I’m pretty sure my endocrinologist has no clue what he is doing. I had my 1st DEXA in 2019, at age 50.5, and my lumbar t-score was -3.9 and my hips were both in the -3.1 range. Six months later, my endocrinologist said my bones were “horrible” and pushed meds. I asked if there were any natural remedies I could try and he had nothing to offer. Following his urging I started alendronate, which I took for 1.5 yrs. The alendronate caused digestive tract issues. During an appt w/ a cardiologist, I was told my heart was fine and the symptoms I was experiencing were probably heartburn and he prescribed omeprazole. I specifically asked the cardiologist if it was ok to take omeprazole given my low BMD and while taking alendronate and the cardiologist said that it was fine. I told my endocrinologist that I was taking the omeprazole and he said nothing. Fast forward approximately 9 months, my new OB/GYN told me that the alendronate was probably causing my heartburn and acid redux and that I should stop taking it and talk to my endocrinologist. So after 1.5 yrs on the alendronate, I quit taking it. One month later, my new gastroenterologist told me that omeprazole is not good for bones and he switched me to famotidine.

My endocrinologist yelled at me that I needed to do something about my bones so after a 4 month bisphophonate holiday, in November 2021, I had one zoledronic acid infusion. My endocrinologist’s plan was that I have a 2nd infusion in 2022.

Prior to the infusion, I’d been focused on ruling out Celiac (which I don’t have but I am gluten sensitive so am gluten-free) and focusing on potential horrible side effects of zoledronic acid. My endocrinologist did not warn me about ONJ before prescribing bisphophonates, I learned about it in April 2021, after I’d been taking alendronate for 13ish months, from my new dentist. “Do you have osteoporosis” was a question on the new patient paperwork and I asked the dentist why they asked that question and she then told me about ONJ. This freaked me out a bit. Doctors are supposed to at least ask about your oral health before prescribing osteo-meds, mine had not. I had not been to the dentist in 12 years and my endocrinologist just assumed my teeth were healthy. Fortunately for me, they were/are. I did have my dentist fill a few small spots in my teeth before taking the zoledronic acid just to potentially prevent future complications.

After receiving the zoledronic acid in November 2021, I started doing my own research and quickly learned that my endocrinologist wasn’t up to par. He hadn’t done most of the tests recommended by Dr. Brown (betterbones.com) to rule out other causes of osteoporosis. He hadn’t mentioned anything about it taking heavier weights to stimulate bone growth naturally. He didn’t even tell me about vitamin K2.

I’d been seeing this endocrinologist prior to my osteoporosis diagnosis because in 2017, I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism.

Everyone seems to be aware that hyperthyroidism can cause osteoporosis because it causes high bone turnover but many people, including my endocrinologist apparently, don’t seem to know that hypothyroidism is also bad for bones.

Hypothyroidism basically slows every system/process in your body. Hypothyroidism slows bone turnover and slows bone formation.

I skipped the second zoledronic acid infusion my endocrinologist had ordered for November 2022. Instead, one year to the date of my one and only zoledronic acid infusion, I had BTM labs, at my request. My numbers showed that my BTMs were not elevated. The bisphophonates stick around for a long time so, sure, they could have still been effecting my BTMs, but my gut feeling is, my BTMs were NEVER elevated but since my endocrinologist didn’t test my BTMs prior to prescribing osteoporosis meds there is no way to know for sure, except that I didn’t see any real improvement in my BMD after taking the bisphophonates.
When I tried to get my endocrinologist to go over my BTM labs, the only thing he said is your osteocalcin is low. After that appt, I came home and researched osteocalcin and found that ppl w/ hypothyroidism often have low osteocalcin and bisphophonates lower osteocalcin!
During my next appt I brought up my osteocalcin levels again and told my endocrinologist that studies show that post-menopausal women can increase osteocalcin w/ exercise. I explained that I exercise daily (gym 3 days a week, walking, etc) so if my osteocalcin levels are low shouldn’t we be trying to figure out why. He didn’t answer me and recommended that I go to church. I’m not joking.

I requested BTM labs again this past December and the numbers I posted are from those labs. They were done 2 yrs 1 month and 11 days after my one and only zoledronic acid infusion. Again, I think I never had elevated BTMs and should never have been prescribed bisphophonates.

I’ll have my BTMs tested again in a few months. My goal is to ditch my endocrinologist, but until I can find another doctor who is willing to order labs for me and write a prescription for my levothyroxine, which I take daily for my hypothyroidism, I have to keep going to this endocrinologist who I think has no clue what he is doing.