My quest for destiny with Osteoporosis started when I was born.  My mother could not breast feed me and then it became known that I was allergic to all dairy products....  During the 70's and 80's doctors did not put kids on extra calcium supplementation.  My mother was not good about giving vitamins.... So, I grew up with a calcium deficiency.. I am a very, very petite woman.  4'8 1/4 and weigh 82lbs. On top of this, at the age of 14 I developed severe and painful endometriosis. It was so bad, I was begging for a hysterectomy when I was 18 - 19.

 It was a miracle when I got pregnant with my daughter... My joy was clouded by the lack of calcium again.  She pulled most of my calcium and my teeth suffered for it.  At the ripe old age of 21, I had a full upper denture.....

 During the fall when I was 22, I started to hemorrhage and passing small plate size clots..... the doctor that was seeing at the time told me that it was normal.  I freaked. Being a EMT (Volunteer), I knew the difference between menstrual blood and arterial blood. I contacted the doctor who diagnosed the endometriosis... I lived 80 miles away.  He got me right in and put me on Depo Provera to stop the bleeding. He asked me what I wanted to do.  I told him that I wanted everything to be done... the pain was was killing me, I was a ashen gray color, anemic. Whithin a week, I was in the hospital getting my Hysterectomy and partial oopherectomy. Come to find out, the endometrosis was SOOOO bad, it ripped my uterus free from the ligaments and tore an artery.... It was literally flopping around inside of me.  (I was right about the arterial bleeding) He left one overy with the hopes that it would start to work.....  That was removed several years later.  It never worked, that damage was too severe.

After my hysterectomy, I was never told about how important calcium and vitamin D are.  Growing up allergic to milk and dairy, you almost develop a distaste for it.

 I didn't find out how important it was until it was too late.  My mother was diagnosed with osteoporosis in 1997.  It was then I was really awakened to the dangers of the "No Calcium" zone.  It was a rude awakening.  I started to take calcium but I was tooo late.

 I started to notice that I was losing my height in 2000.... I would go in for a well check, and notice each time I am a little shorter.  Prior to the osteoporosis, I was 4'11".  I mentioned it to my doctor and he literally blew it off....... That went on for several years, with several different doctors.

 I lost my bottom teeth in 2004.  Here I am, 31 years old and have a full set of dentures. No great story like "I was in a car accident" or other similar events.... Just plain old lack of calcium........

 On January 3, 2006 I had gone to a new doctor for a well check.  She was looking at all of my records, she noticed my significant height loss.  She asked me when my last bone density test was.  I told her that I had never had one.  The next day she had me in getting my first.  On January 6th, my doctor actually called me herself with the results.  When I queried about the results, she told me this, "I teach a class for women who have had a Hysterectomy about the dangers of Menopause and Osteoporosis.  I would like to use your scan to show them the devestating effects of this disease." Then she told me my T-score.  My spine was -2.5 and my left hip was -3.2.  She brought me in and placed me on Fosamax and calcium........ 

This was all well and great until my divorce. Lost any and all health insurance, made too much money for medicaid but way too little for the medications that I needed.  Something had to go, I had to keep a roof over my head, gas in the car to get to work, pay all of the rest of the bills..... (ex husband in law enforcement) pulled alot of strings and won primary residence of our daughter.  Now I am paying 68.00 per week child support......  I lived 45 miles away, took gas to go get my daughter for a visit, (he refused to even help out) it was all I could do to put food on my plate.  At least, I could excercise..... Which I managed to do. So, that is the way the cookie crumbled. 

 In June 2006, I had a significant fracture in L1 of my spine.  Luckily, I had just started to work for a Orthopedic office doing medical billing. I walked into work, and talked to one of the Surgeons.  He notice that I was walking really stiff.  He put me in for an x-ray.  I had a bad compression fracture of L1.  He pulled me out of work for 3 weeks, put me in a brace.... and comped everything.  Put me back on my Fosamax..... 

 Now up to the present.... On July 2, 2007 I fractured 3 seperate vertebraes.  I thought my back had gone out.....  I had to work on July 4th. (DSL Tech Support Agent, 3rd shift) It was all I could do to sit in a chair for 8 hours.  I was literally living on Aleve and Heat Patches.....

 Right after I got out of work, I called my Doctor's office.  Explained to them that I think I fractured something in my back.  The secretary told me to get right up there.  I got there, and found out my regular doctor was out of town for the holiday, and that another was filling in.  I was ok with that..... 

 When they got me into the room, I waited for about 15 minutes and nothing..... Then he storms into the room, acting like I am really bothering him.  He sits down, never looking inside my chart (where all of my history is) and proceeds to ask me when my last period was!!!!  I looked at him and told him around 14 years ago.  He just looked at me while I explained that I had a hysterectomy.  Then he literally blew me away when he asked in a snotty tone "What makes you think that a healthy adult like you, could fracture your back from just Twisting."

 I was shocked, and extremely upset.  I started to get up from the table while explaining that I had osteoporosis.....  All of a sudden, this man acted like he cared. He finally asked if I was in pain. Ordered a shot of Toradol.... Ordered the x-rays. I was in complete shock at how I was being treated by him, from the pain......   I was right, I had fractured L3, L4, L5..... I was sent home with another brace, lidocaine patches, Lortabs and Advil...

 When they were doing my x-rays, I asked the tech if I could possibly see my x-ray. She said sure. She brought it in to show me.  I was completely shocked! I am 34 years old, looking at the x-ray of my spine.....  I could see where it has literally collapsed. I am not going to lie. It scared the hell out of me. I am still terrified of what is to come.

My most recent bone density scans are not much better. My spine is -3.4 and my hip is -3.2.  I am not even going to get into the fracture of my hand from just lightly slapping a doorknob.

 Is there anyone out there that feels the same way?  That thinks life could be extremely bleek, if this monster is allowed to thrive?

 My mother is not a great shoulder to lean on for support.  She is always in her own little world.  I am looking for others who feel the same as I do.... who I can share my thoughts, fears with.

 If you made it through my book, without being bored to tears.  My name is Victoria.  I am glad that I found this place. Hopefully it will help me cope with this, because right now, I am not doing so well at it.