Unexpectedly off Tymlos last 28 days- seeking suggestions!
64 year old active female. I turned up with (what turned out to be) an 8mm kidney stone 4 weeks ago after completing 20 months of Tymlos therapy. I dealt with it alone for the first 5 days and stopped Tymlos unilaterally because the pain in my flank was like an electric shock the one time I took the injection after the stone had reared its head.
I had surgery and a stent 10 days after it started, couldn't eat for a couple of weeks. It sucked. I was so sick I didn't think very straight and didn't push through to find out if I should be back on the Tymlos after the stone was out. So, though I should have just completed month #21 of shots as of today, I've only had 20 months and I (probably foolishly) took myself off a month ago and have had no OP medication for 4 weeks.
Now I feel better and I'm terrified about what I've done to my osteoporosis journey by abruptly taking myself off TYMLOS after 20 months of injections 4 weeks ago.
I have an endocrinology appointment on the books for next week, but it's only a 10 minute appointment, so I need to try to use their portal. The doctor only comes to my town one day a week and they are not Epic/My Chart users. I love the doctor when I can get his attention and ask a question, but when he gets in a hurry I've noticed his answers and suggestions have to remain more rote and limited.
I AM HOPING SOME GURUS ON HERE WILL MAKE SOME SUGGESTIONS AS TO WHAT TO ASK HIM FOR (through his portal or at my 10 minute appointment next week). Here is some context:
* Broke hip 2 years ago falling on ice at 62 and had total replacement. Learned I had OP by -2.6 T Score in my remaining total hip after surgery.
* Started Tymlos and my 2nd ever Dexa was 9 months after starting it. Hip had improved about 11% from -2.6 to -2.-0, spine had improved about 10% from -1.8 to -1.1.
* 11 months later (last week) I had another follow-up DEXA and I had no material change in my scores (i.e., same DEXA score after 20 months of Tymlos + an accidental month off as I had already clocked after just 9 months of Tymlos).
* Have had serum/blood calcium, PTH and Vit D checked a few times and they've been okay.
* EGFR always comes back about 90, but one self-pay, mail in screening about 7 months ago showed I had a little protein in my urine.
* Never had bone marker testing - insurance won't pay - doctor doesn't see point
* Never had a 24 hour urine calcium test (ever). Wish I had!
* Stone analysis showed it was an OXALATE stone - the kind most likely caused by hypercalciuria. Passed one tiny 1-2 mm stone once about 10 years ago. Pain for an hour and it was out. It was never analyzed but I had been very dehydrated.
* I was DX with a gastro disorder called EOE 9 months ago. It' improving, but I realize (in retrospect) that I have been very dehydrated and getting the least protein, nutrients, calories I've had in years the last 10 months. Part of me thinks I'd be ok back on Tymlos for a few months if I proactively hydrated with 3 liters of water a day and scrupulous protein & calcium intake (despite my lack of appetite from my gastro condition /EOE).
* I have 7 months worth of unopened TYMLOS pens in my fridge with 2-2.5 years till expiration (please don't lecture on this -- from Day 1 I have chosen to use all the medicine in the pens and have kept them refrigerated).
* I started HRT with .05 twice weekly Estrogen patches & micronized progesterone nightly 6-7 months ago (rx'd by the Endocrine doc).
* My hope was to have a few more months of bone building with my Tymlos and then use HRT to "lock in gains." I've always REALLY REALLY REALLY wanted/ hoped to stay bisphosphonate naive as long as possible in case protocols evolve and further anabolic therapy is deemed okay for me.
I am seeking input/votes as to whether I should inject with Tymlos the next week before seeing my Endrocrine doc for my short 6 month visit next week?
Or should I frantically try to reach him through their portal and see if he wants me to rush and get a Reclast infusion (I don't want to-- I want to delay bisphosphonates as long as possible)?
They didn't compute FRAX at last week's DEXA, but (if I use my original/ worst-ever femoral T-score and not the improved one) my FRAX score is till "bad" enough to have a chance to fight for an insurance Prior Auth for Evenity, but that would take at least a few weeks. I like the idea of a year of Evenity now, but maybe there's no time after my knuckle-head move of going off the Tymlos the last 4 weeks.
LAST-- I can start Medicare in 9 months--- if I could just find some way to "tread water" and at least sustain my gains from the first year of Tymlos until then, I would travel to Mayo or UCSD to get in-depth help planning my journey. (I live in a health-care desert with a fairly small commercial network to work with for the next 9 months.)
THANK YOU IF ANYONE has had the patience to read this. My heart is pounding with worry that I've screwed myself up by deciding to stop the Tymlos. And I'm bummed I likely had such poor nutrition, hydration, etc. the last 10 months that my body didn't have what it needed for the Tymlos to keep working for me in my year #2 🙁
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Annie208,
you don't have a problem. You don't need the Reclast infusion and you can tread water for the next 9 months. You might take a mild oral bisphosphonate for the one and a half months ? after finishing Tymlos. Or you could take Evenity for six months after finishing Tymlos. Or you could just tread.
The only thing to look out for is another kidney stone. Magnesium especially magnesium orotate binds with oxalate in the large intestine preventing it from adhering to the calcium and forming the crystals that become stones. You'd best be attentive about hydration.
I would love to see bone markers for you now and then again in one month.
You might just tell your doctor that you've restarted Tymlos, but that you'd like to proceed with approval for Evenity.
Cheers