Forteo vs. Tymlos: Which did you choose?

@windyshores It sounds as if with the guidance of your doctor you are doing all you can to be able to manage to take Tymlos. I hope you do succeed.

I am curious, do compression stockings raise blood pressure? I am borderline high and have started wearing compression stockings because I have been retaining fluid in my legs (started prior to taking Tymlos) so I sure do not need something that's going to make my BP any worse.
JK

@windyshores It sounds as if with the guidance of your doctor you are doing all you can to be able to manage to take Tymlos. I hope you do succeed.

I am curious, do compression stockings raise blood pressure? I am borderline high and have started wearing compression stockings because I have been retaining fluid in my legs (started prior to taking Tymlos) so I sure do not need something that's going to make my BP any worse.
JK

I was wondering when you are taking less than a full dosage, do you only use that pen for a month and throw the unused amount away or do you continue to use that pen until you have used an amount equal to 30 days full dosage? If you get to full dosage and still have problems will you just back down on clicks or give up on Tymlos? Also, are you on your own to increase, or are your docs instructing you on when to increase? I do not hear from mine unless I send a message. Sorry for all the questions. But I really want to try again and I need to call and ask if it is all right to start again but at what dosage. My docs have very few patients that are on Tymlos and I do not think they have ever tried starting at a partial dosage and working up. I would think that partial dosages for the two years would help in building bone back before changing to another drug. I would love all the feedback and opinions from others who have used Tymlos. Thanks to all for support and I hope you get to your goal soon. Stay connected as to how that turns out. Stay healthy and safe. KLH

I keep the pen I am using in the fridge. The only reason to have it out is that it is more uncomfortable to inject if cold. I will probably go past 30 days but by 5 days or so. If I cannot get to a full dosage,I will ask my doctor whether to do 1/2 dose or go on Evenity. That depends on your situation. I had three new osteoporotic fractures in April and 3 old traumatic ones. My worst score is -3.9. I can't really fool around.

I do not really know my scores because my doc does his own comparison and calculations. And it is never posted on my chart that I can see. I guess I am going to start asking more questions. I only see him yearly and not much discussion in between. It has been years since I had two years of Reclast and no side effects. And then last year out of the blue he talks about me starting Tymlos for two years. No discussion only said it was a self-injection medication. So I got it from the pharmacy and started but only lasted four months with the side effects. I sent a message with what was happening and he said just to stop. We were going to switch to Prolia after my dental surgery and the 5 month waiting period after dental work. That is why I want to try Tymlos again because you do not have to wait with dental procedures. Also because Tymlos builds bone better if you can last two years. Then change to a maintenance medication. I am going to ask what my scores have been and see if I can get some scores. Thanks for your reply and information. I have been learning alot from everyone and finding out how little I know. Stay in touch and how Evenity goes if you start it. Stay well and be safe. KLH

After I was in the hospital with afib which I believe was triggered by Tymlos (though I have had 4 episodes in 5 years), I talked with cardiologist, who said to do Evenity not Tymlos. I talked with two endocrinologists. One said retry Tymlos but start at a low dose and stay at the lower dose longer before ramping up. That MD did not tell me how to do it but left it to me.

My main endo, who is chair at a top hospital, left the decision of retrying Tymlos versus Evenity up to me but said retrying was "logical." He recommended compression stockings to treat low blood pressure. He also said start low, whatever I want, and ramp up slowly. He mentioned that I could also do, say, 3 clicks then after 15 minutes do another 1-3. I started with two clicks for a week, then added the thrid 15 minutes later, then moved to 3 clicks all together.

I have changed to the morning and take my blood pressure before the shot. So far so good. In a week I will go up to 4 clicks, a half dose. Docs want me to do this but don't give me specific instructions. I am going by how I feel. I will tolerate some side effects but not afib and I need to be able to function. I will let you know how it goes.

I hope you are doing well with the lower dosage and no side effects. Please keep in touch as you increase the dosage and how you feel. I am hoping soon the docs will let me try again and see how it goes. I would like to finish the while two years if I can. But my BP goes too high (185/105)and my pulse is>100. I hope to follow your example and ramp up slowly. Thanks for sharing much appreciated. My thoughts are with you as you start again. KLH

You should always have your scores. Either through a patient portal or by requesting them from the doctor or medical records. I can't imagine making decisions without having them!

Thanks for the reply. I agree but all these years I only see him once yearly and then not much said. He does his own thing and makes the two-year comparison for his own records but never states any numbers. So from what I do see I failed but by how much I do not know. I guess I better start asking more questions. I now have a PA assigned to me since my doc has moved up the Admin chain and is not there much anymore but does make decisions. My Dexa scan is due in Nov. so I am going to ask alot of questions. I never knew there were so many medication choices for bone building. In our patient portal, it does not give scores only that a report has been auto- filed. I do not make any decisions. I am just given a route to follow. At the time I had no background info like I have now since I have been on the Mayo Clinic Connect. This has been an eye-opener. I am grateful for this and everyone else. Take care. KLH

I keep the pen I am using in the fridge. The only reason to have it out is that it is more uncomfortable to inject if cold. I will probably go past 30 days but by 5 days or so. If I cannot get to a full dosage,I will ask my doctor whether to do 1/2 dose or go on Evenity. That depends on your situation. I had three new osteoporotic fractures in April and 3 old traumatic ones. My worst score is -3.9. I can't really fool around.