Results of DEXA scan :(
Posted , 9 users are following.
well, not so good. turns out I do have osteoporosis and rheumatologist has recommended Fosamax (alendronate sodium) 70mg once a week. Now I've heard "lovely" things about this drug and would love to hear what you all have to say. Please share. I'm esp concerned since I already have real problems with reflux and my esophagus (neuropathy). I'm still on my liquid diet and trying to eat solid foods. This, 6 months into prednisone. adding this sounds like a rip roaringly bad idea, but hey, what do I know?
love to hear what you all think.
2 likes, 19 replies
christine_fay LisaCACO
Posted
i wonder if it were not for us being on Prednisolone, how many would have gone on with osteoporosis that had not been noticed by Dexa scans?
mine showed mild osteopenia... But the specialist stated that this was quite normal and to be expected at 71 and in an area of an old injury. When I had to have a tooth extracted a couple of months back it had to be cut from my jawbone. Dentist panicked ... She said she had never come across bone so hard!
thank goodness you don't take that allendronic acid stuff she stated !
i was told I needed no treatment after the Dexa but my doctor insists I take this once a week. I took it twice and felt so ill I can't even go near the stuff... It makes me vomit immediately and I will not subject myself to such a drug when it has taken so long to calm down my stomach problems with as much ingenious. thought as I can muster. Being threatened by a GP who just hands out drugs willy nily just to cover 'possibilities' is ridiculous. I think this obsession of osteoporosis by my GP is totally overriding his judgement and understanding of everything I am suffering with PMR in fact it's almost as if he does not recognise that as a condition at all. However when a dentist who has just sawn a tooth root out says you have the hardest bone of anyone... Of any age they have ever come across that is proof enough for me..... Guess what doctor said....... Keep taking the acid! What a waste of money.....
LisaCACO christine_fay
Posted
btw, I also have factor V leiden, which puts me at higher risk for osteonecrosis. Also means I can't take Evista because it triggers clots.
I just spent the weekend with severe reflux . still fighting it.
This really is the last thing I wanted to hear right now, which is, of course, why my doc sent the cheery email . Going thru a rough taper ing.
Dave-California LisaCACO
Posted
I have been dianosed with PMR for over 16 months and started at 20 mg prednisone - now tapered to 4 mg. My rheumatologist strongly recommended (actually required) that I also immediatley commence taking Fosamax (alendronate sodium) 70mg once a week with the prednisone. And I have been taking it with absolutely no reactions either at the once a week time I take the single pill or the long term reaction over 16 months. My rheumatologist indicated that long term corticosteroid use typically increaes the osteoporosis risk and even if it is not at the critical, measurable level, bone loss is likely and Fosamax definately slows bone loss. Apparently many of the bone loss tests that are used do not show the slight reductions of bone loss and if the tests are not followed up regularly (which most doctors do not after a primary positve result), the very low bone loss can start to increase overall potential with age and become unknowingly serious. So I figured - why take a chance - take the Fosamax because I have no idea how long I'll be on corticosteroids and I don't want my 'skeleton' breaking apart.
Anyway - that's my info after quite a long Fosamax ingestion period.
Best,
David
LisaCACO Dave-California
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Guess this means I can't rollerskate any more .
allie42357 LisaCACO
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Dinah54 LisaCACO
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lodgerUK_NE LisaCACO
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Also, if you type Osteoporosis in the box head Search thousands of discussison on this page it will take you, on this site, to all the discussions on Osteporosis and the medications.
Susanne_M_UK LisaCACO
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LisaCACO
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Juno-Irl-Dub LisaCACO
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EileenH LisaCACO
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There are a series of drugs which help avoid osteoporosis - although most of them only stop the bone being broken down as fast while allowing it to be rebuilt (bone is a living substance and is constantly being resorbed and remade) but generally just stop it getting worse, they don't always increase bone density.
Forteo however is different. It is an artificial version of a hormone your body makes all the time - parathyroid hormone - and it will actively build bone so reversing the osteoporosis. One of its side effects is stated to be heartburn - so do discuss it in detail with your doctors. Another option is denosumab or Prolia - it doesn't mention heartburn as a side effect (but there are others like muscle pain...). With all of them you MUST have your vit D and calcium levels monitored and kept in the acceptable range.
Don't panic - even being osteoporitic in places doesn't mean that you will crumble in a heap!
gentian LisaCACO
Posted
Alendronate proved impossible for me. I did v occasionallyy get reflux like a burning in the top end of the gullet. Used to munch Rennies and if that didnt work a mouthful of milk, especially creamy milk, would work.m
On alendronate youre warned to stay vertical for half an hour after swallowing the tablet - DONT lie down or bend down to pick something up, and wash the tablet down with a full glass of water - so no crumbs linger in your throat or return back there I suppose?
Not enough for me to obey that. After only 2 days I had repeated goes of reflux/ indigestion almost impossible to shift with what had worked before. I had to leave a public event I'd looked forward to, in order to hunt down a glass of milk.
I gave up the alendronate and was prescribed something else.
thats just my experience, and maybe you will find differently. Good luck
LisaCACO gentian
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gentian LisaCACO
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Box says theAdcal-D3 tabs. are Calcium carbonate with added vitamin D3 and the leaflet goes on to say they are not suitable for everyone - as you would expect .
Others here have advised alendronate may be wrong for you. Im sure you can get something better for you. Best wishes
EileenH gentian
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Juno-Irl-Dub EileenH
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EileenH Juno-Irl-Dub
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The calcium tablets are a lot of calcium in one place so in what I would regard as normal dietary amounts it is probably OK and many ladies have used a yoghurt to avoid stomach problems when taking pred.
Juno-Irl-Dub EileenH
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EileenH Juno-Irl-Dub
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