Connect
← Return to Confused by doctor options to choose, including Keith McCormick
Discussion
Confused by doctor options to choose, including Keith McCormick
Osteoporosis & Bone Health | Last Active: Aug 21 9:52am | Replies (143)Comment receiving replies
I’m 61 and recently had a Dexa and saw an endocrinologist. Here are my Dexa scores followed by what he prescribed for me. I’d love any input about whether I should or shouldn’t necessarily be following his advice. Which was based on his independent review of the Dexa images and found sig. for lowest T scores of:
-2.6 in L1
and -2.6 Left FN
and -2.8 Right femoral neck
So, osteopenia of spine.
And osteoporosis of femoral neck.
(The distal left radius bone mineral density is normal.)
According to the scan results doc, it says:
The probability of a major osteoporotic fracture (spine, forearm, hip or shoulder) is 18% within the next 10 years, and the probability of a hip fracture is 5% within the next 10 years, according to the WHO FRAX estimate.
He prescribed Fosamax (Alendronate) 70mg: one pill once a week.
(So far I’ve only taken 3 for the last 3 weeks so, still early on).
Vitamin D 2000/day
Calcium 500-1000/day
Redo Dexa in 2 years.
He seemed a little focused on what insurance would/would not cover.
Thoughts? I’m a little overwhelmed reading everything.
Oh, PS - since I saw him, I started HRT! Low dose estradiol patch 0.0375, with nightly 100 mg micronized progesterone pill. (I haven’t mentioned to him yet.)
Thanks for reading. 🙂
Replies to "I’m 61 and recently had a Dexa and saw an endocrinologist. Here are my Dexa scores..."
Curious as to how old you are when starting BHRT. I am 73, took Estradiol .05 patch and 200 mg Progesterone for six months, and my current medical professional talked me into quitting after repeated spotting and various procedures which found nothing. I have a sister and as cousin who had breast cancer, and she thinks I am high risk for cancer. I still have not give up on BHRT.
Connect
Just last week I had a discussion with my rheumatologist, he orders my DEXA scans. He explained some medical options. I must have been overwhelmed...I find more clarity here by what women experience with these drugs. So, I am in the same place as you! I already take 12 medications for 30 years of multi-autoimmune diagnoses. It's really hard to consider putting one more Rx in my body. It's not surprising that I have osteoporosis since I have RA. Also, I have Hashimoto's thyroiditis and have taken synthroid for all these years. It all adds up. You'd think I would get used to it! No, I feel like osteoporosis is going to take a lot of getting used to. I'm also a cancer survivor and had head and neck radiation. My jawbone is already thinning.
Your post is great because you shared the lab values from your DEXA Scan, and something that I also experienced: My doctor is talking about what insurance might pay, and not what would be best for my health!
Thanks and I hope we can find some helpful info here.