So I have IBS due to large consumption of laxatives (I know chrons disease can cause a digestion problem which reduces mineral and vitamin being processed in the guy and IBS is quite similar to that)

I’ve been diagnosed with osteopenia (low body weight for extensive periods of time, low calcium intake and periods stopping for years). Has anyone else had any experiences with this? Do I need to go for repeat bone scans to check it hasn't gotten worse?
My psych rang with the bone results and is faxing it to my GP so I will call my GP Monday and get calcium and other bone helping supplements and find out exactly what my bone density numbers are and where abouts I actually fall.

Just feeling a bit sorry for myself.
(Although it is due to an eating disorder it is not self inflicted as I have had disordered eating for 18 years since I started school as a child. I'm not writing the whole psychological reasons behind it all but yes I've had an E.D for 18 years)
At least I know why I have painful neck and shoulders now and I'm not a hypochondriac.

IBS does not cause the body to stop taking in vitamins and minerals like crohn's disease does. IBS causes no harm to the body at all,although it is very unpleasant. it's only similar to crohn's in some of the symptoms, the causes and mechanisms of the conditions are totally different.

so there is one good thing about this. although some damage had already been done, as long as you eat correctly from now on, don't drink heavily, don't smoke and take calcium and vitamin d tablets the condition shouldn't worsen. at least, not until you reach menopause when most women start to get some degree of osteoporosis. the IBS won't make it worse and you should be taking in vitamins and minerals properly

i don't know about the regular bone scans. my mum has osteoporosis and paget's disease of the bone and she seems to get scans every so often. i think her last was 5 years ago.

i'm sure your GP can tell you about that and maybe refer you to a rheumatologist.

osteopaenia is different to osteoporosis. osteoporosis causes bones to become porous (hence the name) but they keep there shape, where as in osteopaenia the bones actually become thinner and mis-shapen. you should really be seeing a rheumatologist for osteopaenia

i don't think osteopenia and osteoporosis are that different?
isn't osteopenia like an early form/precursor to osteoporosis? (although not everyone with the first will get the second)

from web md:
"Osteopenia refers to bone mineral density (BMD) that is lower than normal peak BMD but not low enough to be classified as osteoporosis. Bone mineral density is a measurement of the level of minerals in the bones, which indicates how dense and strong they are. If your BMD is low compared to normal peak BMD, you are said to have osteopenia. Having osteopenia means there is a greater risk that, as time passes, you may develop BMD that is very low compared to normal, known as osteoporosis."

also, more specifically,

"Within 1 standard deviation of the mean in either direction is considered normal. A bone density within the range of 1 to 2.5 standard deviations below the mean is defined as osteopenia, and greater than 2.5 standard deviations below the mean is osteoporosis."

that's the definition i've always known

have you got a link for the misshapen bones thing? i'm wondering whether it's paget's disease of the bone you're thinking of. that does cause misshapen and weakened bones, although technically they're enlarged and that causes the weakness. it's odd but interesting (and surprisingly common)

no its not pagets disese

i studied rheumatology and always believed osteopaenia is usually secondary to other diseases e.g rheumatoid arthritis

there both very similar, just that bones with osteoporosis generally keep there shape and fracture much more easilt, but bones with osteopaenia actually become thinner and loose there natural shape