Afraid it the treatment meds for osteoporosis

@beachesanddreams I would take it a bit further. Not only OTC meds, but prescription meds for side effects. I have had problems with almost every body system at on time or another during my one month on Tymlos: significant worsening of memory, anxiety, worsening of muscle and joint pain, fatigue, balance, headache, . constipation, nausea, bloating. I am not saying that Tymlos absolutely caused these things. Some of them were present and just became worse. But regardless, the negative changes all occurred when I started the drug. Some have lessened or stopped. But when I was waking up several hours after the shot, nauseated and sometimes vomitting, I notified my doctor. I had to practically beg for something to take for that problem. She finally gave me 8 pills of a pediatric dose of Zofran, and said if I continued to have this problem, she would switch me to another drug (This after spending our entire first visit telling me that Tymlos would be the only one that would really help me) Willing to go to a less effective drug because of a common side effect. I don't get it. If side effects..many of them lessening over time..involve treatment, we scrap the whole plan?? Different doctor?

I feel I’m constantly fighting nature. Although I fully believe in science and know many medications are essential in our existence and have helped to save lives ( I’m a retired Nurse)- it also seems, we have the capability to make a pill or injection for every problem, but our bodies nature isn't made to accept it always…. Drs, for the most part are eager to recommend these meds without any other consideration. These medications for osteoporosis seem to go against and do alot to mess with our nature and I just feel maybe we go too far trying to solve every problem. Of course I’m saying all this without having experienced a fracture - maybe I’d feel different if I’d experienced that🤷🏻‍♀️
I’m urging my 36 yr old daughter to start now - researching and learning what to do during her youth so as to hopefully not live this dilemma. What I wouldn’t do to have known more and tried hard to prevent when I had the chance. I never recall any Dr ever bringing this up to me or discussing plans to prevent osteoporosis.

@mahonlye I agree with everything you’ve said 100%.

When I was in cancer treatment 22 years ago, my oncologist had on staff a lovely woman who helped with the “healing” side of things: acupuncture, massage, nutrition, etc. She was amazing.

And I think medicine would do so much better to integrate the two. As a nurse and a healer, I know that your practice was to provide both the science side of your care AND the more emotional, healing side.

That’s why you should be paid more than docs, in my opinion. I know so many agree.

I know our parathyroid glands are tiny, but they’re powerhouses. I don’t necessarily want to mess with them. There must be a way to be nicer to them if we’re asking them to ramp up the bones, you know? 😂

I, too, bought calcium supplements for my daughters in their 20’s and have asked them to take them and drink just one glass of milk a day, eat yogurt, any yogurt, I don’t care. I want to spare them from these decisions too.

And even still, with these drugs…do we ever get advice or recommendations on good calcium supplements? Vitamin D with K or without? What SPECIFIC exercises should we do to build bone, because WE WILL DO THEM.

I have asked. I get a wave of the hand, so I’m left to google. Or Mayo Clinic Connect. 🙏🏻

I am sending you my very best for a beautiful day, @mahonlye

I feel I’m constantly fighting nature. Although I fully believe in science and know many medications are essential in our existence and have helped to save lives ( I’m a retired Nurse)- it also seems, we have the capability to make a pill or injection for every problem, but our bodies nature isn't made to accept it always…. Drs, for the most part are eager to recommend these meds without any other consideration. These medications for osteoporosis seem to go against and do alot to mess with our nature and I just feel maybe we go too far trying to solve every problem. Of course I’m saying all this without having experienced a fracture - maybe I’d feel different if I’d experienced that🤷🏻‍♀️
I’m urging my 36 yr old daughter to start now - researching and learning what to do during her youth so as to hopefully not live this dilemma. What I wouldn’t do to have known more and tried hard to prevent when I had the chance. I never recall any Dr ever bringing this up to me or discussing plans to prevent osteoporosis.

