Yesterday afternoon was my first bone density scan. It was scheduled immediately after my annual mammogram. I mean, how much fun can you have in one afternoon, right? At any rate, I walked into the room clutching my thin, purple hospital top, tied to open in front, unsure what to expect.
“We’re just going to get a weight,” said the technician, stopping in front of a scale.
“Okay,” I said, taking off my shoes, wishing I hadn’t worn jeans.
I stepped on the scale and she recorded the number.
“Now a height, “ she said, “and then I have a few questions to ask.” She gestured toward a sort of measuring station. “Stand there.”
I dutifully stood with my back against the wall, and she moved a piece down until it rested on the crown of my head.
“Ok,” she said, “5 feet 4.5 inches.”
Wait! What!
I’d become accustomed to the half inch I’d lost somewhere through the years, but now there was another half inch gone!? What’s up with that!? My mind raced.
I think I was slouching. I’m sure I could have stood up straighter! Why didn’t she tell me to stand up my straightest? Should I ask her to measure again?
Meanwhile, I sat down and responded automatically to the questions she was posing.
“Do you take calcium supplements?”
“No.”
“Do you take estrogen?”
“No.”
Then after a slew of other questions, she asked, maybe in a fake friendly voice, (Was she trying to rub it in?!) “What is the tallest height you’ve ever been?”
I never expected that I would ever be asked that question. Ever.
In my head all I heard was, “I’m shrinking!” echoing over and over à la Margaret Hamilton.
Nix the comfort zone 
I feel your pain. I have lost three inches! Your last line made me laugh out loud! Thanks. 😂
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3 inches! Wow! I guess I thought height was a relatively fixed personal statistic…even though I knew people get shorter as they age. Once again, I failed to connect the dots! lol
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Why can’t we get taller as we age? I’m definitely down a bit – but I don’t really want to know by how much. (I know it’s at least .5, but probably more.)
I hope all the tests showed the results you wanted.
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Thanks for the good wishes. I have no idea what bone density results even look like! We’ll see!
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Oh yes, you are not alone. I’m down 1.5 inches at least and shrinking every day in spite of daily exercise and lots of calcium! It’s a battle of the ages!
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I suspect I might need to up my game after getting my results. We’ll see…
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I’m glad you are getting all your parts checked out, even your height. There is so much about the aging body that can be discouraging. I’m pretty sure I’ve lost an inch from the tallest I’ve ever been.
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Well, we’re in the same 1 inch club then! I’m wondering when I’ll start having to shop petites! lol
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Wait, I had no idea “shrinking” in height had to do with bone density?! Whaaat??
I hope all went well with your tests. Thanks for the vicarious discomfort of the office visit, and the laugh from I’m melting! (I just saw Wicked: For Good yesterday, so it’s also apt!)
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I’m not even sure it does have to do with bone density, but for some reason, they didn’t measure my height at my recent physical. I guess this is just my new reality! lol Thanks for the good wishes, and I’m glad to know you enjoyed the newest Wicked movie. We loved the first one!
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