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Gastric Bypass Patient w Osteoporosis - What Type of Doctor to See?
I am 66 years old was diagnosed with osteoporosis several months ago after my gynecologist suggested I get a Dexa exam. When my regular doctor (an internist) received the results (-2.8 in my spine) he said to me, "you have the bones of an 88 year old woman." I asked him if this could be a result of malabsorption due to the fact that I had a gastric bypass (Roux N Y) 20 years ago. He looked at me surprised, looked at his computer, and then said, "Oh, yeah!," like this was news to him that I had a bypass. (Long before I started with him - but shouldn't doctors be making that fact prominent in your chart so that it is taken into consideration with every blood test or other issue that may develop?).
Then he told me I need to immediately start taking Prolia shots. He said it was no big deal, I would only have to take the shot once a year, and then after 5 years I would have to move to taking a medication in pill form. Luckily, I had to wait a few days to get the prescription from a special pharmacy because that is what alerted me that this was not your run of the mill medication and that I should Google Prolia. When I saw all the horror stories, I immediately called and cancelled the shots. The next time I saw my doctor he told me that the stories of side effects are very exaggerated and when I insisted I didn't want Prolia, he smirked and me and said that I was going to have to take some form of medication at some point.
So, that is where I'm at. I have been reading what I can and have started walking, lifting weights, and taking all advised supplements. I'm sure it won't be enough (especially due to the malabsorption issue) and I probably do need meds, but I need to know what type of doctor I should rely on to advise me on osteoporosis since I have lost trust in my regular doctor. Should I go see a rheumatologist? An endocrinologist? Or some other type of doctor who will be knowledgeable in the long term affects of gastric bypass and osteoporosis? Any advice would be appreciated!
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yes i take calcium vitamin d mk7 and k magnesium resvesetrol and coq collegen and thinking of adding vitamin c and prehaps b12 taking k2 we sold our house and for the last 6 wks were in a rental waiting on our nesw place being finished we finally have moved in and now need to get settled so my diet has not been the best but once we are settled i will go back to eating better. i was diagnosed with ra as i have mentioned in other posts and all the stree caused a flare so my dr upped my medication so it is very hard for me to even think of another powerful drug for the osteoprosis i can only say before my prolia shot no ra it kind of makes one wonder
Very encouraging to hear that have had improvement! Thank you for the advice!!
i belive you need mk7and k2 should check with nutrionalist or someone who knows vitamins. you need to take calcium with certain other things to ne sure your bones are absorbing it and notyour arteries.
@proliamistake , based on your user name, did you take Prolia? If so, was it a mistake for you? Of course my doctors are pushing it for me and I’m being stubborn about agreeing to taking it.
I give Prolia daily to people who have taken it for several years and they have no c/o regarding the medication. There none mass is now good. Not only does it stop bone loss it regenerates the lost bone mass.
My docs will not use Prolia unless absolutely necessary due to the risks involved in getting off.
yes i had 1 shot and it changed my life forver. it was the biggest mistake i ever made i know there are many people outthere who take it with no consequeses but so many any more haad serious side effects. some people have had side effects that lasted for years. i had 2 compresion fractures from the prolia i don't know how people get off it without problems i would opt for something else but everything has side effects
you can tell your dr for me the effects were NEVER exxagerated. the pain ansd suffering were and are real i wish i had just checked it out before taking it i will live forever with the decision to get th shot it was only 1 the first time but the effects seems to last forever. some of the side effects have gone away but some still linger
yes i had only 1 shot last november and had months of hell and pain and many many other things then out of the blue i was diagnosed with ra sorry alittle to coincidental to me