Osteoporosis/Osteopenia......

[Lauralee]

Hi folks,

Our hospital recently installed a bone density scanner and it is all digital/computer operated. In order to give the techs some practice, they took in volunteers from the hospital staff and did bone density testing for free.

Well I flunked. I have significant osteopenia.

I have all the risk factors, including history of unexplained stress fracture, family history of significant osteoporosis and height loss, and I'm a small-boned white female.

If I continue on my present path, I'll have spontaneous compression fractures in my spine by age 60 and I'll definitely suffer a hip fracture by age 70.

So I discussed the results with my nurse practitioner (she is awesome) and she prescribed BONIVA and Calcium Citrate plus Vitamin D.

The Boniva is taken once a month.....one of the side effects is terrible acid reflux into the esophagus. The directions for taking it are very specific. Can't have anything to eat or drink within an hour before and after taking the pill. The cash price for ONE BONIVA PILL was $88 at my pharmacy. Thank goodness my insurance only required aa $30 copay for this single pill. I took my first Boniva this morning. It's supposed to help add calcium back to my bones.

Other options similar to Boniva are Fosamax or Miacalcin.....these are taken weekly in the same fashion. Because I have alot of stomach problems, I opted for the upset stomach only once a month.

Now....I would like to know if any of you have had positive results with these medications? I mean, have you taken the medication for a year, and actually had a BETTER bone density result after that time?

I am also now taking (in addition to the lovely assortment of OTHER pills I already take daily) two huge calcium tablets in the morning and at night. The nurse practitioner was very adamant that it had to be Calcium CITRATE plus Vitamin D. She said that Calcium CARBONATE was no good.

As a bonus, I got to add another medication for my ongoing stomach problems!!! Hooray for me!!!!

Today's list of things to do includes buying a larger pill box, one with AM and PM slots so that I can remember to take all of this medication on time.

Please share with me your experiences with any of these medications, or osteoporosis in general.

I'm drinking a tall glass of milk each day also, and taking double adult vitamins when I can remember to do it with meals.

 

[mountain_waif]

This is one of my fears, so I am interested in watching this thread.

I had a hysterectomy a few years ago so that puts me in this risk category. I did have a bone density test a couple years ago and it was fine...but it lurks in my mind cause I don't drink milk...or get much calcium in my diet in other foods... or remember to take those calcium or vitamin pills. I know that I need to slow down and take care of myself...but, I don't see that happening soon.

 

[Scoopiedoo]

I have recently had the opportunity to learn a fair amount about these meds in an Anatomy and Physiology class that I have to have for nursing. I AM NOT A DOCTOR, but this is what I have learned... What these drugs do is inhibit osteoclastic(bone eating cells) activity, which in turn will eventually improve bone density. The research that's been done does show improvement, but usually it takes approx. 2 years for it to show, and then it is around a 2% improvement. BUT....when you stop to figure the potential damage that can be done over those two years without the osteoclast inhibitor, I think it is far more beneficial than what the research "shows" it to be. I hope it works well for you. Good Luck!!!

Jodi

 

[wildoak]

I had a bone density scan done several years ago and was also osteopenic. Not terrible but enough that they put me on Actonel (similar to Fosomax) My biggest problem is remembering to take it once a week - in the morning, before coffee or breakfast. I was fairly responsible about it until the last 6 months though, and I just gave up for awhile what with the move and all that's been going on. Did have another scan done recently - but it was in a different office, and they didn't have the original to compare to. I don't think it was worse this time, don't know that it was any better either. They also put me on calcium this time. I fit a lot of the profile too, but I keep telling them that my grandmother was also small boned and lived to almost 107 without any major broken bones and my mother is still in great shape too!

Jan

 

[Minimor]

Calcium citrate is supposed to be the best calcium supplement there is; the vitamin D of course helps the body utilize the calcium.

The funny thing is, just recently my mom asked her doctor if the more expensive types of calcium (specifically the calcium citrate) is better to take than the cheaper variety (carbonate) she takes. He said no, not really. He said "they" will tell you it is better, but in reality it isn't. I honestly have no idea if he is basing that on some scientific evidence, or if it's just his personal opinion.

Did the doctor tell you anything about specific exercises to help build bone density? That's an important part of the therapy for the people I know that have osteoporosis.

 

[Scoopiedoo]

Minimor is right, weightbearing (ie: walking, running, etc...)exercise is actually very good for osteoporosis/ osteopenia.

 

[bjcs]

I had hurt my back 4 years ago and went to my doctor-she said I had hurt muscles and treated me for the hurt muscles. After several months of no relief from the pain I then went to another doctor and she sent me for exrays. They showed that I had severe osteoporosis with 5 compression fractures of the spine. She then sent me for a bone density test which didn't show it to be as bad as the ex-rays showed.

I was put on once a week fosamax. After being on that for awhile I had to start taking nexium for the acid reflux that I got because of the fosamax.

I had lost height with the fractures. The dr said I was getting better because of the fact That I am now walking not as bent over.lol I went off the fosamax a year ago but dr wants me back on it and remembering the pain I was in for months and don't want to go though that again ever I am going back on the fosamax. The fosamax also helps your body to absorb the calcium, walking helps build muscle to protect your bones.

 

[Lauralee]

National Osteoporosis Foundation

I found a ton of good information on osteoporosis yesterday at the link above.

Let's keep this discussion going....it's helping me to come to grips with my diagnosis.

Those of you diagnosed with osteopenia or osteoporosis.....what are your ages if I might ask?

I am 37.

 

[SunQuest]

My family has a very long history of severe osteoperosis. Currently my mom has been taking fosamax once a day. She started on it many years ago when it was the only drug available and it was still somewhat experimental. (That was about 20 years ago I think) It has worked wonders for her. In fact, her bone density has increased on this drug. We were just hoping to just stop the decrease in bone density, but are most happy that it has reversed it all together! Not saying that there are not some issues with the bones still, but overall she is not facing the same fates that her father, her mother, and her grandmother had. (The maternal side has problems so severe that just me hugging my grandmother could have broke a rib if I squeezed to tightly, and it was the same with my great grandmother.)

Anyway, I would definately get on one of the proven drugs for this. Like our family always said, it is better to have a life where you can do things than to be forced to sit in a chair and have your spine fracture just from your own weight (like my grandmother had happen) while sitting in that chair.

Oh..., even with fosamax, my mom can't eat for "x" amount of time before or after taking the meds. She takes the daily version, and has found that if she takes it as soon as she gets up (first thing) and then gets dressed and goes out to feed and then comes back in and changes into her work clothes and then starts making breakfast that the necessary time has elapsed and she didn't just have to sit an wait. Makes it easier.

Good luck on what you decide to do, and be very thankful that you know what is happening before you get to the actual osteoperosis stage when things are really bad.

Added: Mom was very middle aged when they discovered it (I don't want to give her real age away as it is not my place to do so). This was the reason we changed from owning Arabs to owning minis as we didn't want a 1100 pound horse knocking her over and causing a broken bone. It was discovered because she broke her hand doing something that should NOT have caused her hand to break. I give thanks every day that she is able to do things with less of a chance of her bones breaking than what she had before she started the meds.