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Thank you for all this great info! My doctor has prescribed Fosamax for me. Im 72. T scores are as follows: lumbar spine -1.4, L. hip is -2.2, L. Femoral neck is -1.6, R hip -1.8, R femoral neck -2.1, L radius -2.8.
I really didn’t want to start Fosamax but trying to juggle all other supplements to increase my bone density seems to be too confusing. Unsure of which ones to try and what if they don’t do anything? I’m thinking I have a better chance of increasing my bone density by being on Fosamax but I’m skeptical on what my doctor would order for me after that.
Replies to "Thank you for all this great info! My doctor has prescribed Fosamax for me. Im 72...."
busylady, you have really good bones. You are probably taking all the right supplements already. Do you know why they imaged the left radius. I'm curious because the radius is usually measured as a stand in when they can measure other parts of the spine.
It is a common area of fracture, even when osteoporosis isn't evidenced in other areas of bone. I think you must be getting excellent care. Compliments to your doctor.
You'll have a better chance of increasing bone density by adding Fosamax. You'll probably be on it for 3 to 5 years. It can be followed by any of the medication available for osteoporosis.
You might ask your doctor to order bone markers--CTX and P1NP before you start Fosamax and then after two months. At least the CTX to make sure Fosamax is working.
You might also ask about Forteo, which would be more effective than Fosamax. And is generally given before Fosamax these days. And wouldn't get mixed up with your supplements.
I started Forteo at 72 and so like the drug. No one measured my radius, though.
More directly you could be offered Reclast--and injectable drug similar to Fosamax, Prolia or Evenity (the ones I would avoid), Forteo or Tymlos.
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@joybo99 and @gently and @busylady I AM very surprised that your doctor put you on Fosamax right away, especially with the T-Scores you provided. Have you fractured? Is that why your doctor wants to put you on medication? Some OP experts I have listened to (especially Dr Keith McCormick), do not put their patients on meds until they are -3.5 or worse, and they have 20% or more fracture risk, or they have had a fracture. Have either of you seen an endocrinologist or an Osteoporosis specialist? I would get a second opinion before starting on Fosamax or for that matter on any Osteoporosis medication without doing baseline testing. Your doctor should at least do a base line test of your CTX levels especially if starting on Fosamax, and check it again in a few months to check if that medication is working instead of waiting 1-2 years to get a DEXA scan. Good luck!