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Improve bone density and strength without medication?
Osteoporosis & Bone Health | Last Active: Jun 6 11:28am | Replies (177)Comment receiving replies
Hi Teb, you and I have had the conversation about HRT before, and I found your comment about starting within 10 years of menopause interesting. I am turning 65 very soon and 17 years out of menopause. My doctor refuses to prescribe it to me, but I found a doctor who would. When I went to fill the prescription this week, the pharmacist said take a pause until after the new year and do more research!! My prescription is for Climara 25 (0.025 mg/24hr patch weekly) and Prometrium (100 mg capsule) daily for 25 days per month. I’m Canadian so I’m not sure the drugs are the same in the US?
I’m in a holding pattern as I can’t get in to see an endocrinologist until May 2024 so I thought this might stabilize me until I can start on a bone building drug. I’d love to hear people’s comments about someone my age and years out of menopause starting on a low dose estrogen patch!!!
Replies to "Hi Teb, you and I have had the conversation about HRT before, and I found your..."
That is the lowest dose of transdermal estrogen patch you can be on. I was on that for years and it did maintain my gains from Forteo. I recently saw an integrative gynecologist and she upped my prescription to .0375. I think she would have liked to raise it to .05 but I was concerned about the possibility of breast tenderness. The .025 dose seems to have worked but I think the small boost is probably a good idea since I'm not on any osteoporosis drugs for the past 5 years. The dose of 100 mg oral progesterone is the standard prescription for uterine protection.
As far as starting HRT well past the time of menopause, it is considered more risky particularly in terms of cardiac/blood clot risk. Risks of cardiac events are most prevalent in the first year and then the risk diminishes according to the research cited in Estrogen Matters by Avrum Bluming. It would be a good idea to know your personal risks before taking HRT. When going off HRT, bone density declines but I don't know if that would happen if you are taking it for such a short duration.
Hormone therapy definitely helps build bone mass, provides better sleep, better memory and more energy. I am 71 and have been on subcutaneous pelletts 12.5 estrogen and 75mg testosterone for last 20 years. I had a complete hysterectomy 20 years ago so didn't need progesterone. I recently had DCIS with lumpectomy stage 0 grade 2 so can't take estrogen patch or pellets as cells they found were estrogen positive. I just got back on testosterone slow release subcutaneous pellet 50 mg which is the lowest dose. Testosterone definitely helps to build bone and I have read some research articles that show this and it also helps the heart. Taking an estrogen cream vaginally is not absorbed systemically into the body so I plan on asking my doctor for that as well. I have osteoporosis and osteopenia and my numbers are pretty bad. I tried Fosamax over 20 years ago and it caused extreme muscle aches and pains and my numbers did not improve. I already have muscle aches since I have Osteoathritis and fibromyalgia and it just made all those symptoms worse. I am very hesitant to take any meds and have not been good about staying on calcium and doing bone building exercise but I have decided to make it part of my regular routine. Glad there is a platform like this to share info.
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I just started Estrogen cream. 50% E2 and 50% E3 for total of up to 2 mg. daily. I currently take 50 mg. Micronized progesterone and may increase to 100 mg. I’m about to start Testosterone cream- up to 3 mg. daily. Then, I’ll try low dose Tymlos. Hoping hrt will hold density after Tymlos.