Treating Osteoporosis: What works for you?

Hi there.......let me see if I understood your request. Yes, that is the issue. I was only osteopenic and my Mayo endocrinologist would not have begun any medication. I think that I need to take the meds, i.e. Fosamax, now to prevent fractures and reduce reabsorption even though there wasn't a lot of bone-building done during the two years on Tymlos. I cannot look back, I can only look forward.

Thanks for clarifying things in your posts. That is vary helpful.
Chris

I am not sure I would medicate at -2.5, but at -1.5 definitely not. @artscaping did insurance cover Tymlos because of the wrist fracture? I have a friend who fractured her wrist with a score of -2.9 and she is not on meds. I think once folks are osteoporotic, meds should be considered but if not severe there is an argument to wait. For osteopenic scores like -1.5 I am surprised any doc would prescribe meds.

Thanks for the explanation. It's bothersome to see that earlier doctor was, shall we say, overly aggressive in basing an osteoporosis diagnosis on wrist numbers but I'm glad you got to Mayo and are in good hands now!

Good evening. Thank you for seeking understanding. Your attention to this situation was really appreciated. And you were spot on. I am updating my Mayo endocrinologist this evening and letting him know of your comment about his decision being "good medicine".

Chris

Hi there @windyshores, unfortunately, insurance did not cover Tymlos significantly.......at least not as you received. I think it ended up averaging about $200-$300 a month. Also, there was no wrist fracture.....it just didn't score well. I have titanium boxes in my cervical spine so....Dexa scans cannot be done there.

I sure was surprised to hear the comments from my Mayo endocrinologist about not having significant enough evidence to begin medication. However, being positive.......we just move forward.
Thanks for your response.
Chris

I have a question ... What are some side effects that you or someone you know have experienced taking Prolia, Tymlos or Forteo? If you have had side effects, what are they and how did you deal with them? I'm more comfortable knowing firsthand what people (rather than clinical studies) deal with taking these drugs.
Thank you for your response!

Hi @toni7, There are a few discussions on the side effects you might find helpful:

-- Side Effects of Prolia: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/side-effects-of-prolia/
-- Tymlos side effects: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/tymlos-side-effects/
-- Forteo vs. Tymlos: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/forteo-vs-tymlos-1/

I’d like to put in a good word for Forteo, as I’m just now finishing up my 2nd year with zero side effects. Never had a single problem with it beyond overcoming my early squeamishness about injecting myself. Have my DEXA next week and hoping for good things!

Hi @patsc, I don't have any information for my wrists. I protect them actually when I am doing floor exercises. and yoga stretches. The most concerning scores were the osteopenia ones which stayed nearly the same after two years of T ymlos. It is apparent that I didn't need to start medication at that time. Now I am taking weekly alendronate which makes it possible for me to continue protecting my bones after the two years of Tymlos.

These medications and procedures can be complex. I try to do my best and work on improving by strength and stability so I don't fall. I have a wonderful therapist at Mayo who selects Otago type exercises for me. We check in by video. I perform and she adds new exercises. It is working very, very well. I consider myself a lucky gal.

May you have happiness and the causes of happiness.
Chris

Where to begin! Either from being on Prolia or going off briefly ( when bone specialist said I needed a "drug vacation" ) leading to several broken vertebrae pretty much ending my active, pain free life, and also leaving me with skin eruptions, macular degeneration of retina threatening blindness (which one retina specialist said because I was on Prolia and another retina specialist said was because I had osteoporosis, so go figure!) The only blessing is my advanced age so nature will put me out of this misery fairly soon. (That said, constant pain and immobility was definitely NOT my retirement plan!) How do I deal with this? By having enough money to hire help to do chores I used to manage easily, take taxi cabs because I can no longer drive (although not having a car does save money), by crying a lot, and by sharing my experience with others!