Very anxious about treatment

I have had one dose but will discuss my concerns on Wednesday at the Spine Clinic appt. on Wednesday.  in the meantime, I will certainly take magnesium and up my intake of foods containing Vit K2. And I will keep up my walking regime. I aim at 3 miles a day but often do much more. Thanks! 

Thanks for the advice! I sat very upright for nearly an hour yesterday after taking the first tablet and did drink  a large glass of water but maybe will increase that next time. You say frequent trips to the bathroom one morning a week, is that because of the AA! The same day or the next day? I understand magnesium can have that effect too. What are your difficulties with the magnesium? Sorry for all the questions but I am trying to preempt problems! I do have very achy legs and lower back today. 

It is no problem to ask people for their advice and experiences. That is what these forums are about. Because I drink so much water I spend the next 2 hours passing urine. I go with a walking group so need to get up early on med day so I am not in the middle of nowhere when I need to go. So, take the med, drink drink drink, iron the clothes, wee wee wee then, 3 hours later, ready to go for my walk.So, the trips to the bathroom are directly related to the water I drink. The magnesium gives me a bloated tummy. No idea why, but I now take it alternate days and ok 1 day, bloated the next. But remember, we are all different. Some people react to some food stuffs too. The medication I take is called Risedronate but works in a similar way to AA. I have had no problems with it and my t-scores have improved greatly.

Oh I understand now! Thanks again! 

Good to hear a positive experience on taking the meds, thanks for posting Alison 😀 Regards Osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ), this was one of the key things that terrified me about taking AA, but having done some research the majority of cases reported in suffering this disease as a result of taking these meds are patients who have been given it in much higher doses for breast cancer and consequential secondary cancers rather than patients prescribed it for osteoporosis.

In addition so many of the 'Stats' regarding wide ranging side effects of these drugs unfirtunately include those patients given a placebo so these patients data inaccurately inflate the 'side effects' data. 

 

However it is becoming apparent that the longer one takes the meds the greater the chances of serious side effects which is why it's now being recommended that people only take them for a couple of years to gain the most benefit with the fewest risks.  This is fairly recent, and of course one has to base everything on individual circumstances.  I always like to suggest that everyone do the natural thing even if they are also taking meds.  You can only benefit from supplying your body with the building blocks of bones and this can well lead to a much shorter and more successful course of drugs if these are deemed necessary.  If you google combination of micronutrients bone you will find research which showed that nutrients were effective in increasing bone density.

I agree Angaga it can only benefit to double bolt the meds by healthy eating,excercise and supplements. And I'm intending to take AA for no more than 3 years. 

May I please ask you - frequent trips to the toilet because of the water you drank or because of AA affecting you? I’m on my second month of taking AA for osteopenia and came on here to see if a side effect is burning when urinating which has happened this morning after taking it. Coincidental? 

Well, I guess it was to be expected!  Telling the consultant I am going to try and deal with this fracture problem by natural methods as well as medication (if I can tolerate it) resulted in a big laugh from him! He said it won’t do any harm but won’t build my bones! He says see how the AA goes as there are other meds if I can not tolerate it. 

At the end of the day, it is your choice and if you have a margin to improve your diet and exercise regime, you must decide. I was too far down the line when my diagnosis was discovered and my diet and exercise regime were very good. The meds turned it around for me and I am fine, but I don’t think I would have taken the meds if my t-scores had been in the osteopenia range. COuld you get a second opinion.?  I took time to decide and my professionals were very supportive and did not push me to take the meds. Best wishes 

It seems it is because of the fracture and another suspect area  that AA has been prescribed. But ultimately, it is up to me to decide whether I should continue to take it or not. As the consultant said, there are other options if I can not tolerate it. So I am going to play it by ear and keep reading up on it. Thanks! 

Hi there Alison 28608,  As far as I know, if a person has had a fracture, they are considered at high risk for another - regardless of T-score readings. Check out the FRAX risk assessment test.

That is almost certainly why the other Alison's doctor recommended a medication for her.   

J 

THis is true as I had a total of 3 fractures before being diagnoses but I was well into the OP bracket and it certainly merited the meds in my case. Like you, I have had very positive results from following the advice of the  staff who specialise in OP. I have had no side effects from the meds but never been one to worry I will get everything negative. I always like to stay positive. 

