Stopping Evenity Early

So Good Bones by Dr McCormick sounds like its worthwhile getting?

Absolutely, yes, it is a very thorough and detailed resource.

Further clarification the book’s title is actually “Great Bones”. It fantastic!!!

I had my third injections of Evenity two days ago. No side effects so far.
I consulted with Dr Lani Simpson a few years ago. It was very helpful. I will get “Great Bones” and see what he says about the treatment after Evenity. I hear different things, but my endocrinologist and my rheumatologist both say oral meds.

So interesting. Most Drs I speak with say they do not help with severe osteoporosis. I guess they are the safest.

I guess the hope is that after a year of Evenity, you won't have severe osteoporosis anymore?

I’ve been on Evenity for 11 months and I’m in incredible pain most days (joints and muscles). Didn’t have this pain before taking Evenity. Hoping that my Dexa score improves and that the pain will go away after my last shot next month. I really don’t know what to expect.

I am reading McCormick's 2009 book called "The Whole-Body Approach to Osteoporosis: How to Improve Bone Strength and Reduce Your Fracture Risk". While it is excellent and thorough, it focuses on nutrition and testing for deficiencies and how to correct. I had hoped to correct my low bone density through nutrition and supplements, but evidently never fully understood what was involved and didn't go through all the tests required (almost all of which are not done by traditional doctors nor covered by insurance). Now that my bone density has worsened significantly, I feel that I need to be more aggressive. That said, in McCormick's earlier book he doesn't advocate treating with medicine. In fact, he says when he was diagnosed with severe osteoporosis and doctors wanted to put him on meds, he refused. So what I'd like to know is in "Good Bones", is he advocating for meds or is his approach still more holistic? Does he discuss Evenity, Prolia, etc?

In his “GreatBones” book, and know I have not read his first one that you indicated, he does talk about going on meds in some instances it may be necessary, but to do so with testing of bone markers before meds are started. Then follow up with periodic testing of the markers to see if the meds are making a difference or not. If not, why should you stay on them till maybe 2 years later when you have another DEXA. That makes no sense!!! Make changes as needed. However, the other thought is to always be trying to get to a place where you can be weened off the meds. If you are along the way changing your eating habits, health habits , doing appropriate exercise, etc… in other words addressing the underlying root cause of your low bone density, this may be possible. And know there are certain sequences of meds that are more advantageous than others . And some meds have to be followed by others to help maintain what you’ve accomplished, for example if you’re taking a bone builder type drug (Forteo, Tymlos) versus an antiresorptive (Bisphosphonates). Prolia is a different class on its own and with that one it’s a given you have to follow it up with another drug , however again…. he states that the bone markers need to be used to know when the transition to the new drug would be best!!! The timing appears to be critical with that. But his overarching feeling is to try to do things naturally to keep you from being on drugs, but if you need to go on them , doing so in a more thoughtful way to have them work for you while trying to , if possible, get to a place where you don’t need them anymore. Hope that helps!! I wish I knew all these things before I fractured last summer after a bout with CoVID!! I feel the coughing set me up for the bad move I made that caused the fracture. I have learned so much in 7 months time. Had I known then what I know now I would not have gotten off a horrible couch the way I did , really flexed my trunk in coming to stand. It wasn’t till I went to the endocrinologist three months after that that I was given a morsel of information started me in this learning process. I was determined though to really understand and feel good about the decision to go on meds before I did. I have an appt with Dr.McCormack in a few weeks and feel like , from what I know that that may be his recommendation . But I didn’t want to just blindly start without myself understanding all these things. But I will say, I went gluten free a month a half ago and in 3/4 days my whole digestion system and elimination changed for the better. I’ve been exercising in a way thats beneficial to osteoporosis , purchased a Marodyne LIV Platform, and was able to secure a DEXA with the TBS …. So I’ve done a lot in
7 months and know there’s other things for me to incorporate as time goes on . All of these things will build toward better bone quality and density giving me better bone strength. Sorry I got so long winded…. Good luck in all you’re doing … keep learning .. that’s the key!!!

This is great info. So glad you are sharing. First off, how did you get an appointment with McCormick? Where is he located? Does he do remote visits as well? Next, have you started any medications yet or are you doing all the natural stuff first? Also, how are you able to get all those tests and labs done before going to see him? I don’t know who does those type of tests. When I asked, doctors either dismissed it, or told me “you are past that point” without really looking beyond the DEXA.