Evenity Advice?

Posted by maieva @maieva, Sep 26 11:14am

I am 66 years old and have been on Reclast for two years with some improvement in my scores, although the second year my spine score went down. My endocrinologist at Mayo Clinic discussed Evenity and Tymlos and I think I am going to try Evenity since it is one year and convenient to go once a month to the clinic to get the injections. I had concerns about the black box warnings regarding heart attack and stroke, but she reassured me that she has not heard of anyone experiencing this. I also have an appointment with my cardiologist to see what he says before I start. I don’t know what else to do and yes, I’m very nervous about taking this drug, but I know it’s supposed to give me big gains in my spine where I need it the most. Any additional advice?

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@gravity3

Yes. I finally found a functional medicine provider who works with bhrt after consulting with 3 doctors who would not prescribe bhrt. They appeared to be unaware of new research and findings that expose the flaws in the old women's health initiative study. Is there a specific reason that they do not want you to have estrogen? My functional medicine provider said it is never too late to take bhrt but this may be specific to my history.
Have you watched the PBS documentary on menopause? The M Factor: shredding the silence on menopause.
I will be referring my endocrinologist to this documentary.

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Thanks @gravity3. I haven't yet watched the M Factor, but I will. I don't know if Estrogen would be good for me. I had a hysterectomy, bit still have a cervix, ovaries and one tube. I have a history of fibroid and endometriosis. I am considering a functional doctor, even though expensive.

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@awfultruth

@gravity3 I'm toying with the idea that alternating anabolics and bisphosphonates might negate the ill effects of long term bisphosphonates. So, bisphosphonates slow down bone remodeling and they help prevent fractures for awhile but eventually less remodeling leads to unhealthy bone. Anabolics boost bone remodeling. I don't understand the details but there are studies showing that Evenity in particular is not just increasing bone density willy nilly but doing so in a way that is beneficial to bone architecture. I would expect that bioidentical hormones might also be a possibility but a less powerful one than Evenity?
This is a lot of speculation on my part. Just trying out possibilities in my mind for the dilemma of how to proceed after a successful round of Evenity and not liking the standard Prolia or Reclast offerings.
BTW, I just finished Evenity and am about to start on Risedronate. Plan is 1 year on Risedronate to hopefully hold on to my Evenity gains and then back to Evenity to build more bone. If all that works according to plan I would be in good shape bone wise but have the same problem we are discussing. How to keep what you've gained for the rest of your life?

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What was your experience with Evenity as far as side effects and effectiveness? Thanks.

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@drsuefowler

Thanks @gravity3. I haven't yet watched the M Factor, but I will. I don't know if Estrogen would be good for me. I had a hysterectomy, bit still have a cervix, ovaries and one tube. I have a history of fibroid and endometriosis. I am considering a functional doctor, even though expensive.

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If you are on Medicare some of the costs may be covered. I don't know if it would be useful to you but I simply hate that my generation of baby boomer women were deprived of better research and information about menopause and HRT treatment. For myself I
Can't help but wonder how hrt may have improved the course of my aging and health: bones, skin,mood, libido...the list goes on. What I can do is point women of any age in the direction of better research and forums that seem to educate women anden about menopause.

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My breast cancer was fed by estrogen and my treatment was to eliminate any remaining estrogen in my body (after menopause it comes from the adrenals) . So I have had to go in the opposite direction, so to speak, of HRT.

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@4deborahrb

Yikes ! I am so confused with all the info and choices. I watched the Dr. Leder presentation- I have been taking Prolia for 2 yrs with mild gain. Facing lumbar fusion, my surgeon recommended Tymlos or Forteo to build bone faster. I was on Tymlos for 4 months but couldn’t tolerate the side effects. I now understand that Tymlos following Prolia is not a good choice. Neither surgeon or Endo knew this but Endo went along with surgeon’s request. Now I’m looking at Evenity, but isn’t the prior Prolia going to affect this drug as well? I did take Alendrate many years ago with minimal effects on bone density. My last Dexa was in May of 24 so I have to wait until next yr. Any suggestions?

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Have you looked into Forteo?

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@gravity3

If you are on Medicare some of the costs may be covered. I don't know if it would be useful to you but I simply hate that my generation of baby boomer women were deprived of better research and information about menopause and HRT treatment. For myself I
Can't help but wonder how hrt may have improved the course of my aging and health: bones, skin,mood, libido...the list goes on. What I can do is point women of any age in the direction of better research and forums that seem to educate women anden about menopause.

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I totally agree. All my regular doctors still are against HRT, because of one flawed study. We could have been healthier and happier.

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@drsuefowler

I totally agree. All my regular doctors still are against HRT, because of one flawed study. We could have been healthier and happier.

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There is a 1 in 8 chance of having breast cancer and 80% of those breast cancers, I have read, are hormonal. The HRT study was skewed toward older women and we older women are well-represented in that 1 in 8. I would be cautious about HRT over a certain age. I know that study is controversial but as a cancer patient with a hormonal cancer, I also want to pass along some caution!

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@daisy17

What was your experience with Evenity as far as side effects and effectiveness? Thanks.

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@daisy17 I had almost unbelievable gains in my spine (30%) and less than average gains in my hips (less than 3%). I had no side effects worth even mentioning. I went from a -3.7 to a -1.8 L2-L4 score. On my worst T-Score I went from -4.1 to -2.2.

I was jumping for joy but afraid to trust the results. I had a certified Densitometrist on Inspire look at my DXA's and he thought they were ok. I did find one small study where 1 individual got a 20% gain and one got a 30% gain. So it's not completely unheard of. I decided to trust it. And I'm having another DXA at the complete end of Evenity which is at the end of the month. The 30% DXA was at 10 months of Evenity.

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@awfultruth

@daisy17 I had almost unbelievable gains in my spine (30%) and less than average gains in my hips (less than 3%). I had no side effects worth even mentioning. I went from a -3.7 to a -1.8 L2-L4 score. On my worst T-Score I went from -4.1 to -2.2.

I was jumping for joy but afraid to trust the results. I had a certified Densitometrist on Inspire look at my DXA's and he thought they were ok. I did find one small study where 1 individual got a 20% gain and one got a 30% gain. So it's not completely unheard of. I decided to trust it. And I'm having another DXA at the complete end of Evenity which is at the end of the month. The 30% DXA was at 10 months of Evenity.

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Wow! I am so hoping for the same. I’m still not sure what to go on to keep those gains. I was on Reclast for the last two years and just started Evenity, but from the discussions I’m seeing, my gains might not be that much because of being on Reclast first??? I’m also not sure what to do after this year of Evenity is up. I definitely don’t want Prolia.

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@awfultruth

@daisy17 I had almost unbelievable gains in my spine (30%) and less than average gains in my hips (less than 3%). I had no side effects worth even mentioning. I went from a -3.7 to a -1.8 L2-L4 score. On my worst T-Score I went from -4.1 to -2.2.

I was jumping for joy but afraid to trust the results. I had a certified Densitometrist on Inspire look at my DXA's and he thought they were ok. I did find one small study where 1 individual got a 20% gain and one got a 30% gain. So it's not completely unheard of. I decided to trust it. And I'm having another DXA at the complete end of Evenity which is at the end of the month. The 30% DXA was at 10 months of Evenity.

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That's great! Thanks

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