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Struggling with making an osteoporosis treatment decision

Osteoporosis & Bone Health | Last Active: Jun 4 11:43pm | Replies (661)
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@zaa

Yes, it is helpful to hear others comment on what they are using. Did your doctor say this alendronate will be as effective in building bones as any other drug? BTW, I thought I had GCA and had the temporal biopsies done? Did you? I think that was another push in wrong direction by my rheumatologist that was unnecessary although I seemed to be having the sore scalp issues that is seen in GCA. Thanks for your info…it helps to chat with others.

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Replies to "Yes, it is helpful to hear others comment on what they are using. Did your doctor..."
Teri | @tsc | Aug 9, 2021

Hi @zaa. My doctor didn't say, but I trust him and it was his drug of choice. Another doctor I trust also recommended it. I think if a drug has been around a while and is effective, some doctors prefer to go with it vs. push the new drugs, which may not have a track record. Usually, after five years on alendronate, or a similar drug, a "drug holiday" is recommended. I'm hoping to get back some bone density - with exercise and supplementation - to be able to get off it before then.

The temporal artery biopsy is pretty much the state of the art tool for diagnosing GCA. I had it done at the end of May. There is also an imaging technique, but it's pretty rare. GCA can result in stroke or blindness so it's nothing to mess with. I think if there's any hint of GCA it's prudent to have the biopsy done. I'm glad I had it done before the Delta variant started gaining ground here.

It sounds like the result of your biopsy was negative. Is that so?

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