My Osteoporosis Journey: From the First Test to a (Not-So-Great) Update

March 2023

At my first-ever bone density test in March of 2023, I found out that I had osteoporosis. Not the kind of news anyone wants to hear, but definitely the type that forces you to face reality: you can only pretend your body isn’t aging for so long. For those who don’t know, osteoporosis is when your bones become weak and brittle, upping your chances of fractures. If you’re a thin woman—especially an older, thin Asian woman—you’re at a higher risk. And if you don’t take it seriously, things can get bad enough that just bumping into a table might leave you with a fracture.

Does that mean no more hands-free bike rides for me? No way! At least, that was my attitude at first. I’ve always been the type to ignore my age. I never wanted to become someone constantly complaining about aches and pains or how everything was better “back in my day.” But aging doesn’t wait for your permission. It happens whether you talk about it or not.

So, what did I do once I got the diagnosis? I decided to try taking my osteoporosis seriously—emphasis on “try.” I’m not one to jump straight to pharmaceutical meds, so after reading an article and a study on the benefits of consuming eggshells for extra calcium, I thought, “Why not?” I wanted to do what I could, on my own terms, to keep my bones strong without immediately resorting to the usual prescriptions. I started inhaling calcium, Vitamin D and collagen. 

This whole experience made me see how easy it is to bury your head in the sand about getting older. But it’s okay to talk about new aches and pains; it doesn’t mean you’re suddenly old and decrepit. It just means you’re human, and your body changes over time.

Update (December 24, 2023)

Well, here we are, a little less than a year later. I recently had my second bone density test, and... the news wasn’t great. My osteoporosis has actually gotten worse, especially in my hips. Truth is, I didn’t stick with all those changes I’d planned. The eggshell thing? Yeah, definitely not for me. While I did take more calcium and collagen, and even bought one of those vibrating exercise machines off Amazon, my bone density still went downhill.

As a result, I’ve finally decided to rein in the daredevil side of me—no more hands-free bike riding, and I stay off ladders at work unless it’s absolutely necessary. It’s a bit of a bummer, but hey, I’d rather keep my bones intact than risk another fracture.

The biggest challenge? Consistency. I have trouble finding time (and motivation) to exercise regularly so I tried this class recommended by my doctor called Better Bones. It was me in my living room with about 10 other aging women and one man trying to balance on one foot and then the other.