Calcium + Vitamin D

In talking with my gynecologist, Dr. Vineela Poddatoori, she asked if I had had a bone density test. No, I replied. What's that? Like I need another test.

Women my age often suffer from loss of bone density, and an x-ray can show where I'm at. We decided that, since the test normally applies to 65+ year old women, I would opt for one next year. She also thought that I had been irradiated enough for one year.

She then gave me a sheet about "Calcium & Vitamin D Supplementation." In truth, I had been taking a Calcium/Vitamin D supplement due to advice from my GP, Dr. Miller, but I have so many pills to take a day as it is (10) that I gave up one this one.  I vowed to start again.

The vitamins I have offer a paltry amount of either calcium or Vitamin D. So today I found one that ups the voltage.

The sheet she gave said that for a woman age 50-65 not taking full-dose estrogen -- that's me -- I should take 1500 mg a day. And let me tell you: it's hard to find a once-a-day pill that will give you that quantity.

But I found one that will give me a rather easy-to-swallow (gel filled with liquid, not hard edges) that approaches that amount for both Calcium and Vitamin D, AND it was on sale. And, if I start now, perhaps that bone density test won't show a lot of bone loss. Well, I'm starting late, but you have to start somewhere.

Why Gynecologists Have a Job

I mean, besides birthing babies.  This GYN is the nicest, most caring GYN you will ever find.  And I still hated my appointment today.

Yes, I had to strip and get into a soft cotton gown, and cover myself with a paper cloth, and sit on a rather uncomfortable exam table with foreboding stirrups.  But before that, we talked about what was and what wasn't possible.

We agreed that she would try to do the vaginal exam and PAP smear today.

Besides that, she urged me to take a calcium and vitamin D supplement.  I had actually gotten that because of Dr. Miller's urging, but I haven't taken it in awhile.  I'll go back to that.  Dr. Poddatoori gave me a data sheet today which tells me what my dosage should be.  50-65 not taking full-dose estrogen = 1500 mg/day.

And she gave me a referral back to Dr. Hosseini for a colonoscopy.

We agreed that I would come back every 6 months for this PAP smear and vaginal examination. Every six months. Let me tell you right now, I went right to the donut shop after this exam.  Yes, it was a two-donut day.

Back to the GYN: Open Wide...

I'm sitting in the waiting room of my gynecologist, Dr Poddatoori. it'll be about an hour before they grt to me, I'm sure. So instead of playing some mindless game, I'll post to this blog.

I haven't seen Dr Stern, the oncologist, since around June, when he washed his hands of me. I refused to do all the frequent and invasive PAP smears and vaginal inspections he called for. So I'm here now to see if Dr P can offer anything else. Like, maybe annual visits.

I have always refused getting naked when her tech assistant demands it, but now I know I'll have to.