Looly
04-17-2007, 07:10 PM
After reading this board and reading various sites on line I do refuse to take any pills my doctor recommended. So I went to a local health food/supplement store and purchased a bone increasing calcium product called Advacal. I have been reading what you all have said about Ezorb also and I may be open to that too, but for now I'll try this supplement. If you search it out you too can learn of its benefits. I only hope I'm doing the right thing. I have received my bone density results and I know I need help. I just don't want to take drugs that will cause my stomach any more problems than I already have. My mom (86) just came off Evista because of side effects and she's taken Fosamax, Acetonel, etc. and they just weren't sitting well in her either. So what are we supposed to do. It's just too bad that all of the medications that are supposedly good for our bones wreck another part of our body....especially our digestive tract. Has anyone been successful going the natural route? I had my first test a few weeks ago. I'm 59. I am sort of glad I put it off (sounds stupid but I'm being honest) because it saved me a few years of worry. I hate doctors - I hate medications as they all cause a problem one way or the other and I just wish there was something that would be a sure thing for us who need this type of drug to take, that wouldn't wreck havoc on us. Very sad!
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taape
04-17-2007, 08:54 PM
Thanks for the suggestion about using Advacal. I'm looking into all possibilities besides bisphosphonates. It is too bad that those medications are so harmful to the GI system. There's so many complications if your unable to process food and medicines from a destroy GI system. Even with the best GI system around those bisphosphonates will probably irritate the stomach lining with prolonged use like 10-25 years like the doctor expect people to take them for.
Looly
04-17-2007, 09:03 PM
There is another product I am investigating called Bone Maximizer. I searched it out on line because a nutritionist in Florida told her to take it. It looks quite interesting also. There are a few possibilities, but what I'd like to know is ....do they really work. That's the million dollar question.
music12
04-18-2007, 07:48 AM
lolasmom,
Have you read the book The Myth of Osteoporosis? This might also help you to put things in perspective regarding bone health.
All the best.
Have you read the book The Myth of Osteoporosis? This might also help you to put things in perspective regarding bone health.
All the best.
Turquoise
04-18-2007, 09:56 AM
Lolasmom:
Have you had any low impact fractures? There are certains drugs and medical conditions that have an impact on bone health. What are your t-scores? All these answers give a better picture as to what you should do. This is what most doctors don't do. They automatically put us on meds because that's the standard of care. What we have to do is not be frightened by the scare tactics of big Pharma and research what is best for us. We are all different.
The only risk factors I have are low T-scores and heredity. I have never broken a bone. I decided, after taking Fosamax for 3 1/2 years and experiencing no change in my T scores, to take myself off the drug and not start Forteo as ordered by my Endo. I read THe Myth of Osteoporosis and became educated as to the problems in dealing with this disease. The more you know the better off you are. For me, I didn't feel that breaking a hip at 85 was a good enough reason to put all these drugs into my system. My mother broke her hip at 85 and is walking without help or support at 91.
But I have made the decision that is best for me. I am urging all of us who have had this diagnosis to do the same. Good Luck.
Turquoise
Have you had any low impact fractures? There are certains drugs and medical conditions that have an impact on bone health. What are your t-scores? All these answers give a better picture as to what you should do. This is what most doctors don't do. They automatically put us on meds because that's the standard of care. What we have to do is not be frightened by the scare tactics of big Pharma and research what is best for us. We are all different.
The only risk factors I have are low T-scores and heredity. I have never broken a bone. I decided, after taking Fosamax for 3 1/2 years and experiencing no change in my T scores, to take myself off the drug and not start Forteo as ordered by my Endo. I read THe Myth of Osteoporosis and became educated as to the problems in dealing with this disease. The more you know the better off you are. For me, I didn't feel that breaking a hip at 85 was a good enough reason to put all these drugs into my system. My mother broke her hip at 85 and is walking without help or support at 91.
But I have made the decision that is best for me. I am urging all of us who have had this diagnosis to do the same. Good Luck.
