Finding
help from others has been proven to reduce the emotional stress facing someone who lives with a chronic
disease. If an osteoporosis support group exists in your community, you might wish to join it. As Tom and
Ernie have suggested, there is no reason why such groups should be made up only of women.
Learn more about men and osteoporosis :
