topic Re: Ostoporsis in Wellness

Ostoporsis

joann1218 — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 15:48:32 GMT

I have been diagnosed with osteoporsis. My doctor has given me the choice of a weekly pill or getting an IV once a year. Does anyone else have this condition and what are you taking for it? Your opinion on your course of action is appreciated.

Re: Ostoporsis

Nightowlz — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 15:57:09 GMT

Sorry you are dealing with osteoporosis. I really don't have any answers for you. I have read some about those pills they use to treat and those don't sound very good. I would do my research on any medication the doctor wants you to take so you can discuss it with him/her.

Re: Ostoporsis

KingstonsMom — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 16:06:57 GMT

@joann1218

I have had osteoporosis in my neck, lower spine and 1 hip for almost 10 years now.

Since I was diagnosed back then, I have taken calcium, Fosamax and eat a high calcium diet, but nothing helped.

My Endocrinologist finally suggested Prolia, which is an injection that I gave myself every 6 months for 3 years.

Just yesterday I had another scan and my osteo has significantly improved! I'm so excited!

I have read a lot about the IV, but found a lot of mention of side effects, you may want to research that.

I had no side effects at all with the Prolia injections.

Re: Ostoporsis

Apple Crisp — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 16:12:56 GMT

@KingstonsMom Thank you for the heads up on Prolia. My doctor has recommended it for me and I have been hesitating. Our local hospital gives the injections here. My kidney doctor also told me it is the best med for osteoporosis. I am happy to hear you improved with it. I think I may give it a try.

Re: Ostoporsis

KingstonsMom — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 16:29:38 GMT

@Apple Crisp wrote:
@KingstonsMom Thank you for the heads up on Prolia. My doctor has recommended it for me and I have been hesitating. Our local hospital gives the injections here. My kidney doctor also told me it is the best med for osteoporosis. I am happy to hear you improved with it. I think I may give it a try.

@Apple Crisp

If your Dr. recommended it, don't hesitate!

My recent scan showed 'significant' improvement!

Re: Ostoporsis

Big Joanie — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 16:32:50 GMT

The one thing you will have to do is give up diet soda.. I don't know about

regular ....it contains quite a large concentration of phosphoric Acid ..

which will leach calcium out of your system to balance the acid level in

your blood stream ...

Re: Ostoporsis

violann — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 16:42:51 GMT

SO HELPFUL. Thanks SO MUCH, Ladies!

Re: Ostoporsis

KathyM23 — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 17:18:41 GMT

I haven't heard about Prolia, but I had Reclast treatments about 10 years ago. This is an IV medicine for Osteoporis that you got once a year, took about 45 minutes to complete. Don't know if Prolia is similar to that or not. I had a treatment for 3 years. Then my doctor said that was the most treatments that could be given. My bone density improved 10% after the three years.

I don't know about the side effects, I know there were many listed as there always are, but I am thinking since you could only get three treatments, "they" decided that it probably wasn't such a good med. I know that I had a lot of pain in my bones after for about a week or so and also did not feel very well. But I do react strongly to meds. The explanation for the joint pain was that the med was going to the bones were it was needed. I don't know if it was a good or bad decision to have the treatment and I'm not sure if it is still available or if it is similar to Prolia. You might want to check that out with your physician. I do know that I would not have had a 4th treatment even if it had been available.

Anyone else familiar with Reclast treatments?

Re: Ostoporsis

Mom2Dogs — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 18:12:03 GMT

Yes, I have that as well and take a pill once a month...I will be reevaluating the need of the drug in 3 years. My insurance would not cover the injection.

Re: Ostoporsis

SilleeMee — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 18:23:08 GMT

I received a Zometa IV when I first got diagnosed years ago. I experienced some adverse reactions to the Zometa which did not occur until months after I had received it. Since then my bone density tests are normal but at the time of my initial diagnosis it was severely low. My doc has not recommended any more treatments for me. I have been keeping myself healthy with diet and exercise.

Re: Ostoporsis

SeaMaiden — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 18:33:30 GMT

It is a very individual decision. Most women after 60 have Osteoporosis. The drugs can have some serious side effects. Read up on them....make a decision. Your doctor offered two choices...there are other choices not pharma related. You need to do the work. Personally I chose NOT to take the drugs.

Re: Ostoporsis

tiredlady — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 18:37:02 GMT

I have had osteoporosis for years. I have tried all of it. I finally did the IV. It worked great except I broke out in a horrible rash and had to go to the dermatologist three times a week. It brought me back to no osteoporosis and it lasted for about 3 years. I would do it again in a heartbeat if it hadn't caused a rash!!

Re: Ostoporsis

on the bay — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 19:21:18 GMT

I've had osteoporosis for a long time esp due to taking synthroid for a single cold nodule in my thyroid which they later learned is not helped by synthroid!

Anyway I've had them all except for Prolia.

I had reactions to all esp. reclast (the once a year thing) a really awful reaction like someone punched me in the leg and didn't stop.

I had boniva iv and all the other pills.Boniva, fosamax, actonel, even the nose mist didn't help and I had side effects from all.

But I do tend not to do too well with a lot of things. Everyone is different.

My mother takes prolia and has had no side effects.

I'm afraid to try anymore at this point even though one dr said my bones were like an 80 year old (which I'm not).

