Struggling with making an osteoporosis treatment decision
I am just struggling to make a decision about my treatment. I had my first bone density test and found I have osteoporosis. I have a couple of -3.2 vertebrae. My hip bones less problematic. I'm 60, active and fit. I've seen an endocrinologist and a rheumatologist who were both highly recommended. Both said "Evenity" before I barely sat down. But there is so little known about Evenity, and nothing known about its long term effectiveness or risk. I've read heart breaking posts from women who were advised to take Prolia with the same assurance and then had multiple debilitating fractures because so little was known/admitted about rebound risk. I am tearful and anxious and sleepless. I've been so healthy my body has carried me through so much life and adventure. I just don't know what to do , whether I'm putting me/my body at risk. Both doctors are paid consultants for Amgen. I feel hopeless and distressed. One of the doctors, although I said I wanted to consider my options, went ahead and got pre authorization for Evenity from my insurance "to show me how easy it would be". I feel cornered. My general doctor also has concerns about me being put on a relatively unknown drug when I haven't tried something like Forteo with a long track record.
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I'm on prolia, no side effects. I understand why you are hesitant about evenity especially if your doctors are getting a kickback from the company. Do what you feel is best for you and don't feel pressured into doing something you don't feel comfortable doing. Its about you not them.
I live half the year in Asheville. Which facility uses the Echolight? Thanks.
While I'm at it, as I live in Asheville half the year and know zero doctors there, can I ask who your endocrinologist is? I've so far been taking care of health stuff through the south Florida Cleveland Clinic but that's not a great long-term plan.
For those who want to see if their doctors are in fact receiving income from drug or equipment suppliers, the non-profit Pro Publica "Dollars for Docs" website lists the recorded data through 2018. Of course secret payoffs aren't listed. It needs to be updated but I haven't found a better site yet.
If you see amounts listed, you can look at the type. I disregard insignificant amounts for travel and meals as it seems fair to me that doctors' time is spent at seminars and such. But the large payouts of $200,000+ for psychiatrists seem very questionable to me. And cosmetic surgeons are being paid a lot to use certain procedures like the disastrous Ultherapy and questionable Coolsculpt. Caveat emptor.
Echolight:
StrengthX LLC
1340C Patton Ave
Asheville, NC 28806
828-505-7200
Great, thanks! I'm go back to Asheville in a few weeks and will look then up.
Would you be kind enough to post your before and after t-scores? I just finished 1 year of Evenity and I am waiting for my DEXA scan to see how much it has helped. Congrats on no broken bones!!
I increased my bone density by eating lots of Swiss cheese and calcium fortified bread each day. Count the milligrams to make sure you are taking 1200 mg each day.
When I had my first bone density in 2000, my spine was -3.6 and my hips -3.5 Over the past 23 years with fosomaxx and actonel, my hip scores improved some, down to -3.0. My spine never improved, but didn't get worse. My new density test this month showed a major improvement in my spine -2.7 and my hips -2.6. That's still osteoporosis, but so much better. From what I've been reading, improvement seems to be really good in the spine. Yale is my local hospital, so the doctors available to my family have been great and I don't question their treatments. As I noted, my only possible side effect was a minor rash that I think was due to my mild allergy to sulfa.
Thank you so much. Im hoping for better scores as well. Mine are similar to yours. Ill post as well next month when I have my new DEXA. What will you use now after Evenity?