I don’t post often but I am on this site regularly.
Sad that more is not being offered to us ....but rather the push from doctors to take drugs is a constant .
I was on Fosomax for one month and stopped due to esophagus pain , burping .. and acid reflux. After much research I decided never again. . Only one Dexa scan was given osteopenia in hips and 2.3 in spine.
I now have read that we need more then one scan and other tests before even considering drugs. I have chosen exercise and healthy eating . If I break a bone the body is capable of healing . I am a horse back rider and skier 69 years old . No amount of drugs will help if I fall off.
On osteoporosis drugs it takes 3 times as long to heal after a break . I recently watched a fabulous you tube video ..Osteoporosis medications Pro,s and Cons episode 186 Dr. Keith Macormick. I couldn’t stop watching it highly informative . I highly recommend it. As women we have to be well informed before making the decision to take something that could diminish the quality of our lives .
it is a fine line .. which can only be made easier being knowledgeable rather then always relying on the doctors. We know our body best .!
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Didofernando
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Oh my goodness, what a wonderful doctor, thank you for that. It throws up so many important points. I wonder how many people here in the U.K. ever have a baseline test or are ever tested to see how much bone they are losing?
As far as I can see you fracture, you have a DEXA, you are given alendronic acid and told your next DEXA will be in five years and that is it!
It is also interesting that he doesn’t think an oral bisphosphonate is strong enough to prevent a rebound effect when someone stops taking Prolia after several years.
It’s amazing how little doctors know! I too found the video so interesting .. especially the follow up drug after Prolia .. that is not affective . I’m just so glad I didn’t continue with Fosomax . So many unknowns to navigate .. Thxs for the reply !
This is why I paid privately for a DEXA and then a REMS age 44 to get a baseline for future measurements after menopause. I would encourage all those who can afford it to do this. Then you know where you started from and can monitor what happens over the years with the various options you may try to slow down the bone loss. Dr. McCormick has been one of the doctors that helped me understand my osteopenia diagnosis through watching his videos. Important to take a balanced view on lifestyle measures and medication. Lifestyle measures are a must for everyone and can be implemented for good health in general as well as bone health. Medication has a place when necessary.
At the end of the day .. I feel we end up being more open minded and educated about the latest findings then our doctors are ..who are too busy to read up on the latest findings.
My GP is retiring in May ., I said to her that perhaps when she retires she will have more time to research this important medical issue in women’s lives re. Pros and cons of medication . She pushes meds.
My OBGYN diagnosed me and started me on Boniva. I have an appointment with an endocrinologist in March and this video gave me many things to ask about!!! I hope she is as knowledgeable as this doctor.
Knowledge is power ! Make notes .. we forget to ask things when we are in front of our doctors. Sometimes the younger doctors are more open minded and current then the older ones. Wish you all the best !
I'd be very wary of this guy. He has a brand of supplements and many of their ingredients are totally unproven as having clinical benefit...rings all sorts of alarm bells
Sure, he's not a medical dr either, he's a doctorate in chiro. And it's good to be questioning both of regular and alternative medicine. They both do it for money.
But having read his biog he doesn't seem an outright quack. He got OP himself young, didn't want drugs - who. does - took a drug in the end which helped and then dug into every which way he could fight OP without drugs. He's probably a useful counterbalance to the medical establishment, and we can listen to both sides without accepting either as necessary gospel.
I've only just seen this, thanks for posting. I listened to an interesting podcast by Professor Cyrus Cooper and Professor Tim Spectre about calcium tablets. It really made me wonder about taking so many.
Yes it's interesting but be very very careful as he is a multi millionaire through selling untested drugs or alternative medicines.See a consultant who knows all about Osteoporosis as they have all the latest info etc. You cant go wrong then and will receive the best and most up to date advice. Never forget our wonderful Osteoporosis Society Nurses who do have all the latest.
I don't think there's any substitute for doing your own research in Pubmed and in forums like this. Not even specialists and nurses are better than that, though they add in.
