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Osteoporosis and HRT

Posted , 7 users are following.

jan64074
jan64074

Has anyone taken HRT instead of bisphosphonates for osteoporosis ? im looking at all options as only recently had osteopathic spine fractures . Awaiting results of DEXA scan . Thanks and if on HRT for osteoporosis - any side effects ?

Thanks

0 likes, 14 replies

14 Replies

  • elizabeth85938
    elizabeth85938 jan64074

    Posted

    Hi Jan

    I took HRT for years when I knew I had Osteopenia. At that time it was believed that HRT protected the bones. I think that may have been overturned now. I did well on it, had energy and was happy until I was abruptly taken off it at the age of 60. After that it was all downhill. Ostepenia turned into Osteoporosis, lower vertabrae fractured and crumbled, and 8 years on I am in constant pain. I could not tolerate fosomax or anything similar, Calcium and Vit.D gave me dreadful diarrhea and so I now have yearly Relondrate Infusions to help rebuild the bones. These infusions come with side effects but other than feeling I had a bout of Flu, I tolerated it quite well.

    There are others on this site who know a great deal about diet and weight bearing exercise to help yourself and perhaps Kathleen (the knowledge sharer) will pop up and give you some really good advice. I hope so.

    You could put Kathleen into the search box and read some of her older posts. She really is very helpful. Best wishes, Liz

    • jan64074
      jan64074 elizabeth85938

      Posted

      thanks for replying Elizabeth its a shame you were taken off HRT I think youre right they seem to push bisphosphonates these days . Im sorry to hear youre in constant pain - I hope youve got some good painkillers . Take care of yourself and thanks for the tip about Kathleen

    • kathleen65757
      kathleen65757 elizabeth85938

      Posted

      Thanks Elizabeth, that is very kind of you to say that, assuming that I am the Kathleen that you mentioned.

      I am so sorry that you are still in constant pain.

      Is there any help you are able to get to help you live well? How do you manage day to day?

      All the best, Kathleen.

  • Anhaga
    Anhaga jan64074

    Posted

    Have never taken HRT not any OP meds. For an account of what I've done you could google healthunlocked my osteoporosis journey.

    • jan64074
      jan64074 Anhaga

      Posted

      thank you Anhaga weve chatted before on here about OS - its a great article on health unlocked .. I was checking if anyone had tried HRT for osteoperosis - its been mentioned to me as an alternative to bisphosphonates

  • Guest
    Guest jan64074

    Posted

    Hi Jan,

    Are you just now being diagnosed because of your fracture? Take a deep breath.... First off, focus on healing your fractures. I know how painful a spine compression fracture is, so I hope you're feeling okay. Take this time to get yourself informed!!! Arming yourself with information will help you make decisions you are comfortable with. There is no urgent need to jump into medications. If not already done, get a full endocrine work up to rule out a medical cause for your bone loss.

    Personally, I chose the natural route despite significant osteoporosis in my spine only. I refuse to take any OP medication ever! I did begin HRT early on though. I was on oral estrogen and progesterone until I had to get a new GYN. My new doctor immediately put me on bio identical topical HRT. I have no side effects at all. In fact, when starting it I noticed I was sleeping much better! Weigh your options with your GYN.... It may not be a good choice with a family history of breast cancer.

    My personal regime is healthy organic nutrition, and weight bearing exercise. I get my calcium in my diet not a supp. I do supp with magnesium, omega 3's, vit D3, vitK2, marine collagen peptides, and I drink mineral rich herbal infusions of nettles, oatstraw, horsetail, and other nutritive herbs daily.

    To medicate, or to not medicate is your choice, not your doctor's! Weigh your options, and see which you are most comfortable with.

    Best Wishes,

    Sharon

    • jan64074
      jan64074 Guest

      Posted

      HI Sharon thanks for replying and yes I'm concentrating on getting fractures healed, thats my number one priority !

