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Anyone have MGUS and being treated for osteoporosis?
Blood Cancers & Disorders | Last Active: Mar 21, 2023 | Replies (30)Comment receiving replies
I am being monitored yearly for MGUS and possibly coincidentally I am osteoporotic in my femur hip (osteopenia in spine and total hip). My MGUS blood test results have been in the non-alarming range so far. My bone doctor wants me to start medicine for osteoporosis but I react badly to the ones I've tried (Fosamax, Acronel) and am instead eating well (lots of calcium and Vitamin D) and walking briskly 3-5 miles a day. My doctor says to "Keep moving!" so I do. My only symptoms so far are lower back pain that comes and goes. I am a 72-year-old woman, by the way.
Replies to "I am being monitored yearly for MGUS and possibly coincidentally I am osteoporotic in my femur..."
@isabellebeal Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect! Good for you, being proactive in your health, and getting that walking in. I'll bet you are an inspiration to others in your neighborhood? Perhaps you can invite them to join you in your walks.
I confess I don't know anything about medications for osteoporosis. Are there others to consider beyond the two you mentioned?
Ginger
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I don't have MGUS so others will opine but do know something about osteoporosis, which I'm hoping to stave off. There are a lot of choices for osteoporosis meds. I consulted with an endocrinologist and learned a lot for if/when I might have to consider them. I have osteopenia and took a DEXASCAN result from 6 years ago to my new PCP who wanted me to consider a bisphosphonate. (I did and said, nope,)
There was essentially no change between that DEXA and one done two months ago. In fact the lumbar spine number improved over 6 years for reasons unknown and I attribute to eating more ice cream. 🙂 though the PCP rolled his eyes at the thought and reminded me about cutting way back on sugar.
My point is that, maybe, the rate of change of bone density is getting under-appreciated by the medical community in lieu of reacting to a point-in-time DEXA. Maybe I lost bone earlier in life and have better diet and exercise regime now and have stabilized? At any rate, my PCP now thinks osteoporosis meds are unwarranted today.
There are a lot of proactive steps people are using to slow-down bone loss. Maybe a second opinion of your status would be helpful? There are a lot of topic threads on osteoporosis here as well.