It is very difficult to weigh options. The FDA recently approved a vibration belt that is worn around hips however it was studied only for osteopenia. Cost is near $1,000. It is hard to weigh whether to consider if one have osteoporosis & somehow I have my doubts about insurance covering it.
Wearing a vibration belt, like the FDA-cleared Osteoboost, can be a non-pharmacological option to help treat low bone density (osteopenia) by stimulating bone in the hips and spine. It is a prescription-only, wearable device recommended for postmenopausal women with osteopenia to help reduce the decline in bone strength and density. While it may help with osteopenia, it has not been tested for its ability to reduce fracture risk, and you must discuss it with your doctor before use.

@mamabear77 Oh Mamabear, I could cry for you. I am so sorry. As someone who took Zofran to prevent vomiting from chemotherapy - CHEMOTHERAPY!! - I don’t have words. There are other options besides Tymlos that may be so much easier on your body.

The strength you have to continue those injections despite the horrible time you’ve had…I hope you know how strong you are. My goodness, I wish I could squeeze your hand. You are one tough cookie.

I, too, would consider a “less effective drug,” but it might turn out to be just as effective over a longer period of time. That’s a good question to ask too.

I’m having a similar issue with my rheumatologist in that he is insisting on Tymlos, but I must share what my new cardiologist said to me that brought tears to my eyes. (I am seeing a cardiologist to give me a full work-up before starting Tymlos precisely because of the heart palpitation side effects.)

He said, “there are many doctors who will push drugs at you for reasons that I know you understand, but I will tell you that the doctors here (in his group) will never do that. I will never do that. So if you feel pushed on a drug, ask them why.”

So while I can’t suggest you find another doctor (specialists in my area are very hard to find, and aren’t booking until spring 2026), what I WILL say - and I say this to all - is that if we feel a doctor is pushing or so insistent on a particular drug that it makes us physically and emotionally uncomfortable, we have to challenge that, perhaps by saying…

“Why are you so insistent on this one drug when I know for a fact there are so many options out there that allow me quality of life without debilitating headaches, heart palpitations, and consistent nighttime vomiting?”

I will do the same.

Mamabear. Big hugs to YOU today. And thank you for sharing. 💜

@mamabear77 maybe, a different doctor…many give orders without listening, not a healing scenario…many are okay with patients getting quite sick, as if that’s the only alternative to fractures ! Hello !?!

@beachesanddreams Thanks for your kind response. I guess my biggest annoyance has been my doctor's apparent disinterest in helping out with side effects of the Tymlos...to the point that she would simply switch me to something that she'd spent an hour explaining would not help me enough. (Spine score of-3.6) I am 77 yrs. old, so that made sense to me...not interested in a drug that would merely slow down my bone loss, rather than actively build bone. And this change would have been made with no further discussion, apparently. She knows I am a retired nurse, capable of understanding a choice like this. This condition is long term, and I expect to be able to communicate with my doctor. The side effects may well lessen...some have..but I really would almost rather have the fracture concern than be semi-sick for two years. Have an appointment with a new endo in January..that much I can do. Also thinking about a few days off the drug to see how I feel. Feel like I am trying to sort this out by myself. I have restless leg syndrome, too, so I am used to that.

@vga
I assume that you mean strontium citrate dosing. The only information which I can give you is what the research says. As per the research, 680 mg daily of strontium has a positive impact on osteoporosis. As per the research, 480 mg daily of strontium seemed to work on osteopenia.
Mots and comb research for strontium citrate, comparison on BoneLadies' blog:
https://strontiumforbones.blogspot.com/2020/
A compilation of research and posts about strontium on Inspire:
https://www.inspire.com/groups/bone-health-and-osteoporosis/discussion/dd823b-strontium-a-compilation-of-research-and-information/
What any of us decide to take for our osteoporosis is a complicated decision made up frequently of as much how we feel as what the research says. We need to feel safe and comfortable in our decisions in our own thoughts and taking into consideration our doctor's input because they frequently have a good handle on our medical history and what is causing our osteoporosis. So be sure and talk with a good endocrinologist and have all the appropriate tests. My endocrinologist told me that I did not need him any more and to change nothing.
One thing to bear in mind is that you may start and stop strontium citrate easily; that is not the case with some osteoporosis drugs.