      It was a shock to find out by xray I have 4 spine fractures - I'd had lower back pain in May and June which came and went. Then pain came back in July and stayed. I had a horrific back spasm in August and thats when I think I fractured . Last week I had a Dexa scan so awaiting results. I'm sure my bones are thin due to autoimmune disease (Graves) .

      I definitely prefer the natural route and am taking D3, Calcium, K2, selenium for eyes and L'Carnitine to control graves symptoms . Also taking Cbd oil which has got my graves antibodies down and just found out good for bones too.

      Bio identical l topical HRT sounds good could you message me brand name thanks as I'll check with my doctor.

      I may swap my coffee for herbal teas and I exercise by walking on the beach most days with my dogs . I'm a Nordic walker so my walking poles have been a great help.

      I'm really happy to hear success stories of people using natural supplements rather than pharmaceuticals.

      Thank you for all your tips x

  • QuiltyDiva
    QuiltyDiva jan64074

    Posted

    Yes. It has worked amazingly well for me. My bone density has improved to the point that it equals my bone density value from 20 years ago.I no longer have osteoporosis and only have mild osteopenia.

    • jan64074
      jan64074 QuiltyDiva

      Posted

      thats amazing results - thanks for your reply . It's great to hear HRT works for some people. Thats what i'd rather go for rather than bisphosphonates

    • QuiltyDiva
      QuiltyDiva jan64074

      Posted

      Bisphosphonates are poison!!!! Besides making a person feel terrible, they cause the production of the wrong kind of bone. Plus a huge risk is the possibility of osteonecrosis of the jaw. When you stop taking the bisphosphonates, your bone loss is rapid and dramatic, often resulting in fractures or worse within a short period of time.

      Really research these meds as they are just terrible.

      https://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/side_effects/osteonecrosis

    • Anhaga
      Anhaga QuiltyDiva

      Posted

      It's Prolia or denosumab which causes the rebound osteoporosis. Bisphosphonates cause problems because the normal removal of old bone is suppressed and new bone is therefore laid over aging and increasingly brittle bone. Therefore if taking a bisphosphonate, like alendronic acid, one should not take it for more than two or at most three years to avoid this side effect.

  • kathleen65757
    kathleen65757 jan64074

    Posted

    I would like to have been able to do hormone replacement but with two sisters and a niece with breast cancer it was not to be, unfortunately.

    Sorry about your fractures. That would be so painful!

    I keep learning more and more as I read and listen to others' experiences.

    I have refused biphosphonates to date and Prolia as I cannot bring myself to accept the risks associated with these drugs.

    The HRT is a good option at least for a while because after menopause this is one of the major causes of osteoporosis.

    Vitamin D3 is another one and that can be checked in your blood work and topped up if needed. Magnesium is another one, when found to be lacking, is the cause of some people diagnosed with osteoporosis.

    Apparently, finding the cause of your osteoporosis is vital.

    There are some things you can do while waiting for results that won't cause any harm.

    Vitamin K2 aims the calcium onto the bones and out of the arteries. Yoghurt is a good food to include in your diet every day.

    Have a really good diet of vegetables and some fruit like avocados, leafy greens, prunes, salads, fish, bony broth, nuts, etc.

    In other words, maximise the nutrients.

    Because you have broken bones you are not in the same category as someone who has not even if their tscores are worse than yours. This includes people who have broken a bone because the fall or accident was severe.

    Although my tscores are bad I have not broken bones so your situation is possibly worse than mine.

    All the best in your journey and read and research as that will give you the confidence to make the right decision for you.

    • jan64074
      jan64074 kathleen65757

      Posted

      thank you Kathleen for your helpful info - my fractures have been caused by thinning bones because of Graves disease. They have been megga painful but I think I'm on the mend now, thankfully. But i now have a curved spine (kyphosis) so need to try and sort that out.

      I'm doing a lot of what youve suggested except the magnesium, so will add that in.

      I'm chatting to doctor tommorow so am going to ask about HRT but I may be too old !

      I'm reading as much as I can - eating healthy and exercising by walking.

      I hope your OP journey going as well to be expected - its certainly a big learning curve . thanks once again

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