Today’s Stream of Consciousness prompt is: “the first 2-5 words at the top of the closest printed matter.”
There’s a Goodnewsletter open on my coffee table with a story I was thinking about including in my Good News Tuesday post but have not used in the month it’s been sitting there. Now I can use it and move it. Here’s the title on the open page: “Meet the Kid on a Mission to Pick up One Million Pounds of Litter in 2022.” Twelve-year-old Cash Daniels is known as “The Conservation Kid.” Cash and his friends spend “several hours each week picking up trash along the Tennessee River.” Kids like cash give me hope for our future.
(The above is all that would save Friday night when I normally write my SoCs post. The auto-save seemed to be circling, so I had a feeling…. This morning, I’m going back to try to re-create the second part but will try to stay in SoC mode.)
The other printed material nearby is from my medical folder and includes reports on previous bone density tests showing I have osteoporosis. This has not been addressed in a couple of years since my beloved gynecologist who was treating me went and retired. Like my beloved dentist retired. The nerve! Now all my doctors are clearly younger than me. Maybe it’s because I’m retired. (Yay!)
Anyway, I waited 18 months for an appointment with a rheumatologist. 18 months to get in! It gave me time to look up, rheumatologist. They deal with muscular-skeletal stuff and immune system issues, chronic pain, etc. Okay, good.
This rheumatologist said to me, “You’re pretty young to have osteoporosis.”
“Oh, really?”
“Did you ever smoke cigarettes?”
“Yes, in my twenties, for about ten years. A pack or two a day.” (Mostly a pack.)
“That could do it,” he said.
Sigh. “I thought I was over that. I thought my body had overcome that.” I don’t remember my exact words. I felt a bit deflated. He said something about smoking taking years from my bones or adding years. I looked it up. Smoking cigarettes decreases bone density. It just took a long time to catch up with me.
We can’t change the past, but we can do what we can now. (If anyone needs help quitting smoking, I have good experience.) I can look up exercise for bone density on YouTube as the doc suggested. I didn’t find anything that would be good to post here, but what I did find out (from multiple youtube sources) is that people with osteoporosis should NOT do crunches or forward bends. WT? We do forward bends regularly in my senior yoga class “Gentle Yoga for Back and Bones.” It’s not always gentle by the way. I’m good at forward bends. This needs more research and maybe I won’t push the forward bends. Maybe I’ll be more relaxed about them. This needs more research. Has anyone ever heard about this?
Maybe I’ll leave most (not all) of the trash picking up to the young conservation kids, or I’ll get one of those picking up sticks.
Below is one of the roosters at the sanctuary doing a forward bend in front a mirror.
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Linda Hill by clicking HERE.
Anything is Possible! 
July 23, 2022 at 10:30 am
I have osteoporosis, too, and took a course in Seniors Fitness. I was told I got it young because of early menopause.
I think the gentle yoga forward bends are good in your comfort zone and not pushing it. All exercise is good especially strength. I learned lying on the floor with arms stretched out for 15 min a day helps to prevent the dreaded hump. I put my knees up when I do this; less back strain.
But I am also taking medication for it.: Prolia shot every 6 mos.
July 23, 2022 at 12:53 pm
Thanks for the info and support! It always feels good for me to lay flat on my back with my knees bent as often as I can. Just found out from x rays I have osteoarthritis and scoliosis. Not a big surprise. Will definitely not press my comfort zone on the forward bends. Prolia is an option for me, too. The doc said sometimes insurance want patients to try reclast IV first. We’ll see.
July 24, 2022 at 9:16 am
It was hard to accept medication. I took the pills Risedronate monthly for a few years but they found it wasn’t doing much so switched me to Prolia. Not happy about it but on the other hand. . . only takes one bad fall to ruin your health.
July 24, 2022 at 10:01 pm
Thank you for that truth.
July 23, 2022 at 10:53 am
HI Jo-Anna, thanks for this post. I did not know that smoking had that particular side effect. Perhaps that is why my mother and aunt have osteoporosis. I also didn’t know about the forward bends. Good to know in case I need the knowledge in the future.
July 23, 2022 at 8:44 pm
You’re welcome, Robbie. I’m just now learning these things. I think there are other factors, including genetics. There’s always something new to learn!
July 24, 2022 at 1:38 pm
You are right, and we are fortunate to have access to so much learning material 😊
July 23, 2022 at 11:18 am
Wow that is a long wait to get to see someone… Like Robbie I didn’t know smoking could cause that.. Not that I smoke… But hubby did , but he’s been stopped smoking more years now than he smoked..
