1. < Osteoporosis & Bone Health

Anyone try bioidentical hormones to combat/treat osteoporosis?

Posted by cmhackett52 @cmhackett52, Jun 25 5:47pm

I'm giving it some thought. After a bad experience with Alendronate, I'm very hesitant to start with Prolia.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Osteoporosis & Bone Health Support Group.

flowergal | @flowergal | Sep 21 11:24am
In reply to @nme1985 "I also had to run the side effects after two months on that drug. Please do..." + (show)
@nme1985

I also had to run the side effects after two months on that drug. Please do not go on Pro. Leah is my opinion. Only once you start it will be very hard to get off. I am doing identical, hormone replacement therapy, lifting weights, taking supplements and hoping for the best, as I’ve said before, I think the drug companies push these drugs. It’s about money. Do your research. Find a great integrative medicine doctor with lots of experience.

Jump to this post

Prior to BC I was on them for years. They did not stop osteoporosis. I needed Prolia shots.
However the hormones help with brain, skin, joint health.
For me they were very beneficial.

REPLY
loplady | @loplady | Sep 21 2:05pm
In reply to @fluffbun "You are like me I never had HRT before and I had a total hysterectomy in..." + (show)
@fluffbun

You are like me I never had HRT before and I had a total hysterectomy in my 20s. I started when I was 64.
My spine scores went from 2.1 to 1.8
I take nothing else, only vitamins try and eat lots of calcium and use a Marodyne.

Jump to this post

This is very encouraging, thank you for sharing. I saw my endocrinologist and I had very little change from my Dexa 17 months ago. Spine is -3, was -2.9, hips not in Osteoporosis. She wants to put me on Evenity and then Reclast after. I asked about HRT and she was very honest and said she knew nothing about it for treating Osteoporosis and that she can't even prescribe it, it would have to be my gynecologist. I am very reluctant to go on any of the other meds. Those who have done HRT, did you get a cardio exam or anything before? Family history of heart disease and I've had high cholesterol although I was able to miraculously get it to 200 this summer. I am 5'2 and weigh 98 to 100 most of the time.

REPLY
3 replies
teb | @teb | Sep 21 2:56pm
In reply to @loplady "This is very encouraging, thank you for sharing. I saw my endocrinologist and I had very..." + (show)
@loplady

This is very encouraging, thank you for sharing. I saw my endocrinologist and I had very little change from my Dexa 17 months ago. Spine is -3, was -2.9, hips not in Osteoporosis. She wants to put me on Evenity and then Reclast after. I asked about HRT and she was very honest and said she knew nothing about it for treating Osteoporosis and that she can't even prescribe it, it would have to be my gynecologist. I am very reluctant to go on any of the other meds. Those who have done HRT, did you get a cardio exam or anything before? Family history of heart disease and I've had high cholesterol although I was able to miraculously get it to 200 this summer. I am 5'2 and weigh 98 to 100 most of the time.

Jump to this post

I did not have a cardio work up before going on HRT but did many years later. I have had high cholesterol for decades (245-285) but have refused statins as when I break down my cholesterol into it's various components, I have less concern (low LPa, low triglicerides, low oxidized LDL). I eventually had both a coronary CT angiogram and a coronary artery calcium scan and my calcium score was 0 on both. Even after all those decades of high cholesterol and familial heart disease. We make our hormones from cholesterol and I don't think it's necessarily the villain the medical community has made it out to be based on the saturated fat/cholesterol hypothesis of Ancel Keys back in the 50s, a theory that never had good scientific evidence to back it up.
So...I'm not suggesting that there is no risk as we just don't know definitively. I think it's prudent to have a thorough work up to see what your personal risk factors are so you can make an informed decision.