We know our own cases best and science is flawed by definition - by money interests, by the lack of funding for research on non pharma interventions for example.
Hi. I am very interested. Could you please post the link to the YouTube video? I copied and pasted his name, etc., but got something that was 11 years old…….
Could you please provide a link to the proof that 'On osteoporosis drugs it takes 3 times as long to heal after a break'. I am interested to read this peer-reviewed study.Thanks
It was some time ago that I read that article .. when I was deciding what to do . So I’m not much help to pass. the origin on. Will see if I can find it for you though .
Generally speaking it appears that bone meds don't slow healing, but there do seem to be some unanswered questions, Don't have access to the article but here's an abstract:
I have never been able to confirm that. Tbh I have so many supplements which can't be taken together but have to be taken with food I don't have enough meals to accommodate them all, and just pay attention to the minerals, especially calcium which can interfere with the absorption of medications and other minerals, like iron. Because I run high Vitamin D level I only take one capsule every second day which would probably not be enough for most people.
Did your source say which vitamin is the tricky one, or do they supposedly each argue with the other?🤼♀️
I did a quick google late last night, so didn't read the items, but one article says take them separately to improve absorption, and another says take them together to improve absorption. So I'm just going to do what works for me!
Have now read your second link Heron, from Osteoporosis Canada. It's vg, much better than the ROS page on this. They should consider adapting. Obvs I'm grateful to the ROS, and some of their written material is excellent but they do seem often.to aim their info at an 8 year old viewing level only.
It’s wonderful to see such thoughtful discussions about bone health happening in our community. We just wanted to let anyone reading this thread know that, as moderators, we’re unable to review or verify all of the information shared in the video due to its length.
While the video will currently remain available in the thread, we’d like to gently remind everyone to be mindful of the sources of information, especially when it’s linked to the sale of supplements - as highlighted in the comments. Please also remember that any information shared in this community isn’t medical advice and shouldn’t replace guidance from your healthcare provider.
If you’d like more information about osteoporosis medicines, including helpful videos, please visit our website: theros.org.uk/
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Didofernando , the video you`ve mention is really good. I had a question and maybe you here, that have taken Risendronate or othr from the same family, can answer me: Doc Keith mentioned how biphosphonates works in our body, and my question is, once we stop taken it, my body will return to the natural condition? I mean, BTM increases during treatment , once we stop treatment, BMD decreases badly?
Hi .. from what I’ve read is that fosomax stays in your bones for a long period of time after treatment stops. But so hard to know for sure unless one independently follows closely their own skeletal make up.
What’s frustrating is that it is hard to find concrete answers.. from a reliable source. Perhaps what is good for one person does not work for others. Speaking for just myself .. I’m tired of worrying ! Life is short and unfortunately the push for meds is a huge industry. I’ll take my calculated decision by Just doing the best I can naturally and like everything we do .. Hope for the best.
My mum use to say “ its not what you fear in life that gets you in the end “ lol I’ll go with that .!
Thanks to take your time to answer me. It´s being very difficult for me to decide if I keep taking my risedronate or only stay with my healty food, exercises etc... But the best was what you mentioned about your mother: "“its not what you fear in life that gets you in the end “ I belive in this.
It’s this sort of post that makes this forum so fantastic thanks so much for sharing. I watched the video and it made so much sense. A very reasoned case for the various types of treatment. I was surprised to hear that Bisphosphonates should be taken for about 3 years to get going in the right direction. I was left on Ibandronic acid for 7 years so not good. I am now on a 3 year break with the intention of starting again but really dont want to due to side effects. The part in the video about TBS is of great interest as bone quality is obviously very important rather than just building lots of bone on old bone with the potential for Atypical hip fractures and Osteonecrosis of the jaw which really scares me.
It comes from a culture which prioritises medication rather than lifestyle changes. I've always counted myself lucky that at age 48 I started working in a library, a job which required a lot of lifting, carrying, stretching, pushing, pulling! Even so, it wasn't for almost 20 more years that I really learned anything about caring for my skeleton.
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