Osteoporosis (fractures, recalled, blood, dentists)

[Jammie]

I have osteoporosis and recently had another dexa scan. My numbers have gotten worse and I'd like to know what others have taken for meds. At one time, they had put me on Fosomax and I got violently ill each Sat. that I took it. The last time we sat up all night Sat. night because I was so sick. We nearly called poison control. I'm not extremely concerned about my hip since it's at a -1.8, but my spine is now a -2.8.

I had taken myacalin for a while and now wish I'd have given that a longer try. At the time there were several articles out claiming that it did absolutely nothing for anyone. Do any of you have osteoporosis and if so, how do you treat it?

[inthewoods]

My husband (yes, you don't hear too much about men with osteoporosis) just had his bone density scan today. His numbers are worse than yours (Jammie) due to being on seizure meds since childhood (over 40 years ago) and a short time on high dosage of prednisone. He takes Fosamax (70 mg) once a week, and the Miacalcin spray each day. Also takes 1800 mg calcium (with vitamin D) daily. He has lost two inches in height since having compression fractures of 3 T-vertebrae a few years ago. But thankfully, this bone density scan shows a slight improvement in his numbers. He's been on these medicines for about 5 years now. I do think that when he first tried Fosamax years ago, it did make him queasy, but tried it again some time later with better results. It might be worth talking to your doctor about giving Fosamax another try, or perhaps the ones that you only take once a month?

[Jammie]

Thank you for your reply. I guess you made me feel a bit better just to know that someone else's numbers are high, too. What was his number when he first started on the meds and how much has it improved?

You're right~it isn't that common for men to have it, but I understand that some do.

[nicolepsy]

i would stay away from the meds. they tend to be very dangerous. the studies on these meds are flawed also.

[rockky]

Originally Posted by Jammie

I have osteoporosis and recently had another dexa scan. My numbers have gotten worse and I'd like to know what others have taken for meds. At one time, they had put me on Fosomax and I got violently ill each Sat. that I took it. The last time we sat up all night Sat. night because I was so sick. We nearly called poison control. I'm not extremely concerned about my hip since it's at a -1.8, but my spine is now a -2.8.

I had taken myacalin for a while and now wish I'd have given that a longer try. At the time there were several articles out claiming that it did absolutely nothing for anyone. Do any of you have osteoporosis and if so, how do you treat it?

Jammie, I agree with nicolepsy. I tried both Fosomax and Boniva. I had a reaction to both.

I haven't been able to get my numbers from the scan I had a couple of years ago. I just got a call from my primary physician at the time (actually from a nurse at the office) with instructions to get on Fosomax right away. Later the doctor said to just stop taking it and get more exercise. Also, I've been told to take the Calcium + D.

[Miss Blue]

I alsohave osteo..They say my bones are like an 85 year oldI am the same height I have always been, have good posture and have not broken any bones..I recently fell off a ladder.. Then fell ,and rolled all the way down a hill that I was weedeating..I take actonel once a week, because Boniva gave me severe heartburn..I an supposed to be taking 1000mg calcium+, but I keep forgetting to take anything..I just hate to start loading my body down with prescriptions and supplements..

[Mattie Jo]

http://www.fosamax-injury.com/html/side-effects.html

I have 40 percent bone loss. I was asked to take fosamax and refused. My bones are not continuing to deteriate. I have lost only 1 inch in height. I talked to a nutritionist about it, and she said that dentists are refusing to treat people that have taken fosamax. Read above article.

I won't be going for any more bone scans, but what I do is weight lift, use a stepper, take walks, get plenty of calcium with bone builder, get vitamin D and Vitamin K to go alone with the vitamiin D. I have fallen but didn't break anything. I am just more careful now.

If you take Vitamin D you also need to take Vitamin K1 and K2 with it, D alone will weaken the blood vessels, with Ks they strengthen.

[eddiek]

Originally Posted by nicolepsy

i would stay away from the meds. they tend to be very dangerous. the studies on these meds are flawed also.

That is a rather general statement. There are a lot of drugs which help a lot of conditions, including osteoporosis; and not all studies are flawed.

[eddiek]

Originally Posted by Jammie

I have osteoporosis and recently had another dexa scan. My numbers have gotten worse and I'd like to know what others have taken for meds. At one time, they had put me on Fosomax and I got violently ill each Sat. that I took it. The last time we sat up all night Sat. night because I was so sick. We nearly called poison control. I'm not extremely concerned about my hip since it's at a -1.8, but my spine is now a -2.8.

I had taken myacalin for a while and now wish I'd have given that a longer try. At the time there were several articles out claiming that it did absolutely nothing for anyone. Do any of you have osteoporosis and if so, how do you treat it?

So what have you done since the Fosomax? You stated that you are extremely concerned, but said nothing about re-visiting the physician's office. There are alternatives to Fosomax, but you need to be re-evaluated, by a physician.

[Jammie]

Originally Posted by eddiek

So what have you done since the Fosomax? You stated that you are extremely concerned, but said nothing about re-visiting the physician's office. There are alternatives to Fosomax, but you need to be re-evaluated, by a physician.

Thank you to everyone who shared what they're doing with theirs.

Well, it was 2004 when I had my first Dexa and learned that I had a problem. I had taken the Fosomax for about two months, getting sicker each weekend. Then after my night of nearly dying from those awful things, I called my Dr. and she put me on Myacalcin. Shortly after that I started hearing about all the awful things with the jaw deterioration you can get from Fosomax and any other drug in that category. At that point I thought my Dr. didn't like me cause in the past she had also had me on things that were recalled.

I continued with the Myacalcin for several months and began hearing from others how it was totally ineffective. So I started doing research on it and it was considered to be useless. So at that point, I just never got my prescription refilled again.All during this time and still today I take three candy type chews a day. Each one contains 500 mgs. of calcium along with D and K. The summer of 2005 I also had a very hard fall, yet I broke nothing. The thing that mainly concerns me is the numbers for my spine even though they tell me that my hip at a -1.8 is also osteoporosic. According to anything I've ever read, it isn't considered that until you are above -2.5. From 2.0 to 2.5 is considered osteopenic. So the only explanation they have for me is that anything over 1.0 is osteoporosic cause that's how their machine is calibrated. So I'm wondering why they don't adjust it to be like it is in the rest of the country.

But with the three scans I've had the numbers were from first to last were -2.6, -2.5, and now it's a -2.8. How do those numbers compare to the rest of you?

I'm also wondering why it would be getting worse considering that I'm taking more then enough calcium along with D and K.

Exercise was mentioned and I do a lot of that, but what specific things are good for the spine? Is weight-lifting really safe?