黑料社

Kate explains how our five-minute check helped her on her diagnosis journey

My mum died in her early 80s following a stroke. Six months earlier, she鈥檇 suffered a hip fracture, from a small trip when out walking her dog at night. She鈥檇 never received a formal osteoporosis diagnosis.

Around the time of my menopause, I went to my GP and asked whether it would be possible for me to have a DXA scan to look at my own bone density. I was told that there wasn鈥檛 any reason for me to have one and basically sent away. I knew I could pay privately, but never got round to arranging it.

Taking the check

A few years ago, my sister, Sarah, told me about the and how I could take the results to my GP to help with discussions about my bone health.

I completed the check, which said that I was at medium risk, and made a doctor鈥檚 appointment. Unfortunately, they still refused to refer me for any further scans or tests.

I turned 70 last year and decided to try again. This time my doctor agreed to do a fracture risk assessment (FRAX), after which I was given a DEXA scan in December.

A couple of weeks later, on Christmas Eve, the doctor phoned me to confirm that I had osteoporosis.

I was dismayed 鈥� despite being aware of the family history of the condition I didn鈥檛 want osteoporosis and certainly didn鈥檛 want to be fearful of broken bones and risking my mobility. I cycle, and while I haven鈥檛 fallen off in a long time, I became concerned about breaking my hip if I was to come off the bike.

Positive action for healthy bones

Fortunately, it鈥檚 been picked up early, and I鈥檓 now able to take preventative measures. I鈥檝e been prescribed a bone-strengthening medicine called alendronate and a calcium and vitamin D supplement. I also run, walk, work out with weights, and have a good, balanced diet.

If I hadn鈥檛 had the confirmation that I was potentially at risk, and continued to push for a bone health assessment, there鈥檚 a chance that I wouldn鈥檛 have been so lucky with receiving an early diagnosis.

Take charge of your bone health today and take the for personalised results in less than five minutes.