Medication efforts:

What specifically do you do at the gym? I also go to the gym almost every day unless my yard work or recovery from yard work is too much .

What specifically do you do at the gym? I also go to the gym almost every day unless my yard work or I am too sore from yard work. I do the elliptical and weight machines. I seem to do weights one day and 30 minute elliptical the next day . I try to always do the back extension machine.

I agree that with your numbers that you’ve handled things well . I honestly think the answer is the gym for those who can do gym exercise. I make myself go to the gym every day and I feel it’s like daily medicine even if I only do 30 minutes of the recumbent bike which is my lazy light exercise. I think the supplements and medicine are like bandaids and don’t really make you work your bones and body.
My dad aged physically very well and always exercised and my mom refused to exercise , refused medicines and refused supplements and aged physically very poorly but she did heal very well from a hip fracture when she was very old.
I am doing the gym , supplements and medicine and I am 60 years old and my spine number is -4.7 and my femurs are -3.1 and -3.4. I am extremely concerned about spine, however, I am not sure my dexa is accurate due to that I had a tech who had never seen the machine before and was not careful with my placement and the block . Also I am small framed with osteoarthritis or arthritis in lower spine plus have minor scholiosis. My osteoporosis is one of my top life priorities. I go between 2-4 pm every day so I get responsibilities done in the morning then exercise in the afternoon. I tried fosamax which I thought was terrible but now I know I had a more tolerable experience with fosamax than I did with Boniva. My next medical appt is with a bone specialist endocrinologist. - a higher expert than my last endocrinologist who has a specialty in hormones.

What does trabecular mean?

In simple terms bone is made of a hard outer covering =cortical layer
The inner material inside the bones is softer in nature = trabecular
Our skeleton /bones need to be hard but also somewhat flexible to allow for movement. The trabecular area where is a lot of important molecular processes occur ie, origin of where red blood cells are made,etc.

Tymlos and Forteo are daily shots typically for 2 years. Evenity is done once a month for a year.

I will give some further explanation of my previous comment in the next day or so, as after the fact I realized some of that was oversimplified. Sorry!

Well, I've gotten all the testing done that Dr. McCormick recommended and have now set up a consult with him for July 19th. From what I can tell from the results so far, I think the bone loss is primarily due to decades on an SSRI and thrice weekly doses of a benzodiazepam. Those medications saved my life in terms of controlling my depression and panic disorder, so not taking them isn't an option for me. I do believe that if I didn't live in the capitalist, high competition, low safety net, every man for himself, culture of the U.S., I could get by on little to no medication, but that is a moot issue at this point. I also think that if I hadn't been such a disciplined exerciser and constant analyzer of my diet, the numbers would be worse. My latest lumbar number was -2.9, my left hip was -2.2, and my right hip was about -2.0, which are one number lower than they were last September. Given what SSRIs and Benzo do in terms of raising the levels of prolactin, I might end up on a low dose of HRT. We'll see what Dr. McCormick says. And I have an appointment with a different endocrinologist in early August. So between the two, I should know by the end of August what my medication plan going forward will be.

Windyshores and anybody else who wishes to ring in, please know I have value your input very much.

Could you please share how to get in touch with Dr.McCormack , what tests he wants one to have before a visit or consult , and when in relation to seeing him should those tests occur? I saw his info somewhere last week , but today I was unable to find it. I am reading his Great Bones book so have knowledge of tests he uses , but for that initial consult would like more specific guidance if you have it. Thank you tons!!

Sure
Please put in your google search
Osteoporosis Dr Keith McCormick . If you call him or message his office they explain the rest.