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New to osteoporosis and overwhelmed
Osteoporosis & Bone Health | Last Active: Feb 14 3:19pm | Replies (77)Comment receiving replies
My T scores are similar to yours-hips -3.2, spine -2.7. I am 68, weight 122 pounds. Active, flexible , never had a break. I am dismayed when I hear of others much older who have better t-scores than mine since I have considered myself to be a "young grandma." I saw an endocrinologist who after quickly reviewing all the scans and labs ( I have Hashimotos disease and have been on Synthroid for many years) told me that my thyroid/meds had nothing to do with the osteoporosis. That was contrary to everything I have ever read. He gave me a choice of 3 meds without even looking at me and that was that. I am doing the calcium ( mostly from food) and Calcium Glyconate, Vit K2- MK7, 50 mcg, Vit D 1000iu and Magnesium glycate. I go to the gym, walk, do hand weights and am going to purchase a weighted vest for hiking. My older sisters are not doing the medication route and are 80 and 86; one having bad luck on Fosamax so stopped it. My only cookware is cast iron and I don't plan on switching it out ! I will however think twice and check my posture before I swoop down and pick up a grandkid ! I speak to every woman I see at the gym to learn from them. Strength is in numbers ! Good luck ! I wish you the best , whatever route you decide !
Replies to "My T scores are similar to yours-hips -3.2, spine -2.7. I am 68, weight 122 pounds...."
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@sfe431
The concern with thyroid meds is more on the end of too much T4 or too low of a tsh.
Years ago this was a problem because of how doctor's prescribed. It is less of a problem nowdays.
I am assuming that your doctor looked at your levels and made the diagnois that your thyroid meds were not driving your osteoporosis. He is the expert on that problem and will know your medical history best. It really would not take him long to evalute that so don't be concerned that he seemed too quick.
A lack of Sex Hormones from menopause are the main drivers of osteoporosis. This is due mainly to a lack of estrogen. The lack of estrogen during menopause causes osteoporosis primarily by accelerating the rate of bone resorption (breakdown, osteoclasts) while decreasing new bone formation, osteoblasts, leading to an imbalance in bone remodeling. Estrogen normally limits the activity of osteoclasts (cells that break down bone) and supports osteoblasts (cells that build bone); the absence of especially estrogen leads to rapid bone density loss.
It would help to see a bone quality number from TBS or REMS, but with the number which you have now of hips -3.2 it would be appropriate to consider some type of medication. Plus, I am sure that your doctor looked at your bone density numbers of which your Tscores are reflective.
It takes longer to change the hip area for the better so the sooner you begin the better chance of a good outcome.
Even if you just begin BHRT/HRT plus strontium citrate that will have more impact than your current, food and exercise plan. Neither good nutrients or a good exercise plan can change your lack of hormones.
Bone health is a synergistic action. It takes more than good nutrition and good exercise; you also need something to drive the nutrients into the bone or you need to overly stimulate osteoblasts or tap down on osteoclasts. Hormones did that for you for years, but now you are lacking that hormonal engine.
Many women on here are choosing to use BHRT/HRT as a companion treatment to whatever medicine or strontium which they choose. That way they are stimulating the osteoblasts with hormones. Still, this will depend on what type medicine or intervention which you choose and your doctor needs to be alerted.
Meds frequently try to push the body to grow more bone, osteoblasts or stop the body from remaking bone, osteoclasts.
Strontium & Evenity act more directly as dual-action agents, reducing resorption while increasing formation simultaneously. Strontium is unique in that it is both a supplement and yet used at a medical level for osteoporosis.
You have several options. The only thing that you can do wrong is to do nothing. There is absolutely no reason that you should not have a good outcome.