Scared to start pharmacological therapy for severe osteoporosis

@soggybones Thank you! Best of luck to you as well. This is not an easy journey, but I refuse to let it define my life!

I've been on Prolia injections for a little over a year ago. I know you didn't ask about it but I thought I'd throw in my experience with these type of meds. Since I started, I've gained +8 on my hip & +11 on my spine. I'm thrilled, to say the least. I can't eat a regular diet as I'm fed through my veins, so I can't take advantage of any other interventions. I just have to weigh the pros and cons of any pharmaceutical and trudge forward. I hope that helps some

I would start with educatiing yourself about osteoporosis. It is complex but a very easy to read with up to date information can be found here:
https://my.bone-guide.workers.dev/
i also have OP, not as severe as yours, and have failed oral meds. I too am scared to death of the less common but horrible sounding side effects. Even if a side effect is rare, it doesn’t matter much if it occurs in you, right? I live in a highly populated area so there are many endocrinologists that specialize in osteoporosis. Despite this, I am opting to go out of the area to a nationally recognized bone center. Unfortunately, the first available appointment was 8 months from when I made it ( only 3 months to go) If I must take meds, I want the most current and safest option.

At 57, I presume you are postmenopausal and have been for less than 10 years. Talk with your doctor and perhaps your gynecologist to see if hormone replacement therapy (estrogen with or without progesterone) is an option for you. It won’t replace the “big guns” but can be taken along with them to great benefit.

You mentioned a lowPTH. This is exceedingly uncommon. Are u sure you didn’t mean high PTH? If it was low, was it just under the normal range or very low? Either way, if low, it would be worth repeating to ensure this wasn’t a lab error.

Finally, with such a low T score at such a young age,mi think it would be worth an evaluation by a specialist. You don’t mention what kind of doc you’re seeing. There are diseases that dramatically affect bone health (celiac or gluten allergy is one example). I think in your specific case, a “wider net” should be cast, looking for the less common causes of OP.

I apologize for the long length of my post. Your case interests me and I would be glad to hear updates as your evaluation and treatment evolves.

Good luck and all the best,

Laura