newly diagnoised with Osteopena

tina178
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Hi All:

I have been diagnoised with advanced Osteopenia (markedly osteopenic). I am now in search of the best treatment for myself as I see most of you have or are doing the same. I am terrified of the drugs like Bonivia etc. but am looking into taking Fosteum a food drug approved by the FDA. I am also working with a dietician PHD to work out a food, vitamin and exercise plan to increase my bone health. I must admit that since I actually spoke with her she has me freeking out about my health. I know this illness can get severe but is being terrified at this point really necessary.

Do all the vitamins and bone building foods and exercise really work or is it just for some and not for others.

This person that I am working with now actually wrote a book about bone health. If you have any recomendations on the best type of doctor or health coach to work with I would be interested.

Really freeking out.....

tina

24 replies

DianeMill

Go to an endocrinologist to get your parathyroid checked as well as calcium vitamine D and thyroid.

HSB

Hi Tina,

Absolutely don't freak out. I'd love to have only been diagnosed with osteopenia. I'm 57 and was diagnosed with osteoporosis at 52. Do what Diane suggested. I did after many missteps. Turned out I had secondary hyperparathyroidism., caused by low vit D. Unfortunately my circumstances haven't really improved but I seem to be relatively stable. I would also highly recommend you read "The Myth of Osteoporosis" it helps with the freaking out, which I totally sympathize with. My current goal is to stop obsessing over it.

Hang in there
Helene

tina178

Thank you all for responding. I am working on choosing an endocronologist now and a new dietician if I need one.

I am sorry that you haven't imporved as of yet but very glad to hear you are stable..I hope you begin to improve. The last time I freeked out over a medical problem was when some vet was trying to siphon money out of me at the expense of my dogs health. I know the feeling well and do not appreciate this knowledgable person doing this to me. It's a money thing for them but you don't know till you find the right people to go to.

I am so glad I found you all and I am glad we can all help each other get well. I am starting to calm down a bit...I hope I get good news after I have the tests done.

I will update you...I have an appointment next Monday with an Endoc. I will read that book. Thanks again.

Christine

Nita

There is lots of information on the web. First, google DEXA and learn how to read a bone density test. I have had osteoporosis for 9 years, taken Fosamax for 7 and just completed two years of Forteo. I have just, in this last bone density test, moved from the osteoporosis category into osteopenia. So there is always hope! I do yoga and lift weights 3 times a week. I am 64. Don't freak out. Just google all the information you want to know. You never know if anyone else's experience will be yours so you ultimately have to make a decision.

Poet-Lady

Hi Tina,

You seem to have experiences similar to me. I am a
53-year-old, white female. I had my first bone density scan on May 2 of this year. It showed that I have osteopenia in both the spine and the hip.

I had the test done at the rhematologist's office
and he immediately wrote me a prescription for
Fosamax. I took it only for one month.

I then talked to my gynecologist. She thinks
I am too young to start taking Fosamax. She
suggested exercise. She also told me about
Fosteum.

I am now exercising to the video put out by
the National Osteoporosis Society.

I am researching Fosteum at www. Fosteum.com.
I may or may not take it.

I also downloaded the Clinician's Guide found
on the website of the National Osteoporosis
Society. It contains information on the FRAX
algorithm.

When I finish my research, I plan to talk to
my gynecologist again.

Hang in there. You are not alone!

tina178

Poet-Lady

are you also planing on taking supplements or do you plan on just taking the fosteum....

christine

HSB

Hi Neta,
I took Fosamax for 5 years and pretty much leveled out at -2.5's so I stopped. I'm curious as to what prompted you to do the Forteo. I'm having difficulty deciding if I should do it or not.

thanks,

Helene

Nita

Tina,
I "leveled off" with Fosamax too but then found out that Fosamax mostly just maintains you where you are. It doesn't build bone. Forteo BUILDS bone. That's how it was explained to me. I improve slightly after one year but the big jump was after the second year. I should also tell you that I have been taking Strontium Citrate (obtainable at vitamin shops) for three years. They warn you that this can boost your DEXA readings but I have three years of bone density tests where I was on Strontium for all of them so my improvement is still comparative data. I will never know whether the improvement is due to the Forteo or to the Strontium but that is an academic point to me. The Forteo stint is over (you can be on it only for two years because that is the maximum good it can do for you) but I will continue the Strontium. I can give you two good internet sources about Strontium. Make sure you look for Strontium Citrate as other forms are not available in this country and it makes a difference which one you are reading about. Let me know if you want those sources.

tina178

HSB...if you mean me I did not take fosamax and I hope I will not have to. I am thinking about taking Fosteum but all this is still up in the air for me till I see the endocrinologist...I have an appointment on Monday...my first. It took this long to realize I must see an Endocr for my blood and urine tests.

