We don’t take cell phones in the bedroom. Neither of us is so important that we need to be connected 24x7.
Walking today–went on a local conservation trail. I keep telling myself it’s still summer, but it sure felt like Fall today. I probably walked about 2 miles and stopped to take photos. It was a beautiful spot. Trainer workout tomorrow.
NM: my H sometimes takes Tylenol PM when he can’t sleep; It usually does the trick.
Good visit with my doctor today to review the results of all my labs, dexscan and colonoscopy. All my blood work was great. Good cholesterol was GREAT! Colonoscopy clear too with a benign polyp. My onlyl issue is there is no denying it, I have osteoporosis. Probably genetic because I don’t have other risk factors and already practice good weight bearing exercise and little caffienne, etc. I’ll have to start on a drug, probably Fosamax. I’m already taking some vitamin D and will start calcium citrate. Will repeat the dexascan in a year and hope to see some improvement.
Celebrated with a neighborhood run tonight to the tune of about 3 miles!
Thanks to all who cheered me on to finally get these tests out of the way! Next stop, eye doctor!
I think you’ve followed the other osteo thread, but I really think that category of drug is bad. If you do a short (year or two) stint it might be OK, but the risks are big. It can prevent any minor fracture- stress fracture, broken bone from a fall, etc from healing. I know 3 people who have had the jaw problem that can result from that class of drugs. I am generally pretty trusting of meds, but that one scares me. I was on Boniva when I had a small fracture in my tibial plateau (knee) from a skiing fall in 2007 and the drug prevented the healing of the break and I had to have surgery.
My drug has risks, too, and is out of range expensive unless you have some incredible insurance, but it actually builds new bone. I only have a few months left of the daily injections, fortunately.
I feel like there are no good solutions to the bone density problems.
Sounds like you are doing great otherwise, though! Good report!
Right - no great solutions. Also no good solution to not do anything! I’m pretty trusting of this doc so far and she has talked to me twice about it and swears she has many, many patients on this dose and no one is having trouble.
I’ve never had to take medication for anything besides cramps. 
It’s tough for me to accept this process, but clearly after 2 bad dexascans, I must. She encouraged me to contact her with any questions/concerns at any point and suggested we reevaluate in a year depending on a repeat dexa.
With the range of medications for osteopenia and osteoporosis, hope you can find something that works for you. I know someone that moved from osteoporosis back to osteopenia, and sis has osteopenia and it has improved - she walks a lot and also was on medication. Good luck @abasket with the medication under your doctor’s guidance.
Glad MoWC said something. I am determined to avoid the bisphosphonates if at all possible. I’m not a doctor, but I’ve done enough research to think that too many doctors prescribe these too automatically.
I’m quoting from this website https://nwhn.org/osteoporosis.
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.
and
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. NWHN believes that it is also very important for women to carefully consider whether or not to start these drugs in the first place. We have asked the FDA to re-consider the use of these drugs for prevention, based on our concern that many women are experiencing complications from these drugs with little to no chance of benefit.
What fireandrain and MOfWC said. These drugs are not sugar pills for sure. Osteoporosis is a tough disease for researchers. There is no specific molecular target which can be hit with a magic bullet small molecule drug - bone resorption is a normal process and is a complex one.
Walked 1.5 miles up the (Pill) hill.
SOS- the problem is that there really are no good treatment options. My doctor at Vanderbilt is really plugged into the medication development and feels there are better options in the pipeline, but they aren’t here yet. I am generally a pretty easy patient, but I had to fire my first endocrinologist because she really didn’t know all that much about the meds. She was more diabetes focused.
abasket, I agree with MoWC & fireandrain. I have also decided to decline the bisphosphonates, but whatever you decide, good luck! It’s hard with osteoporosis, because whatever you decide to do, it takes a year or two before you know if it’s helping.
Did a little better with sleep last night. Had a nice omelet for dinner and then a good 4 mile walk. Slept in until 3:30!!!
Got a 6.75 mile run in here in Shanghai. It was in a light rain/mist and it felt good. Hopefully I will be able to sleep tonight.
abasket-I’m glad to hear that all your blood count numbers were good and the polyp was benign. I don’t envy you dealing with the osteoporosis, I hope that whatever treatment plan you choose works for you with minimal side effects. You are doing all the right things with eating and exercise!
My wife received infusions of Reclast once a year for 4 years (2 years, gap year, 2 years). It’s a biphosphonate but the infusions avoided all of the gastrointestinal issues and once a year made it very manageable and we were told would reduce some of the other risks. It’s been a few years since she last took it and she’s going to get a Dexascan soon.
Thanks for all the comments and concerns. Ugh. Making me doubt things! But here is what I know.
- I already am doing weight bearing exercise pretty much daily. My diet is good, I've lost weight, I have never drank much caffeine - hardly any at all - yet I'm still at -3.1 in my readings. So I'm not talking borderline.
- I work at a medical school so I am - to a point - trusting the opinions here as being up to date. I am going to talk to one more doc about treatment options.
- The recommendation was to be on the drug for no more than 3-5 years - in fact, to re-evaluate after one year.
If anyone can save me some time (because you have it readily available) and point me to some of the research AGAINST biphosphonate drugs, I’d appreciate it. I need to be armed with more than , “but my CC friends say don’t take it!!” when I speak to the docs.
She did mention briefly the once a year infusions if we don’t see improvement in a year - but mentioned that insurance doesn’t always cover this method - I’ll have to check that out as well.
THANK YOU. <3
abasket, glad your news was mostly good. Hoping you’re able to find treatment that you’re comfortable with.
Pilates session this morning - was sore after Sunday’s class! TRX never seems that hard when you’re doing it, but a few days later…
abasket, there is so much information to plow through, and so many differences of opinion out there. I would just say to take your time and don’t rush into a decision. Osteoporosis isn’t an emergency. Bone loss is a slow process, and so is the reversal. You have time to consider your choices.
inspire.com https://www.inspire.com/groups/national-osteoporosis-foundation/ This is probably the best concentration of information. As with any public forum, you get the “outliers” who swear they have every side effect after just one dose of something, so you have to use your judgment. However, there are some really knowledgeable posters, including some MDs. I got a lot of information about my Forteo there.
I think you are probably OK with a 1-2 year regimen, and maybe something better will come up. However, if you DO break anything, it will hinder healing. That is the odd part of all this.
I see two people actually completed the ANW course! I watched a bit of it and I would have been out at the first obstacle. I know you’re all shocked by that news!
Bunsen, have you ever run the Seawheeze? I see registration starts tomorrow. It coincides nicely with my anniversary and I know H wants to take a trip…
Seawheeze is a dream race of mine. You get access to some special Lulu stuff, too. I think it’s hard to get into the race, though.
3.1 miles this morning- still cool and dry. I’m heading to Boston on Thursday, and the weather looks good for now up there, too.