Michelle Matosian shares about her experience dealing with a bone condition.
A few months after my first son was born, I received some shocking news: my bones were more than fifteen years older than I was. I was 34. My bones were considered 50. After giving birth, I lost weight quickly and my joints ached. I checked in with other new moms, and many felt the same way so I thought it was normal.
Then one morning, while sipping coffee in my kitchen as my baby slept, a sudden wave of dread washed over me. I knew something wasn’t right. Doctors discovered I had a postpartum overactive thyroid that was causing the pain and contributing to bone loss. A bone scan revealed I had osteopenia, the stage before osteoporosis. This is when bones begin losing density and strength.
I was shocked by the diagnosis, and surprised how common it was. My young doctor had it. So did the woman at the front desk. I learned that women are far more likely than men to develop it, especially those who are White or of Asian descent. Women can also lose up to 20% of their bone mass in the five to seven years after menopause.
Osteopenia is often called a silent condition because it has no symptoms. Many people don’t realize they have low bone density until they break one.
I was fortunate. Because of my condition, I had a bone scan decades earlier than most. A specialist later told me I probably never reached my peak bone mass in my twenties. Looking back, those years were filled with all-nighters and lots of coffee.
Finding out early meant I could change. I started strength training, lifting heavy weights, and getting enough calcium. Eventually, I became a group fitness instructor – something I never would have imagined. More than 20 years later, I’m still doing everything I can to stay strong. If sharing my story encourages even one person to make healthier choices, then that feels like a victory. With a Perspective, I’m Michelle Matosian.
Michelle Matosian is a marketing leader and strength training group fitness instructor who is passionate about helping others build healthier, stronger lives. She lives in Belmont.