Choosing between Fosomax and Prolia

@beanieone I only started researching hypercalciuria after my second 24 hour calcium came in really high. I am astonished that no one thinks to test for this as it's such an easy test to do. Instead, we get lumped into the "oh, a peri-menopausal/menopausal woman so it's clearly declining estrogen" category and pushed to take Fosamax and supplement with calcium or Vit D. Or maybe they test our PTH and thyroid levels.

I hope correcting your hypercalciuria improves your bone health. I have a follow up appt next week to discuss mine.

@jupiterlady I am on Jubbanti, generic of Prolia and all okay. Like you I have many allergies and Prolia still works well. Unlike other bone loss Rx, no problem with my dentist.

The only side effect is that my calcium drops with this Rx, but that is an easy fix with calcium supplements. This is a win-win for me.

@oopsiedaisy

Thanks oopsiedaisy! You may have read how one of my doctors replied to the "why" question: "What difference does it make WHY you have it, you do!" Now there's a guy who cares!!!

Hmmm, a. pee into a hat for 24 hours and maybe find a solution . . . or here, b. take this drug which, as we all know, can cause horrible adverse reactions in some users, but can help. Ummm, I choose a.

You are the second member who has replied to me about hypercalciuria. The other member said his doc hopes for improvement in pretty quick fashion, so fingers crossed for all of us. Perhaps the medical world is onto something? I hope so!

I have followup bloodwork next week to make sure my electrolytes are still in balance as Chlorthalindone tends to make the kidneys excrete potassium.

Thanks for your good wishes - I hope this can help you as well. If you can, let me know what your doc says.

Cheers!

@aunt2jack I was diagnosed with severe osteoporosis. I initially resisted taking Tymlos because of self injection concerns. But a family member who is diabetic and self injects showed me the injector and the tiny needle and reassured me it is easy and totally painless. I then began using Tymlos and had great results after 2 years. Injections were no problem.

Is there a reason why you have not considered starting with an anabolic drug? There is current thinking on sequencing of meds that indicates that starting treatment with a bisphosphonate may interfere with gains from an anabolic. Sequencing is very important.

Looks like it might be possible to get an inexpensive 24-hr urine test for hypercalciuria if done without creatinine. Also it seems reasonably priced when done with creatinine. The creatinine portion is apparently initially used to verify correct 24-hr urine collection, although creatinine may be needed for related verifications if hypercalciuria is confirmed.

I have no special knowledge on this subject, just did some research now because I am planning on doing self-pay CTX and P1NP tests and wondered whether it was worth checking on hypercalciuria after reading posts here. Below are links to some of what I found, but each of us should do our own investigation.

Description of test with and without creatinine:
https://testdirectory.questdiagnostics.com/test/test-detail/11313/calcium-24-hour-urine-without-creatinine
Example of possible source of inexpensive no-creatine test. But there might be additional costs.
https://www.jasonhealth.com/test/11313-calcium-24-hour-urine-without-creatinine
Example of with-creatine test.
https://www.jasonhealth.com/test/1635-calcium-24-hour-urine-with-creatinine

@beanieone
My calcium levels were high for at least 5 to 7 years before I put my foot down and said something must be wrong. I then had the big P test and found out. I had hyper parathyroidism removal of the bad parathyroid I have been on Fasomax for five years and hoping to be off of that when I talk to my doctor in two months.

Maggieb892,

My blood calcium has been spot on since forever and my other labs are all good as well. My urine calcium was about 2-1/2 times the top of the range (it was last checked in 2017 and was 30% higher then but the doc was looking for other maladies).

I’m glad you found a doc who would listen to you - sometimes it takes some real “screaming” to get a doc’s attention; it’s nice to find one who will allow us to have a say in our care . . .and by association, our lives.

Thanks for posting. Best wishes to you! Cheers!

@gravity3 Thanks for your response. I have discussed anabolics with my doctor. I really do not want to self-inject for 18-24 months, as needed with Forteo and Tymlos. Evenity carries a warning for those with cardiac conditions, which I have. I am waiting for my cardiologist to weigh in, but I am also concerned about the 10-20 pound weight gain people have experienced on Evenity.

@robert2025 Thanks for sharing your experience!