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Should I go on Envenity, Forteo, or wait?
I am 62 and have a -3.1 in my left hip. Other scores are osteoporosis, but not as low. Dr recommend recommends Envenity as a first choice, Forteo second. I don’t take any other medication but a year ago I was on fossamax for 4 years which didn’t help. I eat right and exercise and I’ve been doing that for 25 years. I am told I should try to build bone now before I get a fracture . Also, I am going to need more back surgery eventually and I am told I should try to build bone before the surgery, but I am very nervous about taking medication. Any thoughts?
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@nancytheyda , did I already reply to this? Love this forum, but it goes in all directions all at once....Didn't want to leave you hanging, so if I already replied, disregard this.
I'm on Tymlos for 11 months now, at a dose of 5 clicks instead of the full dose of 8 clicks. It took me a while to settle on this dose, and 6 clicks seems to be a tipping point to more side effects, so I stay here with my Dr's unofficial approval. You can titrate any of these drugs if you need to, as you start them, to ease your body into them. I only tried the full dose once at the very beginning and it almost made me quit the drug. I have gone from severe OP to osteopenia in 2.5 years (only the last 11 months on the drug), so progress is really possible.
That said, keep in mind that most of the people posting side effects here are those that are struggling with the side effects. I'd say that a great majority of people do not have any side effects to any drug and hopefully you will be among them!
As you research your drug choice, I do want to add my own caution to fully investigate the biophosphonate (bone savers) class of drugs before you would choose them. My family had bad experiences with them but only years later when it was too late (shattering bones, jaws like Swiss cheese). I recommend a bone builder drug, but do your own research 🙂
Good luck on your journey!
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1 Reaction@summera1 , OOOOhhhhh! that is a great video! Thanks for sharing, and I will share it with my friends! A MUST WATCH for anyone considering what drugs to start with! After watching this video, I would never tell anyone to start with the Bisphosphonates. Wow, I dodged a bullet when my Dr wanted me to start with those drugs and I refused.
In case this comment in the thread gets disconnected from your original comment, I'm reposting your video link! https://www.youtube.com/watch
Thanks again and good luck with your Tymlos. I too have had great results and I'm gaining about 12% density on my Dexa every 6 months , TBS scores improving too.
Thank you so much for taking the extra time to reply. Your perspective and
experience is very much valued and unappreciated. Yes, I do try to keep in
mind that it is often mainly the people who have negative things to say who
speak out.
And that’s great advice on the Tymlos That was the other one on which I
have gone back-and-forth about with my doctor so that may end up being the
route I go.
I understand the importance of acting soon, but I do have a long
international vacation trip to Asia coming up and I’m not going on anything
until after that because I want to enjoy myself side effect, time zone and
refrigeration worry free.
Thank you again and enjoy the weekend!
@nancytheyda , I agree about waiting until after your trip. I've gone off my drug while on a long international trip for just the same reasons. I just restarted a a lower level when I came back, worked my way back up. Some times it's just not worth the hassle.
Best of luck and enjoy your trip!
@boneoptimist You are welcome. I am encouraged by your gain in density. I have my DEXA in October. Does your insurance pay for a DEXA every six months? If so, is it Medicare?
Hi and my first response to this forum, thx all! please everyone reading, try looking at the information from dr. doug Lucas on bone drugs..he has excellent videos, seems like a straight shooter...try it, cant hurt, we all need as much info as possible...I am extremely sensitive due to a chemical posioning many years ago and my body doesnt like chemicals, fragrances on and on..also body type fits into the hi osteo P. profile, short , thin and not a lot of natural weight resistance..docs want me to start doing high intensity resistance training yesterday to get bone a movin..I am not a gym rat but maybe??? anyway, still researching but looks like TYMLOS, thx all, @bernie97
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3 ReactionsYou should choose Evinity. I'm on it now and have taken Forteo in the past. Evinity will rescue your hip bones quickly and also builds the spine. Forteo worked great for me, but my hips still needed increased density. Be sure your endo does base line bone turn over markers before the first dose and again at one month and at 3 months. These resuts will give an indication of whether or not your body is going to respond positively to the Evinity.
Second choice, Forteo. Very easy to tolerate (other than giving yourself a shot!) and good results. Be sure to follow up either medication immediately with Reclast infusion or Prolia or you will quickly lose every bit of gains.
@summera1 , no, I self pay for the dexa with TBS. It's only $68 to do at an imaging center near me. At the hospital, the dexa was $960, at the hospital owned imaging center if they bill insurance first, my portion would be $165, self-pay with no insurance billing is $68. All for the same test, go figure. My private insurance will pay once a year. Good luck on your October scan!
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1 Reaction@boneoptimist the problem regardless is after the bone builder you have to go on bone savers. I will be faced with this in less than a year.
@boneoptimist Thanks I was thinking of doing that. I think it was $150 self-pay here, but I will check prices again in six months