Turquoise
Looly
04-18-2007, 11:33 PM
Turquoise...you asked my T scores so here they are. I dont understand them all that much as this is new to me. 1 - Scanning of the spine from L1 to L4 yields a T score of -2.28. 2 - The T score of L4 alone is 2.89., 3 - The T score of the total left hip yields a total of -1.10 and 4 - The T score of the left femoral neck alone is -2.50.
Impression 1) severe osteopenia of the lumbar sine with a 24% loss of bone mineral density;
2) Oseoporosis of L4, alone, with a 28% loss of bone mineral density.
3) Mild osteopenia in the total left him with a 2% loss of bone mineral density, and
4) Osteoporosis in the left femoral neck alone with a 33% loss of bone mineral density.
So I presume this is bad?
Impression 1) severe osteopenia of the lumbar sine with a 24% loss of bone mineral density;
2) Oseoporosis of L4, alone, with a 28% loss of bone mineral density.
3) Mild osteopenia in the total left him with a 2% loss of bone mineral density, and
4) Osteoporosis in the left femoral neck alone with a 33% loss of bone mineral density.
So I presume this is bad?
Looly
04-18-2007, 11:35 PM
Turquoise....I forgot to answer your other question - I have never broken or fractured any part of my body, ever.
music12
04-19-2007, 07:31 AM
Ask for your Z scores as well. These will show how your bones compare to women of your age and ethnicity, not a 20 year old.
phylwill1152
04-19-2007, 08:19 AM
Hi lolasmom...there is another thing to keep in mind about bone health and that is the strenth of the bone. A bone density test will tell you how much bone loss there is, but it can't tell you the actual stength of the bone you have. I believe there is a difference between the two, but as of yet there isn't a test to determine it. I'm currently taking strontium that helps build "new bone" rather than coat what you have. It has shown to have good results with few side effects. I'd rather take my chances with real bone that may not be as dense and have some give than have hard/brittle bones that could break easier. I am also taking a EzCal, 1000mg/400d, a calcium supplement formulated to be taken as a once a day.
I've also read the Myth of Ostoporosis and found it to be very helpful. take care...phyllis
I've also read the Myth of Ostoporosis and found it to be very helpful. take care...phyllis
Turquoise
04-19-2007, 08:36 AM
Lolasmom;
Order the Myth of Osteoporosis. It will clear up a lot of questions and take the fear out of this diagnosis.
I would be thrilled with your t scores. I agree with Phyllis. The dexascan only measures bone mineral density and there are other factors in bone strength. There are lots of different factors that might complicate how you proceed with treatment. On the surface, your T scores, good health and the fact that you haven't had any fx. gives you a little time in deciding what is the best treatment for you. T scores alone does not give the whole picture. Mine are -3.5 but I am healthly, physically active and, like you, do not want to take meds that might hurt me more than help me. But lots of people have had great luck with the biophosphates.
There are people on this board with very low t-scores, multiple fx., and medical conditions that either caused the osteo or exacerbate it. They have to take the course of action suitable to there condition. I feel I have a little more leeway because my osteoporosis has not impacted my life.
Get educated before you make any decisions. I am going for my yearly dexa in May. Last June I stopped Fosamax and in August started exercising at Curves. I go 4-5 times a week. I take calcium citrate with mag. & D. And my Endo Rx'd 50000 units of vitamin D3 once a week. There isn't a lot more I can do except not let it consume me. For me, this diag. is not life threatening. It may be a problem later but I will deal with it then.
Make your own educated decisions about how you will proceed. Good Luck.
Turquoise
Order the Myth of Osteoporosis. It will clear up a lot of questions and take the fear out of this diagnosis.
I would be thrilled with your t scores. I agree with Phyllis. The dexascan only measures bone mineral density and there are other factors in bone strength. There are lots of different factors that might complicate how you proceed with treatment. On the surface, your T scores, good health and the fact that you haven't had any fx. gives you a little time in deciding what is the best treatment for you. T scores alone does not give the whole picture. Mine are -3.5 but I am healthly, physically active and, like you, do not want to take meds that might hurt me more than help me. But lots of people have had great luck with the biophosphates.