Some recent information from the Menopause Society's meta-analysis of studies on long term use of hormones and their benefits:
https://www.news-medical.net/news/20240910/Long-term-hormone-therapy-proves-valuable-for-older-women.aspx

REPLY
fluffbun | @fluffbun | Sep 21 3:55pm
In reply to @loplady "This is very encouraging, thank you for sharing. I saw my endocrinologist and I had very..." + (show)
@loplady

This is very encouraging, thank you for sharing. I saw my endocrinologist and I had very little change from my Dexa 17 months ago. Spine is -3, was -2.9, hips not in Osteoporosis. She wants to put me on Evenity and then Reclast after. I asked about HRT and she was very honest and said she knew nothing about it for treating Osteoporosis and that she can't even prescribe it, it would have to be my gynecologist. I am very reluctant to go on any of the other meds. Those who have done HRT, did you get a cardio exam or anything before? Family history of heart disease and I've had high cholesterol although I was able to miraculously get it to 200 this summer. I am 5'2 and weigh 98 to 100 most of the time.

Jump to this post

Regarding heart health, I had a heart attack and my cardiologist said all women should be on HRT to protect their hearts. Apparently there is a connection between low oestrogen and heart attacks. Both my parents died of heart issues in their 50s. Hope this helps you.

REPLY
1 reply
loplady | @loplady | Sep 21 4:05pm
In reply to @fluffbun "Regarding heart health, I had a heart attack and my cardiologist said all women should be..." + (show)
@fluffbun

Regarding heart health, I had a heart attack and my cardiologist said all women should be on HRT to protect their hearts. Apparently there is a connection between low oestrogen and heart attacks. Both my parents died of heart issues in their 50s. Hope this helps you.

Jump to this post

Sure does, thank you!

REPLY
cmhackett52 | @cmhackett52 | Sep 21 4:54pm
In reply to @dooshie "How long have you been on HRT? I am on 125 mg of progesterone, 0.5 mg..." + (show)
@dooshie

How long have you been on HRT? I am on 125 mg of progesterone, 0.5 mg of testosterone cream and 0.025 mg of estradiol patch. I just started in July so I don’t know if there’s been any improvement yet. I sure hope it will assist in the gains I had on Tymlos.

Jump to this post

I'm going to give it a year. It takes a while to see any changes.

REPLY
cmhackett52 | @cmhackett52 | Sep 21 5:00pm
In reply to @dooshie "I just began a protocol with bioidentical hormones after completing 2 years on Tymlos. I had..." + (show)
@dooshie

I just began a protocol with bioidentical hormones after completing 2 years on Tymlos. I had an 11% gain with Tymlos injections and don’t want to be on another osteo med if possible. My cardiologist, who runs my bloods suggested hormone replacement to hold my gains. Plus, I am completely hormone deficient so this route seems sensible. I am on a 0.025 mg estradiol patch, 125 mg progesterone capsule and 0.5 mg testosterone cream. It’s only been a little over a week so we’ll see how it goes. Praying that I’ll sleep better, less hair loss, feel more energetic, not so cranky, less wrinkles but of utmost importance are my bones. I am severely osteoporotic but have never fractured, thank God. I’m very active, (hiking, pickleball, cardio, weights) so stronger bones is my first and foremost concern. Hormone replacement isn’t well received by many doctors because of flawed research in the early 2000’s. My cardiologist is very well educated in HRT and feels confident that this is the route for me. I am 72 and had a complete hysterectomy in my late 30’s, went on synthetic hormones for a short time, then stopped. Therein my severe bone loss. Praying the future will bring stronger bones and a happier me!

Jump to this post

I told my primary care physician I was starting on bioidentical hormones for my bones (mostly). His reaction was, "You are going to feel so much better." My next DEXA scan will be due just about the time I will be on HRT for a year. I'm hoping they will help stop the osteoporosis. I know they won't help build my bones. I just want to slow it down or stop it.

REPLY
hopefulheart | @hopefulheart | Sep 21 5:03pm
In reply to @fluffbun "Sorry, 65!!" + (show)
@fluffbun

Sorry, 65!!

Jump to this post

Thanks
And have you had good results on bone density?
I was under the impression that we can’t begin HRT after age 60
More risks than benefit

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.