<p>Both younger D & I have osteopenia/porosis.(I dont think older D has been tested)
It does not seem to be related to amount of exercise or time spent in the sun.
I do excrete calcium and had low D levels.
I expect genetically we have porous bones as opposed to a new development.
Im not taking anything for it besides the D.(& calcium magnesium)
I have taken Strontium in the past though, I need to get more.
Ive never broken anything & I am more concerned about increased heart risk with the supplements so I am trying to increase calcium through food instead as our family ( especially the women) have more trouble with heart disease.
<a href=“Thinking Twice About Calcium Supplements - The New York Times”>Thinking Twice About Calcium Supplements - The New York Times;
<p>MOWC, I didn’t say that I hope this all resolves for you, and I do. </p>
<p>That is unfortunate that two of your friends have suffered the side effects. At one point I asked my gyn, who was also trying to browbeat me into taking it, if any of his patients had had the jaw issue. He said no, but even if they had, that wouldn’t change my risk level and he still wanted me to take it. </p>
<p>My endo told me if I have some improvement at my next DEXA in late 2015, we could talk about taking a year off from the Fosamax. I do like that I have the option of a holiday. </p>
<p>Thanks, LasMa. I think the drug holidays are a good idea. My orthopedist wasn’t particularly concerned about the side effects of the Forteo for me, but did want me to stay away from the bisphosphonates, which is really what the endro. was leaning towards. I’m not one of these people who refuses to take necessary medication, but it bothers me that there isn’t something yet that doesn’t have all these drawbacks!</p>
<p>I know. I take several other meds, and they all have their potential side effects. But somehow dizziness isn’t quite in the same ballpark with disfigurement. 
</p>
<p>LasMa, are you aware that the current research shows that bisphosphonates may not be effective after 3-5 years. I got the following from this website (which came up first in a Google search), <a href=“Osteoporosis: Screening and Diagnosis | National Women's Health Network”>https://nwhn.org/osteoporosis:</a> </p>
<p>“In May 2012, in an important update, the FDA expressed concerns about the safety and effectiveness of bisphosphonate use beyond 3 to 5 years. The agency told manufacturers that women must be made aware that long-term use may not be helpful. … In light of these studies, the FDA states that they believe that women at low risk of fracture should consider stopping bisphosphonates after 3-5 years.”</p>
<p>I took Boniva for a short time and saw some improvement, but then got one of the side effects (horrible heartburn) and stopped. My current endocrinologist doesn’t have me on any drugs – she feels I’m too young (mid-50s) and in good shape and healthy – so she thinks my risk of fracture is low despite my abysmal DEXA score. She said it would be more effective for me to take these drugs when I’m older, since as of now the maximum benefit is reached after 3-5 years. She’d rather I get that maximum benefit when I need it more. </p>
<p>It is interesting the range of treatments different women get from different doctors. I’ve seen three specialists – two did not want me on drugs, while the third saw my numbers and wanted me on something ASAP. </p>
<p>Thanks, fireandrain. I was aware of that and my endo has said that when we reach a cumulative 5 years, we’ll stop, with annual re assessments along the way and possibly a holiday at some point. I’m about a year and a half in.</p>
<p>I just read through this whole thread, and thought we should bump it back up. I just got my bone density scores back, and I am -2.7 on one of the lumbar vertabrae. Hips are still osteopenia, lumbar is osteoporosis. I have many of the risk factors I have been on thyroid meds for 20 years, fairly early menopause (47), was thinish for years, didn’t get a lot of calcium as a kid, and for the last 3 years, don’t get enough exercise… I have a message from the doc to come in for immediate conference and to start “treatment”. Arggggg. I don’t want treatment.
Here’s the plan; after Thanksgiving, join gym. Roll out of bed in morning and into workout clothes. Got to gym, work out on weight machines, shower and get dressed (clothes packed in bag the night before), eat in car on way to work. Calcium citrate with food 3x per day, vitamin D3, walk nightly, even if just for short amount of time. Cut back on sugars/carbs, increase green vegetables.</p>
<p>But damn, it just takes so much effort and I want to relax!!! I want flexible, supple bones, not brittle, hard bones, and I don’t trust the medicines to do that. I tried an HRT cream for other reasons, and I got frequent ovarian cramps which my gyno dismissed, and told me that there are lots of other body parts that can cramp in the abdomen. Lo and behold, the cramps faded away and were gone several weeks after I stopped the cream. Increase cancer risk scares the bejeezus out of me!</p>
<p>Please keep your stories coming. I want to hear how the drug therapies and non-drug therapies are working! I saw a graph that shows that the worst bone denisity loss is the 5-7 years after menopause, and I am at 7.5 years past. How likely is it that the worst is over, and that I will plateau out now to minimal or no bone density loss? </p>
<p>@anxiousmom, I was also just recently told that I have osteoporosis of the spine -hip is fine. These are the results of a bone density I had in March 2013 - but which the office failed to tell me about till my annual physical a few weeks ago. That they failed to tell me is another story…</p>
<p>Just so happens that March 2013 was six months into a new fitness routine. Since then I have a consistent exercise schedule running 3-4 times a week and doing other weight bearing and SOME strength exercises - I know I need to bump this up. I have also lost some a good 10 pounds and eat better. My only risk factor that I am aware of is an early menopause - around 45 or so which is 10 years ago. I can’t help but wonder if my life changes - while not even knowing this diagnosis - has helped the numbers. </p>
