I saw a new endocrinologist last week. We had a nice long talk and I told him the story of why I have osteoporosis. We discussed all my health issues and he was overwhelmed! I told him I was not interested in taking Prolia, Fosamax, or any of the drugs that "build bone." I told him I am coming at it from a nutritional and hormonal way (I'm on low-dose estrogen and progesterone, and also Human Growth Hormone for a lifelong deficiency due to pituitary tumor). STILL he insisted on bringing up the idea of me taking Reclast if my next Dexa Scan comes out bad. What is it with doctors they cannot hear? I did a lot of research - enough to know those drugs are not for me. My body is very sensitive and I had side effects from Fosamax. By the end of 45 minutes, I knew that he didn't have as much general knowledge as me about osteoporosis (I'm not kidding and I'm not bragging - I expected more!).

Oh butch - I'm so sorry to read about all the fractures! I think you DO have osteoporosis. Has anybody checked your parathyroid? I have been to at least half a dozen endocrinologists, and not one of them has known much about osteoporosis. They are pushing those drugs that promise to grow bone. Heck, you might want to try one of those drugs - I just want you to be sure and do a lot of research about those drugs first. The truth that I have found is that those drugs give the appearance of bone growth - but one month after you go off the drug, all that "bone growth" disappears. It also costs a lot of money. I think it is like strontium - it gives the "appearance of bone growth." I joined an osteoporosis support group on Facebook that is very lively - lots of great posts and videos and late-breaking medical news. Very cutting edge. Those women are on a mission! They put me in touch with some women who took those bone growth drugs and got osteonecrosis (bone death) in their jaws. Just speaking to those women scared me into thinking long and hard about taking those drugs. I decided to give supplements, hormones, and good eating a try. I am taking calcium, vitamin D3, vitamin K2 (MK4 + MK7), a good multivitamin and a good vitamin C, boron, flaxseed oil, magnesium, and I'm taking beef collagen when I can. I am also taking a very low dose estrogen patch and taking progesterone - and you might want to talk to your doctor about that if you are fracturing. I was diagnosed with a pituitary tumor that robbed my body of Human Growth Hormone and that is why I got osteoporosis. My Dexa scan came back at -5.7 (severe osteoporosis begins at -2.5). What works for my body may not work for your body - and you should always run any changes by your doctor first.

My best advice is to find one good doctor. Then ask that doctor for referrals. If you have a gynecologist, ask that doctor for a referral to a good endocrinologist or other doctor that can help with osteoporosis. If you live near a big town with a teaching hospital, go there. It's a shame you aren't closer to someplace like Mayo. I really think you have it; with all those fractures you're having, something is wrong. You CAN build bone by doing what I'm doing. I'm doing what all the other women on the FaceBook support group are doing. Many of them have posted their before and after Dexa Scan scores, and many of them have made drastic improvement. One woman started at -3.7 and is now at -1.9 after two years of eating right and taking supplements. There are posts like that every day. You do not. need an MD to become informed. Read everything you can find about osteoporosis and keep digging for more information. The latest big news is Vitamin K2 (MK4 + MK7). You can buy that in any drug store or even off Amazon. There are books about Vitamin K2 now. It seems very promising. (Especially for people who are worried about taking calcium and getting a kidney stone or heart attack. Vitamin K2 tells the calcium to go to the bones - not the arteries or kidneys.)

One thing I know is that you have to fight hard to find a good doctor. And you need to be as informed as you can possibly be because there are a lot of bad people out there ready to take your money and not deliver any help. Once I started reading more about the human body, I was able to make better decisions, and my doctors are very amazed with the positive improvements I have made in my life. It's YOUR body - you have to figure out how to make it happy or it will break down on you. Best of luck to all of us!

I was in TN when I had the accident. I live in Ohio and Fl. I was in Ohio for the summer when I learned of the additional issues. I will keep looking... thank you !