A little nervus but it may prove to be some relief...I hope so . I really have not had a doctor to talk to who had any kind of knowledge about Ostio or at least they were not letting me know if they did.

Christine

tina178

Nita...yes I would like those sources...so much to learn...so many decisions to make. I am in the process of adjusting my diet to one that will benefit my bones....that diet will benefit a lot.

Thanks
Christine

Poet-Lady

Hi Christine,

I have not decided yet if I will take Fosteum or not.

I have been taking calcium for ten years. I started
when I was 43. I was diagnosed with osteopenia
at 53. That was in May of this year.

OsteoDoc

The focus of Fosteum is to prevent osteoperosis but can be used to help combat osteoperosis. The active ingredient is a soy isoflavone called genestein. It is the most studied soy product. Fosteum should be taken 12 hours apart because it stays in your system for roughly 9 hours. (called "half life") It reduces hot flashes. It increases the osteoblast activity (build bone) and limits the activity of the osteoclast (break down of bone) There isn't another treatment that has the same dual mode of action. It doesn't affect the reproductive system so no risk of breast cancer and it doesn't affect the cardiovascular system. In fact, the most common side effect was constipation! Most insurance plans aren't covering it but with the discount card (fosteum.com) the cash price is cheaper than the other forms of treatment. My question is, why not try something that is proven to build bone while being safe?

tina178

I don't understand your question....are you implying that Fosteum is not safe???

Please explain.....thanks

Christine

OsteoDoc

Fosteum is probably the safest treatment for osteopenia on the market. It doesn't effect the reproductive tissues so no risk of breast cancer or thickening of the endometrium. Taking Fosteum doesn't increase your cardiovascular risks so no DVT's (blood clots), strokes, heart attacks, etc. I have done a lot of research on Fosteum and feel it is a great FIRST choice for treating osteopenia.

tina178

I like the sounds of this treatment but I must ask you are you connected with the company that produces Fosteum or just have a lot of info available to you.

thanks again
Christine

Triena

This reply is for Nita;
I too am taking Strontium Citrate from a health food store; I would be interested in 'meeting' someone else who is taking it. I stopped taking Actonel 6 months ago (when I started "Strontium Supplement"); prior to Actonel, I had been on Fosamax, but went off it after the scare about osteonecrosis--I had been scheduled for jaw surgery, but they cancelled it when they heard I had been on Fosamax. There was no positive results in my Dexa from 5 years of chemicals, so I decided, after reading about Strontium Ranelate, to take the only thing available in Canada that I hoped was closest to it. Sure would like to see Strontium Ranelate available someday, but in the meantime, my hopes are in strontium citrate (against my doctors' advice--one says take nothing except Vit D and calcium; the other wanted me to go on Forteo.)

OsteoDoc

CHRISTINE - I am not connected with the company but have read the studies they put out and have had many discussions with their drug reps. I have also looked more deeply into Fosteum via Google and have realized that Fosteum is a great option.

Nita

The articles that I have found good sources of information are: www.acu-cell.com/dis-ost.html, www.icelandhealth.com/osteoporosis.html, and for information about Strontium: www.worldhealth.net/p/273,5736,html.

Hope that helps you.......and others.

Floridagal

To all:

I met a girl today who decided to take this stronium citrate. She went back to her Dr. and was so pleased that her results of her dexa improved. He was also shocked to find that she had not been taking the Actenol he prescribed. I am believing more and more that these drugs are not the way to go for me. I am having severe heartburn ever since I started on them. We each have to decide was is best for us. What works for one may not work for us. This site is very interesting to see what each person does and how they end up! Good Luck with your decisions.

linnyd531

hi nita,
i recently started taking strontium citrate. being that you were taking forteo at the same time as strontium, it will be interesting to see your next DEXA scan results while only on the strontium. i'm very hopeful as all the research i read is positive for repletion of bone mass.............linda ny

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