Treating Osteoporosis: What works for you?

Acid reflux meds contribute to osteoporosis. I find I have to taper off them. You can stop Prilosec (omeprazole) and use Pepcid or Zantac to taper off meds. After a few days, take half, then a quarter, a few days each.

The thing is, when you take an acid reducer, your body says "I need to make more acid" so when you stop, your acid reflux tends to be worse. You have to slowly get your body back to making it normally.

I never eat after 5. I use Pepcid occasionally, and Tums. Tums has the added benefit of calcium even though not citrate.

You are terrific. Thanks for the info. I didn't realize Omeprazole and Famotidine make osteo worse. Oh my gosh!. I'm also taking a heavy duty medication for my lung infections, so I need to check that out, too. You are better than any doctor. Thanks, windyshores

For what it's worth, I tossed out all tummy acid drugs and relied on my grandmother's old cure after first learning about the PPI osteoporosis risk.

When I have an upset stomach of any kind, I drank 6-8 oz. of water with 1/4 tspn of baking soda. And it works for me 100% of the time. I don't have high blood pressure so the sodium from the baking soda isn't a problem.

My gastroenterologist said a lot of his patients have done the same thing successfully. It might be worth a try.

Here's a link to an article about the meds and osteoporosis.

So interesting. Yes, my new gastroenterologist upped my Omeprazole and added famotidine. She also wants me to have an endoscopy and a procedure where they put a probe in your nose, down to your stomach and you keep it in overnight and then you go back to the hospital the next day. It's supposed to measure the acid in your stomach. It sounds torturous to me, so I am very nervous about it. I'd rather use the baking soda! 🙂

Just went back to prolia..
Have done calcitonin and forteo. Have 7 fractured vertebrae in back. T-8 and t-12 more than 90%.
After prolia last Wednesday I am weaker in back and more severe pain. Could prolia have caused this? It hurts to breathe.

Had you been on Prolia and gone off it without a relay drug? I'm sorry to read that you're dealing with this as I'm sure that we all are...

If you don't have any issues with sodium, try the baking soda. A lot of my gastroenterologist's patients gave up on the meds and have done well. I hope that your gastroenterologist informed you of the effect of PPIs on bones. (Mine did not, by the way.) PPIs are tricky drugs. They have odd side effects, none of which I knew much about when first prescribed to me.

Maybe this is just me but I'd be very careful about risking any other part of my body just to strengthen my wrists. Push-ups and the plank require near perfect stability and strength of the spine and hips. Any slip out of the posture can stress both while the load-bearing responsibility falls on already-vulnerable wrists. There are myriad ways to use safer resistance trainer that just isolates the wrists. You could start with something safe and work your way up to push-ups, etc., if and when the wrist bones show gains. Again, this is just my thinking and I tend to be risk-averse about things not easily fixed. Slow and steady seems a good mantra for osteoporosis-prevention strategies in my mind at least.

Thank you for your reply. Good suggestion. I will also talk with my husband's nephew who has a Phd in exercise physiology and runs an outpatient PT department for a hospital in NY. He has been helpful before.
I may ask my doctor for some PT visits, too.

I have been in hospital/rehab for 1-1/2 years with various issues. Finally home and catching up with endocrinologist for all issues and osteoporosis. I’ve had 3 prolia injections so long ago I don’t remember the pain.