Bone Coach - How do you know it works?

@babs10 I agree, but it has been a struggle for me to convince my doctor to let me take any tests beyond the BMD and standard blood work (even though I am paying for most of them) but she has reluctantly consented on a few (I ask for them one at a time in order of priority to increase my chances of getting one and thank her when she does...it has mostly worked so far but it is frustrating). She has no interest in finding a root cause. I am in Ottawa, Canada and many people can't get a family doctor here due to shortages so switching doctors is impossible. We have naturopaths which I believe are the closest thing to the US functional medicine doctors, but there doesn't seem to be much expertise in osteoporosis, and they are not covered unless you have private insurance (which luckily I have). This site has been extremely helpful...so glad I found it!

@dianeelizabeth, that sounds so frustrating. I don’t understand the reluctance and am also glad you found the group.

I have tried to post this before with the result being some could not see all of the chart. I hope you can see it, linda. I have had osteopenia and osteoporosis for a long time, which I mostly ignored until the precipitous drop that showed in 2017. I tried a bisphosphonate and could not tolerate it. I retired and began working on my lifestyle, exercise, and diet in January of 2019 and my first Dexa 6 months later showed stabilization and a small improvement! My 2021 scan I was over the moon about! Then in 2023, my sister died, and it made for a very stressful, disorienting year for me, and my Dexa shows some loss. But if you consider where I was when I began in 2019 and where I am at the 2023 scan, my lumbar spine score went from -3.6 to - 3.4, my femoral neck score from minus 3.1 to minus 2.7, and my total hip score worsened, -2.6 to -2.8, BUT that score is contingent on accurate placement on the machine, and was anomalous once before too. so I am not as concerned about it. I don't know how quickly gains are made with drugs, and maybe this is not impressive to anyone but me. But I am also much stronger and well muscled. I believe muscles protect us from falling, and make us generally healthier. I hope you find this helpful.
Please, if someone reads this and feels the need to tell me I must take drugs so I won't fracture, know I have chosen my path with care and research, and am at peace with it.

well done and thought mlwh!!!

On the contrary, I am encouraged by what you have done. The only medication that seems at all tempting is HRT but I am 71 and I doubt any doctor will prescribe it. So diet and exercise it is.

I am beginning my journey with bioidentical hormones at age 72 which have been prescribed by my cardiologist. I had a complete hysterectomy when I was 38 and did a short stint on synthetic hormones. 4 years ago I was diagnosed with severe osteoporosis, tried the natural route for 2 years with no improvements. Went on Tymlos and had an 11% spine improvement. I now have been on Tymlos for 2 years so my protocol is now over. Since my blood work shows very minimal hormones across the board, my cardiologist suggested bioidentical hormones to not only help with all the hormone deficiencies I have but to help with maintaining the gains I had with Tymlos.
Many doctors still use the research from the early 2000’s to refuse HRT therapy. My doc has done extensive research and attended many medical studies on HRT replacement and feels confident that we need hormones as we age to continue to be and feel healthy. I’m trusting him but have done much research myself and feel confident I’m make the right choice. This journey is not easy but we have many tools to be our own advocates for our health.

It sounds like you have a very supportive and well informed doctor. That’s great. I have just started looking for research on HRT for women over 65 (I am almost 72). Any pointers?

I do have a wonderful cardiologist who is treating my lack of hormones with bioidentical hormones and to maintain my bone gains.
Look up Dr Felipe Gersh on YouTube. She is located in Southern Calif and is a proponent of HRT in older women. I am going to try and make an appt to consult with her on my new journey with hormone therapy to make sure the levels I am on are sufficient for my needs.
Have a great weekend.

I took transvaginal estradiol during 2020, and have wondered if that had anything to do with my stellar 2021 scores. It was prescribed by my OBGYN. Thinking maybe I should reconsider that intervention. Thanks for the nudge.

That’s wonderful news. I was wondering which would be better for my bones, transvaginal or the patch for my bones. I’d rather do the cream than the patch which has to be changed every 3-1/2 days. So happy to hear you did well and saw improvement