Wellness

[BarbiHollywood]

Any info on osteoporosis meds?

My DEXA showed a decline in my numbers and am now considered to be in the osteoporosis category.  My primary wants me to think about Prolia, Fosamax, etc.  I've heard too many stories from friends who had to stop these meds and all the side effects.  I told my doctor I was not interested, and I have upped my calcium intake and will exercise a bit more.  Apparently, osteoporosis runs in my family.  My Mom and most of the females on her side have/had it. 

Anyone care to share?  I'm curious what your experiences have been.

[theresa]

@BarbiHollywood my Dr referred me to a bone specialist recommended Fosamax 70 mg 1X weekly.  I'm going for my dexa scan next month so let's see if there is any improvement.  I'm in my early 60's.  One of my girlfriends started Prolia and she is 71.  She just got the injection (1st one) in March no side effects.  She said it's every 6 months.  I don't have any information to give you because I have not had my recheck until next month but my orthopedic Dr told me not to ignore this diagnosis. 

[FLtricia]

I agree with your lack of interest in these products.  There are other nutrients to help with bone health (Vitamin D, magnesium for example).  Yarrow has a product called "Bone-Up" you can research.  

I say this because my mother fractured her femur getting out of a chair.  We now believe that this happened from her taking Boniva, not from standing up with socks on.  A femur fracture is major like from a car accident.  That is a large bone!  She had to have  metal rod inserted and spent weeks in re-hab.  A colleague of my husband in her 50's also ended up with a femur fracture.  She didn't even fall.  Just had severe pain and testing revealed the fracture.  If you listen to the commercials for these products they list jaw problems and bone fractures as a possible side effect.  

Best wishes on your health journey, put your research hat on and ask lots of questions.  It is your body and your health.

[amyb]

I'm 68, have had Osteoporosis for several years now (started with Osteopenia in my 30's.) Have had most of my docs, including an endocrinologist, tell me to "just take the Fosimax." But same reasons you state @BarbiHollywood I've held back, trying diet, strength training etc. NONE of the options don't have scary contradicting info on them, with possible crummy side effects. Runs in my family too.

My mom had it. Took Fosimax for about 5 yrs, in her 70's with no problem, lived to be 91, almost 92, in decent shape. Fell a few times at home, never, THANKFULLY, broke anything. Strong woman.

Mom was a bigger boned lady than I am; I'm more petite boned, and she was strong, withstood meds and didn't think anything of just "listening to the docs" (generational) not questioning anything. Worked for her.

As for me, I'm not going to be negligent with this...I'm being careful, I'm an active person, and in good shape for my age. I have Osteo in my spine and one hip. My last Dexa scan it had not gotten worse and slightly better in the hip. 

I don't do extra Calcium, as heart disease runs in my family, my dad had lots of heart issues, and I'm on meds for hereditary type cholesterol (I'm healthy weight, eat a healthy diet), but have "high lipo protein-a" that is the hereditary genetiics for cholesterol being high they can't medicate. Adding calcium can cause plaque in the arteries, though there's all kinds of info on this, back and forth, but I'm not going to take a chance.

My new (and even my former) PCP was ok with my feelings of wanting to hold off on meds for now, be diligent about consistent strength training, and healthy diet, and see what the next scan says. I don't expect to actually have "grown" much new bone, as it's very hard to do, but we'll see, maybe it isn't worse, hopefully!!

Also, some women in my online workout community have posted some good advice of what they've been doing to mitigate things without meds...I need to go back and take down this info for myself and my next doc visit and scan, so when I do I'll post it here. There was another type scan this woman did, she recommended, that gave more than the basic bone numbers that helped her know how she could treat things.

[SilleeMee]

That publication was given to me by an osteop clinic where I have been going to get treated for my osteop. It shows you that there are only three categories of osteop drugs and only one of them builds bone while the other two will only slow bone loss.

I had the once-in-lifetime Evenity and it gave me a 13% increase in bone density. Prolia x2 doses followed to prevent a rebound effect from the Evenity where rapid bone loss could occur after the Evenity wanes which is usually around 3 to 6 months after the last Evenity dose. 

I am currently waiting for my next Dexa scan to see my progression from the Prolia Then my doctor will determine what will come next where a bisphosphonate is highly likely. I will opt for the once-yearly Reclast infusion and not pills such as Boniva or Fosamax. My gut will not tolerate oral bisphos.

[on the bay]

@amyb,

You gave such good info on all this.

I commend you for doing your research, and including info about too much calcium and heart disease esp in women, which many are still unaware of.

There were many news stories about this several years ago but it hasn't really been emphasized since. Many doctors are just not knowledgable or keep up with info about supplements and vitamins.

Also your info about generational high cholesterol was right on.

The generational thing! My mother too took everything her drs told her. She had most of the osteo meds, including prolia and didn't complain about the side effects.

Me, I had them all -fosamax, boniva, reclast and the nose one that starts with an m. I took all but prolia. Had too many really bad side effects from them all.

@BarbiHollywood,

Like @FLtricia said, put your research hat on and then go from there. I hope you find solutions you feel comfortable with

[amyb]

@SilleeMee I'll have to review closer your info...tks for sharing. Glad you've had luck with your forms of treatment.

There is just SO much info out there, overwhelmingly so, contradictory, confusing to me...and, to me, it says something that, of all conditions and meds I've educated myself on, over the years, that it's the Osteo meds that SO many people are skittish and confused about. I also know, like my mom, like @SilleeMee, like others...many have taken it with no problem.

I don't want to be foolish, not helping myself in some way I should with this. I realize a fall, as we age, can destroy our quality of life, and shorten it too. But at 68...even my doc says I have some time to be conservative in my approach.

My roomate from college and I have discussed this a lot. She also refuses to take the meds. Says her parents had the shots...I forget if they had side effects. But she did tell me she had the shots only once....then got tested, and doc said she ...get this...."had small bone fractures caused by the shot?!!" by a drug that's supposed to HELP you with bone loss? That was enough for her...never took the shot or anything again yet. Not sure she ever will.

So, THAT scared me.

But, I don't claim to know it all when it comes to this or to be right taking the approach I am taking so far....I'm just doing what I always do...going by my gut, and so far it tells me to go slow, investigate more....EVEN though my docs have all said most their patients did fine with Fosimax, and that more of them have fear over it, than any had bad experiences with it. But still, they understood my hesitation, and like I said...okay with me waiting on that...even though my gyno was concerned, said my spinal number was not great, and that "I should JUST TAKE THE FOSIMAX!!"......tbc........appreciate this thread, and all info shared.

[Jo1313]

A friend started to use Prolia...She has a bad reaction..since it is an infusion..There is no way to get it out of your system until close to your next dose.

My Dr. wanted me to take it ..Told her NO and the story..

Asked her if there was an antidote..she said no and looked at me like I have 4 heads!..

I am not going to suffer if I have a bad reaction if there is no way to get it out of my system quickly!

[ThinkingOutLoud]

It's good you're looking into these meds. Aside from doing strength training that was mentioned, stay away from carbonated beverages as they leach calcium from the bones.

[willowbark]

One of the richest women in the world with access to concierge medicine at the snap of her fingers and lo and behold, she broke a hip. 

Conversely, my mother of modest means was lassoed and cattle roped by her GP and she went on to break her collar bone and a few years later her femur which ended up killing her before she could get help while waiting in the ER. 

As for  myself, I will never take any of their filthy, money-making useless drek. I take calcium (with D3 and K2) and exercise.