I always say I'll try anything once.

I guess we all just have to read up on it all and make a decision and see what helps without uneeded side effects.

It is encouraging to hear about several taking prolia with no reactions.

And I did not know that reclast can only be given 3 times. Very interesting. I had mine more than five years ago.

I wish you luck in all this! It is hard to decide or know what to do for sure.

Re: Ostoporsis

software — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 19:34:56 GMT

@joann1218 wrote:
I have been diagnosed with osteoporsis. My doctor has given me the choice of a weekly pill or getting an IV once a year. Does anyone else have this condition and what are you taking for it? Your opinion on your course of action is appreciated.

All great answers here.

Check with your insurance as well.

Re: Ostoporsis

Patriot3 — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 20:12:10 GMT

@joann1218 wrote:
I have been diagnosed with osteoporsis. My doctor has given me the choice of a weekly pill or getting an IV once a year. Does anyone else have this condition and what are you taking for it? Your opinion on your course of action is appreciated.

@joann1218 Yes, I have osteoporosis. My Mom had it, too, but in her day there wasn't much that could be done. I have had it for about 12 yrs. I took Forteo. It is an injection that you give yourself once a day. It was expensive. Ins took care of some of it. You're only supposed to take it for 2 yrs, but I took it longer w/pauses in between for a total of about 4 yrs.

I had no side effects and it did help.

I had a dexascan a few months ago (not good) and Dr. asked if I wanted to go back on Forteo. Checked w/my Ins and it would cost me 888.00/ month. Can't do that, so I'm on Fosamax which costs me 1.80/month. You take it once a week.

I didn't want to go the Reclast or Prolia route. I thought, what if there are side effects and you're stuck w/that for 6 mos or a year.

I wish you good luck w/whatever you do. It's not fun having this disease/condition.....whatever you want to call it.

Re: Ostoporsis

NickNack — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 20:25:29 GMT

I found out I had osteoporosis earlier this year. I researched the treatments before I saw my doctor and decided I wanted to get Prolia injections every six months. I had tried to take Fosamax (one of the osteoporosis drug choices) when I developed osteopenia and had such horrible aches and pains that I had to quit taking it. My sister had the same side effects from that drug.

When I told my doctor that I wanted to take the Prolia injections she agreed that they would be a good choice. She discussed it with me at length, and we decided to go that route. I am almost due for my second injection and had no reaction to the first one.

Re: Ostoporsis

sidsmom — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 20:48:19 GMT

Diet should be the first line of attack on the osteoporosis diagnosis.

-Eliminate acidic foods (dairy, meat & other animal products, oils, processed foods, eggs, coffee, antacids, carbonated drinks)

-Increase fruits, vegetables, leafy greens, beans

There are many studies saying Fosamax & other osteoporosis-preventing drugs...actually DO contribute of bone loss. So counter-productive, but drugs have an amazing marketing team.

Just eat whole, plant based foods for optimum health, as always.

Re: Ostoporsis

SilleeMee — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 21:36:34 GMT

@sidsmom wrote:
Diet should be the first line of attack on the osteoporosis diagnosis.

-Eliminate acidic foods (dairy, meat & other animal products, oils, processed foods, eggs, coffee, antacids, carbonated drinks)

-Increase fruits, vegetables, leafy greens, beans

There are many studies saying Fosamax & other osteoporosis-preventing drugs...actually DO contribute of bone loss. So counter-productive, but drugs have an amazing marketing team.

Just eat whole, plant based foods for optimum health, as always.

I can say this is true in my case where the IV Zometa I received caused severe cervical vertebrae to degenerate so extensively that I ended up needing surgery to correct the problem. My case is rare but it does happen and it can happen with any bone in the body.

Re: Ostoporsis

lizzys — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 21:48:15 GMT

@joann1218 Getting this diagnosis is very scary but don't panic and jump into a trreatment before doing your research. I know because I was where you are a few years ago. Some good places to do your research are;

Melioguide dotcom and Margaret Martin's youtube channel for safe exercises

Susan Brown's website - betterbones dotcom

National Osteoporosis website - they have a great messabe board there too.

Lani Simpson wrote a book Bone Health Guide & has website. She did PBS show too.

Lara Pizzorno wrote a book- Your Bones

Susie Hathaway is osteoporosis exercise site strenthtrainingforosteoporosis dotcom

There are some vitamins you might need such as vitamin D, magnesium, Vitamin K2 (MK7) etc. that are mentioned in the resources above.

Did your doctor give you tests to find out if there was a reason for your bone loss such as Vitamin D, Parathyroid, Celiac disease and others. A doctor should not perscribe medication off a dexa scan only. If you have a health condition causing osteoporosis then just taking bone meds won't be the answer.

Take care.

Re: Ostoporsis

BirkiLady — Sat, 23 Sep 2017 00:46:22 GMT

JoAnn1218 ~ My physician prescribed Boniva, which I took without any problems for 5-6 years. A fracture was a frequent occurance. My bones certainly improved and I chose to stop taking the monthly pill, although he wasn't completely behind my decision. Two years later, I have no regrets. Tests confirm no problems and my bones are strong again! It sounds like new and improved alternatives are now available. Best wishes on renewed health.