Osteoporosis / Graves Disease Page
Empower! Health, Life and Business Coaching
- The art of coaching
- The science of positive psychology
| Cathy Hartt, RN, CNM, MS Health, Life and Business Coach "Midwife of Changes" Montrose, CO 81401 970-240-9562 midwifeofchanges@q.com |
| Empower! is currently accepting a limited number of clients. In 2010, I will be re-expanding services. Please watch this web page for full details. Email midwifeofchanges@q.com to find out more! |
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| A Tale of Learning Health Resilience: Dear Empower! Readers - I wanted to drop you an important note about osteoporosis. Two years ago, I learned I had this illness. My immediate thoughts were that I was too young to be so seriously effected. The real threat of disability loomed in my vision - though this was years away - I had to act now while I had time. I was determined to fight it every way I could. As a women's health practitioner, I had taken calcium and gotten regular weight bearing exercise all my life. I stepped up my efforts - from weights to tai chi - I was going to be resilient to this. I also started a couple of the routine osteoporosis meds, as well as increased calcium and mega-doses of vitamin D (via prescription from my primary care provider). A year later, my bone scan was stable but no improvement. Places in my back were even more seriously affected than the previous year. Though disappointed by the progress, I was thrilled when my physician suggested the new drug, Forteo - the only medication on the market that actually works to build new bone. Though this meant daily injections, I felt it would be worth it. I, admittedly, wavered some with all the exercise due to a busy job - but I would say I was still pretty active. I continued to work to improve my diet and watched to be sure my calcium and vitamin D levels were optimal. In June, the big day came for the bone scan - and with much disappointment, I learned that I had only held steady without real gain after a year on Forteo. I felt totally defeated, but decided to go to an endocrinologist for a second opinion. It turns out I had a couple of physical issues that were not allowing the Forteo to work, one was that I had developed Grave's disease (hyperthyroid) since I started the med. The med did not cause the thyroid problem - but the thyroid problem worked against the med. The timing was an amazing coincidence. I have been treated for the Grave's (August 2008) - and was stabilized on my thyroid meds in spring of 2009. I have worked very hard to reach my 10,000 steps almost each day this year. Not always easy when my thyroid is out of balance. But, I did it!!! In 2008 - I was successful in joining the "Steps for Strong Bones" campaign of the National Osteoporosis Foundation. This was my beginning of logging steps daily! In 2009 - I became a web-discussion-board facilitator for the National Grave's Disease Foundation. There is no doubt that my resilience will be in helping others with these illnesses to become more resilient. Interested in HEALTH COACHING SERVICES from EMPOWER? Click here. |
| Keep on Walkin Tall: Daughter Steph and Granddaughter Maia keep on walking! |
| Maia - Standing tall in the fight to find prevention and new treatments. |