I had an interesting experience today.  I was asked to be a
participant in a drug trial for a drug that is supposed to help
prevent osteoporosis and to also be beneficial for other conditions
that increase with loss of estrogen, such as heart disease and certain
cancers.  The experiment includes a large group of women with
osteoporosis, and also a control group who will be monitored for two
years to see if the drug helps reduce bone loss and frequency of the
other conditions.  The criteria for the control group are: in
menopause, under 65, non-smoking, no autoimmune diseases other than
hypothyroidism.

I agreed to go for an interview and screening, and I did this today.
Anyway, I was rejected for the trial, because my bone density is too
high :-).  I hadn't realized this was a criterion for the experiment,
but it turns out they're looking for people who've had the predictable
slow loss of bone density since onset of menopause, but who don't yet
have osteoporosis.  I'd have predicted that my bone density might be
okay, given my weightlifting and also history of being heavy (which
makes one's bones stronger, in general), but had never had it tested
so really didn't know.  As it turned out, I was pretty much off the
charts for menopausal women.  The scans are "scored" relative to the
bone density of the average 30-year-old woman, which is apparently the
peak age for strong bones.  My spinal bone density was 25% better than
that of the average 30-year-old woman, and my hip bone density was 5%
better.  They told me that of the 60+ people who'd come in so far to
interview for the trial, my scores were by far the best.  I asked the
doctor when I should have another bone scan.  She said, "Oh, you could
do it in another in 5-10 years, I guess.  But your spine will last you
'til your 150!"  

The doctor mostly credited my weight lifting, plus just good genetics.
I told her I used to weigh over 100 lbs. more, and that I assumed that
helped.  She said it did, but also said that rapid weight loss could
cause significant loss of bone.  She asked how fast I'd lost weight,
and I told her I'd averaged 5 lbs. per month.  She said that was a
good safe rate.

I was very pleased by this outcome, though I'd kind of wanted to be in
the study.  (For one thing, you get all kinds of in-depth medical
testing, free.  But this is a good way to get kicked out, at least :-)
.)

Chris
262/145/ (145-150)