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Why me? (sorry for the childish question)
I've always been healthy. I'm 77 yo female; started running in 1980 and continued up until about 4 years ago. I mean serious running, 6 miles 5 days a week until I was about 60. I had a medical hysterectomy at 32 and was on HRT until I was about 65. I can't remember why I stopped. But I'm happily married for 43 years, so I use Premarin Vaginal Cream regularly. I hate when people ask "why?" but I have to ask. Why do I have an osteoporosis diagnosis? My endo wants to put me on Forteo. I'm leary because of all the negative posts on reddit. Does anyone think I caused Osteoporosis by running so many years? I was never anorexic and literally never really sick.
Also, I'm new here; please forgive my ignorance and be kind.
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Your running didn't cause it. Don't listen to Reddit.
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4 Reactionshi, tybalt98. It is definitely not a childish question, but one your doctors should be exploring. The primary cause of bone loss among postmenopausal women is loss of estrogen. You did the best thing with HRT and I imagine that you stopped because of the 2012 Women's Health Initiative that mistakenly understood that HRT was harmful for postmenopausal women. It became difficult to obtain script for HRT during the years following that study.
But there are other causes for osteoporosis other endocrine disorders (primarily hyperthyroidism), prescribed medications (primarily glucocorticosteroids ), disease, malnutrition. It's important to know why you have osteoporosis to find the most effective treatment.
It seems clear that your osteoporosis is a result of estrogen loss, but blood tests might reveal or rule out other contributing factors.
Anyone guessing that running caused your osteoporosis is simply not well informed.
I'd recommend taking Forteo. Your endocrinologist's recommendation makes me think you are getting very good care. In my opinion it is the very best of all the medications available.
I'm starting my 4th year of Forteo. I haven't had any effects at all.
Welcome to Connect.
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5 ReactionsTalk to a nutritionist, maybe your osteoporosis is related to being light weight and not taking in enough calcium, not lifting weights, part of your dna etc. get a good doctor -endocrinologist and determine why you got that diagnosis Then start lifting light weights, get into pt, take Tai Chi, think what is good and you will make it, I took a reclast infusion as thought it the safest, was on actonel and fosomax for ten years decades ago was always too thin, hiked and swam but was light weighted, got cancer and had esophagectomy 7 years ago now on omeprazole which thins bones, so doing all I can to save my bones, pt, exercise, walking, tai chi, calcium in diet good endocrinologist, nutritionist doctor, nephrologist, (I make stones so on special diet (low oxalate) drink 12 glasses of filtered water per day, prediabetic and hypoglycemic and have IBS, so alot going on, Don't give up trying,
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5 Reactions@gently is Forteo in tablet/capsule, or injection form?
rashida, Forteo isn't yet available pill form. They completed a successful phase 1 study on healthy adults https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40194767/ So just needles for now, but they are very tiny.
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1 Reaction@tybalt98 I’m sorry you are going through this. I asked myself the same question. As others suggested, your doctor should do (and probably already did) some additional testing to see if there are underlying conditions causing it. Hyperthyroidism, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple myeloma are just a few such conditions.
The truth is you may never know. I was diagnosed a few months ago (age 62), very physically active and was shocked. After doing lots of reading, my theory is that 25-30 years of sleep issues probably caused mine. Osteoblasts and osteoclasts primarily work while you are asleep. I had tried talking with doctors about it in the past and they just laughed. In addition to the Tymlos I’ve been prescribed, I’m focused on my “sleep hygiene” and have improved the length/quality of my sleep. As for side effects to medications, not everyone suffers from all of them. Other than two days of mild side effects with Tymlos (anabolic drug), I haven’t had any issues.
I wish you the best in your journey.
Plain and simple it’s age…as we age we naturally lose bone. While running may keep you fit and is considered weight bearing I don’t think it has the same effect as resistance training!
There are negative things about every medication. Side effects are real but they are different for everyone. I’m not sure Reddit is the best source of information. I think you have to weight the pros and cons of each and go with the one that works for you. I did Forteo back in the day with no ill effects. Reclast on the other had was horrible! Oral meds were bad too. I did nothing for years after the Reclast and was good. Then another bad DEXA and ended up taking Prolia. I recommend it as a last resort but the side effects are better than Reclast for me!