DEXA results after mostly partial Tymlos dosing

Posted by windyshores @windyshores, Apr 20, 2023

A few people have asked me to post my DEXA results since I did not do a full dose of Tymlos (except for a few weeks in March). I started Tymlos in September 2021 at two clicks and moved up slowly to 6 clicks and mostly stayed there. For maybe 6 months I did 7 clicks, and only a few weeks at 8. I have been on Tymlos for 18 months (and still have two pens left!). My doc may want me to use those two pens, or he may want me to do a test dose of Reclast (1/4 dose) to assess that approach to "lock in" gains. I may also ask about Evenity. Here are my results, better than I expected (I have 7 past spinal fractures).

INDICATIONS FOR TEST: Osteoporosis, Tymlos, H/O fracture

Findings: L 1 excluded from analysis

Region T-Score
AP Spine -2.5 (2021 was -3.7)
Femoral Neck -3.6 (2021 was -4.1)
Total Hip -2.9 (2021 was -3.3)

Additional data on Z-Score and BMD in g/cm2 is available by clicking the image.

World Health Organization criteria for BMD interpretation classify patients as:
Normal (T-score at or above -1.0)
Osteopenic (T-score between -1.0 and -2.4)
Osteoporotic (T-score at or below -2.5)

At this facility, the least significant change in BMD with 95% confidence is 0.025 g/cm2 at the L1-4 spine, 0.026 g/cm2 at the total hip, and 0.029 g/cm2 at the femoral neck.

Today's examination is compared to the technically similar prior study of 6/12/2021. The % change in BMD since the last examination is as follows:
AP spine 19.1
Total hip 9.4

IMPRESSION:
Based on BMD, diagnosis is osteoporosis. Marked gain in BMD as noted above.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Osteoporosis & Bone Health Support Group.

A few postscripts:
This was not a study. Just one person, me. I am small and thin so that could be a factor. Talk to you doctor about dosing!

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Congrats on your significant gains. That's great to hear. Hope the next phase is equally as successful.

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My eGFR (kidney test) was terrible. I got a 36 when normal is 60 or above. This approaches stage 4 kidney disease. But I am sure I was dehydrated and will ask doc to reorder.

I do not think my doc will do Reclast with a kidney test result that bad. So curious what he will say this week.

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I mentioned in another thread (can't find it) that I read that Tymlos "eats Vitamin D." For 18 months on Tymlos, I have been taking 3,000 units daily (one of those 1,000 unit gummies also has K2) which is a pretty high dose. My Vitamin D level just tested was 49, reference 20-80. My level two years ago was similar, at 52. So it would seem that for me, Tymlos did require 3,000 units to remain at a stable level.

As for calcium, I cannot eat dairy and take 800mg calcium, either citrate or carbonate (I often need Tums) and my level tested at 9.5 (reference 8.9-10.3). To make the test accurate, I read that I should not take calcium within 24 hours of the test so I took 200mg in the morning the day before the am test,
So it would seem, for me, that the recommended 1200mg is too much. Tymlos raises calcium levels for a few hours so I did Tymlos after the test!

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@windyshores

My eGFR (kidney test) was terrible. I got a 36 when normal is 60 or above. This approaches stage 4 kidney disease. But I am sure I was dehydrated and will ask doc to reorder.

I do not think my doc will do Reclast with a kidney test result that bad. So curious what he will say this week.

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Sorry to hear of your kidney test result. I’m hoping it’s dehydration and not a valid test and you can go forward with your bone health treatment.

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congrats on ur dexa results post treatment! if you don't mind sharing, what exercise regimen do you use? ty

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@windyshores congrats on ur test results post treatment! if you don't mind sharing, what exercise regimen do you use? ty

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@mayblin I have fractures which affect my ability to exercise in certain ways. I walk every day, do tai chi, and want to get into swimming. PT just does massage!

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@windyshores

@mayblin I have fractures which affect my ability to exercise in certain ways. I walk every day, do tai chi, and want to get into swimming. PT just does massage!

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@windyshores thank you! your results are sure impressive! you must have done ur best to achieve that. My 1 year dexa results were mixed and with 10 more months to go with forteo, I have a lot of catch up to do

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@mayblin

@windyshores thank you! your results are sure impressive! you must have done ur best to achieve that. My 1 year dexa results were mixed and with 10 more months to go with forteo, I have a lot of catch up to do

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@mayblin I hope you get good improvement!

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