Connect
← Return to Confused about my TBS score
Discussion
Comment receiving replies
Hi @katgirl
I’m no expert, but you are around the same age that I was when first diagnosed, I was 58. We had similar dexa results, although you haven’t provided all of them in this post, I’m going by what is included- I was told I had severe osteoporosis, scared out of my mind, and told I needed to take Prolia. So I did.
Huge mistake! 7 years and 6 fractures later, I’m still paying for that decision.
If I had it to do over again, I would not start meds so young. Your scores are not bad and you’ve never fractured.
Up your supplements, there are a few that are known to help osteoporosis and up your exercise. The spine is the easiest to build bone. Lift weights, use a weighted vest etc…
I will tell you honestly that nutrition, supplements and exercise are not enough to build bone, especially after menopause.
If you are post menopausal and you are a candidate for hormone replacement therapy, I would go that route.
I wish I had done my research prior to starting any meds, I would have started HRT back then, and would have likely had a better outcome than I did.
Once you start osteoporosis meds, you have to commit to taking them the rest of your life. Not everyone has side affects, but for those do, it can be life changing.
You are doing the right thing by questioning what you are being told, following your instinct, and doing the research.
These are just my opinions based on my experience and many years of researching this topic.
Best,
Replies to "Hi @katgirl I’m no expert, but you are around the same age that I was when..."
Connect
Thank you so much for your kind reply! I am so sorry for what you have been through.
This is actually all the information I received on my DEXA. I have the report in front of me.
Yes, my age is giving me pause on starting down this path.
I am VERY active, but looking back over my adult life, during the warmer months my activity always skewed toward lots of biking, which does not help bones.
But during the colder months I always hike and walk. Now, Minimum 5 miles at a rapid pace when out to get exercise. I will have to make sure I walk/hike in addition to biking now. (And sadly I just bought a new bike and was planning to get out on it all the time.)
I haven't weight trained in years due to thoracic outlet syndrome, ripped rotator cuffs and a neck injury from a severe car accident in my 20's. I will have to find a safe way to do some sort of resistance training, because all I've done for years is cardio. I am a massage therapist, so I also can't put anymore stress on my wrists and elbows so I can continue to work.
I think I probably went through menopause early, but don't know for sure because I had a hysterectomy in my late 30's. I was of the generation that watched their mothers ripped off hormones for cancer risks and the ensuing side effects of that removal (my mother had crazy anxiety after abrupt removal. )
I sure wish I'd known that HRT wasn't vilified anymore or I might well have gone on hormones for a decade. At this point, I'm not sure I want to monkey with it. And my doctors do not support it. They just want me on the osteoporosis meds. But it's something else to investigate.
I am deficient in vitamin D but not as badly in the past, so I'm sure that has been a contributing factor. I have to find a D supplement my stomach can tolerate. I have to get back to that.
But I don't know if supplementation works when I am on a PPI (see below)
Other contributing factors; I am on a PPI, omeprazole for decades. No one ever told me it can contribute to osteoporosis. 🙁
I have celiac disease and was undiagnosed for years, which would have compromised all of my nutrient absorption.
Like I said, I go back and forth daily. I think if I didn't have horrible side effects to everything (including supplements) I would feel less averse to taking drugs. It's no fun to be horrible sick from meds all the time. At least the osteoporosis drugs bypass the stomach for the most part with injections and infusions. That is my really weak link. I have a horrible delicate stomach.
Anyway, I have realized I probably shouldn't start a 12 month course of therapy not knowing if my insurance will change mid stream, so I think the soonest I would want to start all this, IF I do choose to start all this, is in December or January. And by that time I'd be 9 months out from my two year dexa scan.
Anyway, I'm not feeling as pressured to make a decision now which is good.
I just don't want to lose my endo for being "non compliant" and end up back with my GP who will only give reclast.
I will be very interested to see what my endo says about the TBS score.
Thanks again for your input.