<p>Anyway, at first the doc gave me the choice of a pill once a month, a shot a few times a year or a once a year IV drip (she said it takes like 15 mins??) - not thinking a lot, I said I’d do the pill. However, once I had time to think about it, I became uncertain about the pill. What I am planning to do is to meet with a higher up doc and discuss more indepth options for me before deciding on a method of treatment. I would like to start the calcium or other vitamins no problem, but I don’t know how much I should be taking. I am hoping they will also consider redoing the bone density - after all, their error in not notifying me! - to see if by chance numbers are any more improved with the natural changes I just happened to make. </p>
<p>I have NO other health issues, am on no medications - a clean slate. I also appreciate any info shared on this thread. </p>
<p>absket - your bone density test was almost 2 years ago. Given your lifestyle changes since then, I’d request a new bone density test before agreeing to any treatment.</p>
<p>Yes, that’s what I’m hoping for - as well as a more in-depth talk with a doc - the NP during my annual physical just kind of said, “oh you have “this” and so pick one of these treatments” - she kind of took me off guard of course! </p>
<p>What I don’t know/understand is if it’s possible for my numbers to be altered by the lifestyle changes I have made - or by a combo of lifestyle changes and some supplements. </p>
<p>It is possible for your lifestyle changes to affect your numbers. Most likely, a positive result would be no further loss in density. That’s what I was told. While improving the numbers CAN happen, it is not usually the case unless you really had some issues before.</p>
<p>As you can see from the thread, I have been a runner all of my adult life (except when injured) and have also done weights and other exercise. My numbers pretty much continued to decrease, despite calcium and Vit D. A lot of it is simply genetic.</p>
<p>I am in my 5th month of Forteo injections (daily) and it is going OK. My new endocrinologist is extremely good and also has helped me with some options for getting the Forteo at a reasonable cost. The specialty pharmacy also helps out with that. Otherwise, it is not affordable at $700 a month co-pay. I can only take it for 18 months this time since I took it in 2007 for 6 months. </p>
<p>There are some new medications coming on the market that are supposed to be far superior to the Fosomax/Boniva class of drugs but they are going to be expensive, too. </p>
<p>I feel like I have increased muscle weakness from the Forteo which is affecting my running somewhat, but I can live with it. </p>
<p>anxiousmom, abasket, and others: Have you heard about vitamin K? I learned about it recently. It’s supposed to be very effective at taking calcium from the arteries (where supplemental calcium sometimes goes) into the bones and teeth. </p>
<p>Get heavier. Heavy people have less chance of Osteoporosis than thin runners.</p>
<p>Say whaa? Extra weight can cause joint problems so it’s a net gain of zero </p>
<p>^^ To say nothing of heart disease, diabetes, etc…</p>
<p>i was reading about the “goo” in bones, that keep bones flexible instead of brittle. Also, about how the architecture of the bones is more important than the actual density of the bone. They don’t yet know how to measure this.</p>
<p>It all reminds me of the info to take statins to lower cholestrol, and then it turns out that the issue is more about inflamation than cholesterol when it comes to heart health. </p>
<p>I feel like they are in the same place with bones…trying to make our bones denser, when the real issue may be flexible goo or good bone architecture.</p>
<p>MiamiDAP- Once again you are completely wrong. It’s larger BONES, not being heavier, that can offer some protection against osteoporosis. Geez. </p>
<p>I suspect I’ve weighed in on this thread before, but that was then, so I’ll do it again now.</p>
<p>First, I’ll give you the denouement: I have reversed my osteoporosis by lifting weights. It is possible.</p>
<p>I am extremely petite – 5 feet tall, 104 pounds – with a family history (sister, mother, both grandmothers) of osteoporosis. I knew as I headed into menopause (relatively early, at 46-ish) that this would be one of my main health problems, and it has been. I’ve gone from osteopenia to full-blown osteoporosis which, just like @abasket, my doctor (gyn) “forgot” to tell me. I learned about it a year later and was furious, especially since I have always announced that it’s one of my main health concerns!! Since then I’ve been seeing an endocrinologist, who monitors me very carefully. </p>
<p>I took Actonel for ten years (until the endo told me I definitely needed a “holiday”) and then was on an estrogen patch. Once I learned I had full-blown osteoporosis, I joined a gym, at age 55. (Not very happily, I’ll admit.) It took a while to find my stride and figure out what works for me, but now I lift heavy weights over my head twice a week, work on my core and back once a week, and walk on the treadmill (quickly) three times a week. I’m now back in the osteopenia category and not taking any drugs for my bones – just calcium and Vit D. My endo says I’m her poster child for the power of exercise to improve scores. </p>
<p>She also told me that, because I took Actonel for so long, I’m really not “naked” right now – that the drug is still in my system (I stopped it maybe five or so years ago) and is still doing me good. At my last bone density, after being without any drugs for a year, my levels were stable. I was ecstatic. (I just turned 66, BTW.)</p>
<p>Really, it can be done. </p>
<p>Clapping hands for you VeryHappy - truly, very happy! How the heck did they not tell us?! </p>
<p>Ten years seems like a long time to be on the meds - I know I need to research this (or just have a doc tell me) - but how does the estrogen patch help?? I sailed through menopause with no issues whatsoever - the idea of hormones is not desirable!!! </p>
<p>There is a connection between estrogen and bone formation. One reason you lose bone density after menopause is because of the drop in your estrogen. I’m taking estrogen as a treatment for osteoporosis. </p>
<p>I may have already said this in this thread, but I don’t feel like rereading, so like VeryHappy, I may be repeating myself. One important thing to know is that you need to spread out your calcium intake throughout the day. Your body can only deal with a certain amount at a time. It’s a pain, but I find myself having to think every day about when I eat yogurt, have a Luna bar, take a calcium supplement, etc. </p>
<p>And yes, you have to also take Vitamin K when you take calcium. And probably vitamin D, too. </p>