hi stacybw,
you are starting at the best place. We have a lot of variant opinions and loads of experience. And we've all been exactly where you are. It is best to challenge everything you read and respond with questions that we'll love to answer. My opinion:
Mostly of us want to combat this naturally. You can't make up for five years of low estrogen, hence five years of bone loss without medication. Very luckily there are two amazing medications--Tymlos and Forteo.
The medication divided by the way they work are called antiresorptive and anabolic. The drugs your PCP mentions are all antireorptive. They preserve older bone and while they do prevent fracture, they halt the renewal process that resolves fissures and they reduce the the blood supply within the bone.
The drugs that stimulate new bone growth are Tymlos, Forteo and Evenity. Evenity stimulates new bone growth in the first few months and then becomes antiresorptive. It is a newer drug with boxed warnings about cardiac issues.
They say that once you begin osteoporosis medications, you can never stop. I hold this concept as true.
We take medications to prevent fracture.
I've been on Forteo for almost a year. I haven't had side effects.
I know what I'd do in your situation because this is what I did.
Do the research.
Ask your doctor (I like her flexibility) for bone markers. P1NP and CTX before you begin medication.
Take Forteo.
Get bone markers initially and every three months.
Watch this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cd0YT-OV97c
And keep your questions coming this way.