There are other similar meds that may benifit you if you do have a problem but, remember the power of suggestion. If you think you will have an adverse reaction, you probably will. I have seen many posts here with people convinced they are having “ side effects” when the timing has been wrong. Try to eat well, exercise, don't smoke etc and this can only do you good whether you take the meds or not. Good luck

Very sound advice! Thank you! 

Hi Alison 

I like you have osteopenia yet have been prescribed AA.

My T score is -2.4 so nearer enough to osteoporosis. However my doctors like yours recommends AA because I fractured L1 & L2 of my spine falling down stairs 5 months ago, it was as a result of this that GP referred me for a dexa scan.

GP checked my bloods and kidneys are fine, and my Vit D and Calcium levels are fine. GP also recommended I take Calcium and Vit D.

I have taken my time to decide whether to go down the Natural route first or not. But like you have started taking AA, so far I've had 2 tablets, no problems first week but this week I did have heartburn for a day and half which Gaviscon helped alleviate. Not sure if it's physiological but my gums have felt slightly sore the last 2 days. 

I wanted a second opinion as to whether I should take the drugs so called the freephone national osteoporosis society and had a long friendly chat with a nurse who took my medical history and stats etc and came out with the same recommendation. She also gave me lots of info and tips, for example I mentioned K2 (which at £25 pm is pretty expensive) and she said as long as the gut was healthy it should produce this but to help I should eat pro biotic yogurt.

I am not qualified to give advise but my thoughts are that if you fractured your spine and did not suffer any pain then you could easily do this again without being aware of the deterioration of your spine so personally in your situation I would take prescribed medication as stats do evidence that they in majority of cases they halt deterioration and improve bone density.

I certainly did feel pain on fracturing my spine and continue to do so but have been given every reason to believe the pain will subside within a year. 

 I am 61 consider myself pretty fit, 5'4' 140lbs  (lost 3/4 of an inch with fracture) 

I did consider taking the natural route for 6 months then paying for another dexa scan, (I think they cost between £100 to £200 deoending on where in the country you live) and if no improvement commence the AA. 

But I just wanted to see how the drug made me feel so decided to start taking it. 

I am trying to do weight bearing excercises at gym and walk more. I eat lots of naughty but nice things and enjoy my wine too😋 but have incorporated 10 almonds a day into my diet, pro biotics yogurts, tinned fish with bones, salmon, sardines lots of broccoli etc...etc..

As we have a very similar diagnosis I will be very interested to hear how things progress for you and I will check in every week or two with my progress. 

Wishing you good luck in your journey towards stronger healthier bones! 😀

 

Just seeing this as I was just scrolling down to the end of the posts, not realizing that responses can come in the middle! 

We do seem to have similar circumstances. I have now finished my first four weeks of AA and so far, so good. I was worried it might regenerate my heart burn but have not had that problem. I do take it very carefully every Sunday morning and sit or stand for an hour like a statue! I also drink the tablet with two full glasses of water. I am getting less anxious about taking it and also am getting over the shock of having a fracture and osteopenia. I try to walk a lot as has been my practise in the past. I have been given a few balance exercises and others which I tend to forget to do! I am taking K2, magnesium, D3. Because I have been advised not to take calcium supplements because I have kidney stones, I am eating cheese, cheese and more cheese. And prunes! Now I have a weight problem! Do hope you check in and I will do so too! 

I've read that yoghurt is very good at helping the body to absorb calcium, probably because it is a fermented food.  

And I love yoghurt! 

I have a good quality yoghurt every evening with fruit for supper. 

I think it is a good idea to get into the habit of putting everything into your mouth that is actually good for you.

Have lots of vegetables and make a list of all the super foods like avocados and bananas and try to work them into your diet.

In Australia at the moment we have beautiful mangoes and are about to get cherries and all the stone fruit. 

A range of grass fed meats is available and we are making bony soups and stews so we are being very healthy.

I do have a struggle with weight so I have 1200 or less calories per day as I am small, only five feet tall with tiny bones.

Because of my bones issue our diet is extremely healthy so as to maximise nutrients. My husband eats a lot more than I do as he is nearly six feet with bones of a thirty year old.