1. < Osteoporosis & Bone Health

Treating Osteoporosis: What works for you?

Posted by heritage1955 @heritage1955, Apr 1, 2016

Hi. I'm new to the site and am interested in treating osteoperosis. I'm 39 yo and recently had a bone density that showed I'm at -2.4. So, going through the intial "I can't believe it" stuff. 🙂

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jaleen | @jaleen | Sep 1, 2016
In reply to @dolan "Forteo was great for me. Built up bone mass that I didn't have. Even the reps..." + (show)
@dolan

Forteo was great for me. Built up bone mass that I didn't have. Even the reps for the rx were impressed with my results and used them as an example. I would still be on if I could. I've never been told of the 2 yr limit on Prolia. I will have my 2nd shot for 2016 in Dec. and I have not been told that. I will have to ask my doctor at Mayo. Forteo was covered by my insurance.

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Do you know what your density was before and after 2 years on Forteo - i.e., the percentage of improvement as a result of your treatment?

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dolan | @dolan | Sep 2, 2016
In reply to @dolan "Forteo was great for me. Built up bone mass that I didn't have. Even the reps..." + (show)
@dolan

Forteo was great for me. Built up bone mass that I didn't have. Even the reps for the rx were impressed with my results and used them as an example. I would still be on if I could. I've never been told of the 2 yr limit on Prolia. I will have my 2nd shot for 2016 in Dec. and I have not been told that. I will have to ask my doctor at Mayo. Forteo was covered by my insurance.

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I'd have to go back in my medical records...

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donna13 | @donna13 | Sep 2, 2016
In reply to @spiritbird2 "The injection itself is not painful as it is sub cutaneous only." + (show)
@spiritbird2

The injection itself is not painful as it is sub cutaneous only.

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I had taken fosamax and other drugs for years and finally did the Forteo for two years. I was very happy to have some gain. The doctor I had gave me another fosamax type drug to help maintain what I had gained. He moved to another state and his replacement immediately took me off any osteoporosis drugs because I had been on them so long. After several months I went to an Endocronologist because I kept feeling an internal nudge to do so. I have lost a lot of what I had gained and am now at a scary -4. She highly recommended Prolia which I am going to start as soon as possible. I do have a tooth to be extracted and may have to wait a bit after that. I would definitely try the Forteo. I had no reations to it at all.

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jaleen | @jaleen | Sep 2, 2016
In reply to @dolan "Forteo was great for me. Built up bone mass that I didn't have. Even the reps..." + (show)
@dolan

Forteo was great for me. Built up bone mass that I didn't have. Even the reps for the rx were impressed with my results and used them as an example. I would still be on if I could. I've never been told of the 2 yr limit on Prolia. I will have my 2nd shot for 2016 in Dec. and I have not been told that. I will have to ask my doctor at Mayo. Forteo was covered by my insurance.

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I have been doing a lot of research about drugs for osteoporosis and I would add this to the other information I have. It would be very helpful as not everyone has had good results from these drugs - or at least enough to compensate for the trouble and expense.

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jaleen | @jaleen | Sep 2, 2016
In reply to @spiritbird2 "The injection itself is not painful as it is sub cutaneous only." + (show)
@spiritbird2

The injection itself is not painful as it is sub cutaneous only.

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Donna, this is very helpful. Thank you so much.

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dolan | @dolan | Sep 7, 2016

I finally got a chance to quickly go thru my massive binder of medical records....Sept 1998 (back -3.8)(hip -1.7)....on Fosamax the first time...Aug 2004 after Forteo (neck .842) (spine(.760). back on 70 mg Fosamax in 2006 with an increased 3.3% right hip, 2.2% left hip and 10% spine. Both hips considered normal with slight osteopenia. 3rd year of Prolia will be complete Dec 2016.

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jaleen | @jaleen | Sep 7, 2016

Dolan - Was it the Forteo or Foxamax that gave you 10% improvement in the spine?

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dolan | @dolan | Sep 7, 2016

Forteo. It built up the bone mass I didn't have. After the 2 years I went back to Fosamax 70 mg to sustain it.

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ColoradoAbbey | @lynnes | Nov 11, 2016
In reply to @angelas "Has anyone received their 1st BMD scan with a low t-score, like -3.1 in the spine,..." + (show)
@angelas

<p>Has anyone received their 1st BMD scan with a low t-score, like -3.1 in the spine, and been prescribed Forteo? I'm 50 and a little freaked out as I thought I doing a baseline BMD scan. I have no underlying conditions that can explain the extremely low score. Family history of estrogen-receptive cancer puts HRT out of the question. I would like to wait a year, increase calcium/vit D/exercise, and get another scan. Thoughts?</p>

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I'm taking Forteo. My last DEXA was -2.5 - I've had no problems with the drug. I also take 2,000 units Vitamin D a day on my doctor's recommendation. Good luck to you.

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jaleen | @jaleen | Nov 12, 2016
In reply to @angelas "Has anyone received their 1st BMD scan with a low t-score, like -3.1 in the spine,..." + (show)
@angelas

<p>Has anyone received their 1st BMD scan with a low t-score, like -3.1 in the spine, and been prescribed Forteo? I'm 50 and a little freaked out as I thought I doing a baseline BMD scan. I have no underlying conditions that can explain the extremely low score. Family history of estrogen-receptive cancer puts HRT out of the question. I would like to wait a year, increase calcium/vit D/exercise, and get another scan. Thoughts?</p>

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Thanks for your reply. I am curious as to your out-of-pocket costs. I found out that with my insurance, it would cost me a total of  $6,000 over the 2-year program - at the least. The company reports that the price goes up three times a year so it would be even more.

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