There are people on this board with very low t-scores, multiple fx., and medical conditions that either caused the osteo or exacerbate it. They have to take the course of action suitable to there condition. I feel I have a little more leeway because my osteoporosis has not impacted my life.
Get educated before you make any decisions. I am going for my yearly dexa in May. Last June I stopped Fosamax and in August started exercising at Curves. I go 4-5 times a week. I take calcium citrate with mag. & D. And my Endo Rx'd 50000 units of vitamin D3 once a week. There isn't a lot more I can do except not let it consume me. For me, this diag. is not life threatening. It may be a problem later but I will deal with it then.
Make your own educated decisions about how you will proceed. Good Luck.
Turquoise
yef
04-19-2007, 10:29 AM
After reading extensively, I have also decided to discontinue my fosamax. I started with Boniva 150 mg monthly, but had side effects almost immediately (stomach, diarrhea, severe bone pain in the sternum, low back, upper back, ribs). My doctor then prescribed fosamax 70 mg weekly. Although I am able to tolerate this medication MUCH better (I still get sternum pain), I am frightened about the long term effects and how long this medication stays in your system. I decided to take a little time off of medications and get educated - one of the ways is through this wonderful site. I ordered, as suggested here, The Myth of Osteoporosis and another book about Preventing and Reversing Osteopenia. Someone did recommend that I try Actenol ... not sure about this one. Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks!:)
music12
04-19-2007, 10:41 AM
Yef,
Actenol is also a biophosphate, as is Fosomax; therefore, the same, or similar, side-effects accompany use of it.
Ezorb and Strontium are two alternative choices that do not carry the toxic side-effects of the biophosphates. The Myth book will also help you to put your health care into better perspective.
All the best.
Actenol is also a biophosphate, as is Fosomax; therefore, the same, or similar, side-effects accompany use of it.
Ezorb and Strontium are two alternative choices that do not carry the toxic side-effects of the biophosphates. The Myth book will also help you to put your health care into better perspective.
All the best.
yef
04-19-2007, 11:31 AM
Thanks Ballady3. The more I learn, the more I think that I am making the right decision for me, to discontinue the Fosamax. I look forward to reading the books that have been recommended on this site.
DesertBloom
04-19-2007, 11:54 AM
Hi Yef and Lolasmom: Good luck with your decision. We all have to go through this when making a choice, on what to do, so read as much as you can. I can't make any suggestions, because I don't know your body, and what works for me may not for you. I did the calcium, d, magnesium etc and exercise my entire life and unfortunately that didn't help me. I also had other contributing factors for osteo, so they probably had a lot to do with the fact that I got it anyway. If you decide to just do the supplements/exercise, have your cal, phosphorous, thyroid, parathyroid and vit d checked first just to make sure your not low or high in any of these, and rule out some of the secondary causes for it.
Good Luck :wave:
Good Luck :wave:
newbones
04-19-2007, 01:12 PM
Yef,
I agree with what everyone is saying; we all have to weigh the pros and cons and come to a decision that seems right for us and that we can live with. I just finished the two years on Forteo and am waiting the results of the dexa scan. I had previously taken Actonel for a year before the Forteo. I had no problems with Actonel and my doctor thinks I should go back on it. One positive it has over some of the other bisphosphonates is that it has a much shorter half-life. Good luck to you.
I agree with what everyone is saying; we all have to weigh the pros and cons and come to a decision that seems right for us and that we can live with. I just finished the two years on Forteo and am waiting the results of the dexa scan. I had previously taken Actonel for a year before the Forteo. I had no problems with Actonel and my doctor thinks I should go back on it. One positive it has over some of the other bisphosphonates is that it has a much shorter half-life. Good luck to you.
yef
04-19-2007, 03:31 PM
Thanks newbones. Good luck with your results! I just learned about the half-life of Fosamax and that's what made me rethink being on this medication and started me on this journey.