Confused by doctor options to choose, including Keith McCormick

Posted by stacibw @stacibw, Apr 2, 2024

I’m still learning and navigating my Osteoporosis diagnosis and trying to get my healthcare providers lined up. I’m 51.

I have a PCP who I will only be using as a “sick doctor” going forward. She is aware of my diagnosis and is not up to date on care or treatment.

I have a neuro-kinetic therapist who I work with (recovering from a back injury) who is extremely knowledgeable in osteoporosis exercise. So I will continue to work with her for strength building.

I have a gyn who is not knowledgeable about osteoporosis and referred me to a local endocrinologist.

Those are all of my current health care providers.

Here’s where I’m getting confused….

I really am drawn to Keith McCormick. I prefer functional medicine but like that he also is incredibly knowledgeable about meds and doesn’t hesitate to use them when needed. I have no problems with video appointments.

I have a consultation with the Mayo Clinic in July - the endocrinology team.
They will review my case and decide if they will provide a treatment plan for my local docs or if they will accept me as a patient. So that’s up in the air.

There is a local functional doctor, who specializes in healthy aging and osteoporosis that I am considering.

The endocrinologist that my gyn referred me to doesn’t have an opening until August.

My questions….

Do people use Keith McCormick to completely manage osteo? Or do you also have a local endocrinologist and they work together? Furthermore, when McCormick orders labs, is that done at a local lab or through my regular doc? Thinking costs…..and insurance (I have Cigna - too young for Medicare) for all of those lab tests.

Does anyone have a functional doctor that manages osteoporosis in collaboration with Keith McCormick?

Does anyone see a dietician? I eat a whole foods plant based diet, so am realizing that I am deficient in quite a bit of protein and calcium according to “Strong Bones” teachings. Both of the functional med doctors have nutritionists on board that could help with that.

I’m so overwhelmed just choosing providers! What do you suggest?

Cost does matter - it isn’t the driving factor at this point (understanding and knowledge is the highest priority now).

As of now - I’m flying solo until the end of July, when I meet with Mayo. Wish I had some solid medical guidance before then, but so far have not been able to get earlier new patient appts.

What are most people doing - especially those who have seen or talked to Keith McCormick for a consult or care?

The more I read, the more confused I get. I have time to make decisions, but half a year will have passed before I actually see someone, let alone make any decisions about care. Need to get my ducks in a row.

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

yogagirl57 | @yogagirl57 | Jul 22 4:47pm

In reply to @njx58 "Why no comment? If you had a negative experience, why not share it? Everyone here is..." + (show)

@njx58. It just wasn’t a positive experience. There was confusion with the documents that I sent. They requested me to send certain pages again. I did. They didn’t respond. I called and left a message and no call back. In my opinion not very professional and made me skeptical in general.

njx58 | @njx58 | Jul 22 6:11pm

In reply to @yogagirl57 "@njx58. It just wasn’t a positive experience. There was confusion with the documents that I sent...." + (show)

I see. I've always had good experiences. That said, they don't acknowledge receipt of documents, so maybe when you resent them, that was enough. It's a pretty small operation there.

Don't know about callback - I try to call when they are around to answer, and if there's no answer, I call back. I don't like leaving voicemails.

I understand what you are saying, though.

njx58 | @njx58 | Jul 22 6:47pm

I will add that although his book is very good, I'm not sure how helpful he was to me personally. He did not know how I got osteoporosis; I did all his initial blood tests, and nothing stood out. He didn't know why I had done so well on Tymlos even though my P1NP and CTX scores weren't very exciting.

He did just give me some good information, though. He said, after Tymlos, I could take Fosamax for just a year and then take a holiday; I'd monitor via CTX and DEXA. Usually I hear that you take it for at least two years. I expressed my misgivings about doing a Reclast infusion, and he didn't disagree; I plan to avoid Reclast completely.