As for the bends, I would have thought the more supple you could maintain your body the better for the skeletal system all around, but that is just me.. 🙂
Sending thoughts your way JoAnna… and much love… have a lovely weekend ❤
July 23, 2022 at 9:01 pm
It’s been about 35 years since I smoked, maybe there are other factors. I don’t know. But I tend to agree with you about being supple being good for maintaining our structure, but I’ll probably not push my bends beyond my comfort zone. Thank you for the thoughts and love, Sue. I’m sending the same to you with peace and blessings! ❤
July 24, 2022 at 1:15 pm
I think your body lets us know our limits… Mine limits are certainly expressing themselves lately LOL 🙂
July 25, 2022 at 9:01 pm
I can relate. My body has gotten very good at sending me messages. 🙂
July 26, 2022 at 9:55 am
🙂 Mine too 🙂
July 23, 2022 at 2:07 pm
They want me to take a bone density test. I guess smoking is the reason. Grandma had terrible osteoporosis. Whatever they tell you to do, do.
July 23, 2022 at 9:05 pm
It’s generally good to know the truth even if we don’t like the results. I think there are a lot of factors, but smoking can be one. I hope you don’t smoke anymore. Thank you very much for the encouragement. I can be rebellious sometimes, but I’m willing to try most recommendations. I’ll definitely be doing more exercise.
July 23, 2022 at 10:04 pm
I quit smoking for good about 25 years ago. Grandma Holton had terrible osteoporosis, and I think her bones just disintegrated, which caused her death. She was 92 and not the most robust woman, but even so…
July 24, 2022 at 9:50 pm
That must have been awful for Grandma Holton. It adds to my motivation to work on this issue. I’m glad we quit smoking when we did.
July 23, 2022 at 3:44 pm
Kids like Cash also give me hope for our future. A bone density test in my fifties revealed that I had osteopenia, an early stage of osteoporosis. My doctor at the time prescribed a calcium supplement with Vitamin D and regular exercise. The fact that my bone density has not worsened suggests that the treatment works. I was never told to avoid crunches or forward bends. Hope you find a treatment that works for you.
July 23, 2022 at 3:52 pm
I’ve been treated for osteoporosis for years, have been on Prolia for 7 years. A few years ago, I fell jumping out of the way of a van boring down on me and broke the scaphoid bone in my wrist. Hand surgeon said “that’s a young athlete’s fracture.” Endocrinologist agreed—not an osteoporotic break. She gave Prolia the credit for it’s not being worse.
Good luck! Gentle stretching sounds wise.
July 24, 2022 at 9:17 pm
Thank you for sharing this, Annie. I’m glad the Prolia helped. It’s one of the medications we’re considering.
July 23, 2022 at 6:07 pm
Nice post. My theory is exercise is bad, it hurts, but I have never been interested in running further than to a meeting, or the loo. Carefully. I ran for the phone once and ended up with a back operation. Had a hip done a few years ago. I did fall off my shoes once on the way to a meeting. I’m ignoring all my ailments. I refuse to break before I die.
July 24, 2022 at 9:24 pm
Thanks. Running is not something I’m interested in – too much risk. I have thought of ignoring my ailments and enjoy doing this for periods of time.
July 23, 2022 at 8:55 pm
I too have osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and scoliosis. Following the comments here to see what others have to say. I’m told these 3 things are not the cause of my pain but they very well could be. I was given 3 choices of medicine @ four years ago but reading the black box warnings scared the bejesus out of me. I’m in p/t now & the exercises prescribed do not include crunches or forward bends but the forward bends in my yoga video actually feel good. Some sort of cat pose, I forget what it is really called but it releases much of the tension.
July 24, 2022 at 9:33 pm
Thanks for sharing this Jill. I’m almost afraid to read the black box warnings, but probably will. I ordered a book a friend recommended which sounds like it has a lot of warnings. I’ll definitely do some PT. Forward bends and feel good to me, too, and cat/cow and rotations. I appreciate your support and experience.
July 25, 2022 at 11:06 am
I wish I could go back and unread & I get why they have to warn people. In a way that caused me to delay me getting treatment
July 25, 2022 at 9:03 pm
I understand.
July 23, 2022 at 8:59 pm
One of the problems I find is there are so many “health” posts/news articles that start with “Do” or “Don’t do” that it’s hard to tell what’s real.
July 24, 2022 at 9:47 pm
I agree. I guess we consider the info we have and then do what feels right for us.
July 24, 2022 at 5:12 am
Very nicely put together stream. I am sorry to read about the osteoporosis
July 24, 2022 at 9:52 pm
Thanks, Derrick. I’ve had it for a few years and getting back to treating it. Overall, I’m thankful for my health being okay for 66.
July 24, 2022 at 9:11 am
Thank you for sharing!!… as I have found out, time marches on and the aging process starts to create issues caused by many things, past present and perhaps future… and there is a great deal of advice available and may not be for everyone… 🙂
I think what one needs to do is to experiment, perhaps some adjustment to one’s activities, try different things, to find what works for them.. “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain”. (Author Unknown)… 🙂
Until we meet again..
May your day be touched
by a bit of Irish luck,
Brightened by a song
in your heart,
And warmed by the smiles
of people you love.
(Irish Saying)
July 24, 2022 at 9:54 pm
Thank you very much for these ideas, Larry. I agree with experimenting and adjusting. Here’s to dancing in the rain (on a warm day.) 🙂
July 29, 2022 at 11:11 am
🙌🙌🙌