The other thing is that he personally does not use meds! His spine was once -4.something. He took Fosamax for just six months, and then decided to rely on nutrition and exercise. His spine is now -3.3. I asked about that, and he said "I don't care if I have osteoporosis. I only care about not fracturing." He did remind me that DEXA measures bone density but not bone quality.

mayblin | @mayblin | Jul 22 7:46pm

In reply to @njx58 "I will add that although his book is very good, I'm not sure how helpful he..." + (show)

You brought up an interesting point. I've also wondered about McCormick's ability to build bone with Forteo then maintain his bmd with just a brief period of Fosamax (of course along with nutrition and exercise). In this regard, both of you are actually in a better position than women. For men, sufficient testosterone is a major advantage for bone health. Not only does testosterone act directly on androgen receptors on osteoblasts, but it also converts to estrogen, which helps slow down bone breakdown. It's likely that after your course of Tymlos followed by a period on Fosamax, you might be able to stop treatment altogether.

For postmenopausal women though, the lack of estrogen puts us on a very different trajectory.

njx58 | @njx58 | Jul 22 7:55pm

In reply to @mayblin "You brought up an interesting point. I've also wondered about McCormick's ability to build bone with..." + (show)

That is interesting. I've often wondered about the differences between men and women when it comes to osteoporosis.

Of course, he was never able to tell me how this happened to begin with, but I suppose it can be a mysterious disease. I know my vitamin D was once below normal, but that's all.

roisin11 | @roisin11 | Jul 22 11:37pm

In reply to @kallettla "I used Keith McCormick and got my labs done through my PCP. He was helpful. He..." + (show)

Same with me. My PCP and endocrinologist between them ordered all the tests that Dr McCormick wanted. My endocrinologist also wanted most of them. I have had a very good relationship with Dr. McCormick and value his input on this OP journey. I scheduled an office visit and follow up with him by phone. I order collagen from him and also take the OsteoStim supplement that he sells. Based on his most recent book, I also take Berberine, Turmeric, Nettle Quercetin, Vitamin D, Calcium. I'm sorry to read that some have not had such a good experience. I've had a shipment from him get lost in the mail (Chris just sent another one). One time Dr McCormick told me he didn't have my last DEXA report. I may have taken it home with me, so I just mailed another copy. I prefer to call also when Chris is in the office. We can do with all the help we can get! Thanks and good luck.

yogagirl57 | @yogagirl57 | Jul 23 7:36am

In reply to @njx58 "I will add that although his book is very good, I'm not sure how helpful he..." + (show)

@njx58 Interesting. Yes my endo wants me to take Tymlos. My lowest score is 3.2. I just can't do it. They say Tymlos for maximum 2 years then Fosamax. I know that they are now saying not more than 2 years on Fosamax.

njx58 | @njx58 | Jul 23 7:41am

In reply to @yogagirl57 "@njx58 Interesting. Yes my endo wants me to take Tymlos. My lowest score is 3.2. I..." + (show)

I've often heard two years on Fosamax, then a drug holiday, then you see if you need to go back on it.

My T-score went from -3.0 to -2.0 in just nine months on Tymlos. It's probably even better now. It is way more effective than Fosamax. Getting my score to that point gives me more options.

kallettla | @kallettla | Jul 23 7:59am

In reply to @roisin11 "Same with me. My PCP and endocrinologist between them ordered all the tests that Dr McCormick..." + (show)

Yes, I expect Chris keeps the place organized. I am glad I used him, he got me on Digestymes, straightened out my GI tract of too much bacteria, and let me know my GI pain was from a gluten sensitivity. That alone made a HUGE improvement in my life. My doctor had no idea why I had such bad GI issues, and told me it couldn't be gluten. Oh, but it was! I felt so much better in just 2 weeks after stopping gluten. DR M explains things well.

I am very glad that I used him!

bayhorse | @bayhorse | Jul 23 8:37am

In reply to @njx58 "I haven't heard of K2 causing joint pain. I take K2-MK4. I've read anecdotal stories of..." + (show)

njx58, could you tell me how much K2-MK4 you are taking, and what brand? I have been using MK7/D3 supplement for years but am considering switching to MK4 and am not finding good guidelines for how much to take, or how much to take in conjunction with D3.