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I recently had another bone scan dex. test and found out I am getting worse.
I have taken actonel and now take Boniva faithfully.
I do not drink and do not smoke.
Take plently of calcium and Vit. D.
What should I ask my doctor, as to why I am getting worse? Thanks JULIE at snofyre@aol.com
Exercise Celiac disease Claritin Lipitor Boniva Physical therapy Fosamax Vicodin Synthroid Osteopenia Actonel Osteoporosis Norvasc Hypothyroidism Evista
What weight-bearing exercises are you doing? Perhaps that is why. Did you talk about exercise with your Dr?
I also had a recent bone density scan and although my hips improved slightly, my spine worsened slightly. I also have been on Actonel and was prescribed Boniva in light of this development. I work with a trainer twice a week, do yoga 2-3 times weekly, take some additional calcium supplements. What more can I do?
If you are taking the Boniva and not improving then maybe you should go for additional test to find out if you have a secondary cause for this. You might try an endocrinologist to see if if there is something more going on, like your thyroid or like in my case my kidneys depleting my calcium which I now take a diuretic for. If you can find out the cause maybe it will save you a bad T score...
What were the differences between the two scans? Are the differences more significant than the the machine error? That is, even using the same machine, there is a certain error between calibrations. Was the same machine used in both the recent and the prior DEXA? If not, then the error could be much larger.
Secondary issues as mentioned in an earlier reply by KathyS need to be considered, if you have not already been tested.
You should also be aware that DEXA scans are really bad predictors of future fracturing. Yes, they give BMD but there are more factors than that-structure, bone flexibility, and shape that are not factored and may play more significant roles than just BMD.
So would need more information to really determiine if you really are getting lower BMD. There have been other postings discussing DEXA error factors but don't recall where it was posted. A DEXA doctor/technician covered or referred to a website where this information can be found.
Another interesting post gave the results of a study where they took a group of women who had fractured once and split them into two groups- no biophosphates and biophosphates. They found that the group having taken the biophosphates had odds of 1 in 100 of having another fracture whereas the group taking no biophosphaes had a fracture rate of 2 out a 100. Not a big difference.
So don't get too concerned. Osteo is a real maze. No good answers.
Listen there is a number of things that build bones:
Calcium citrate, iprilflavones, boron, vitamin K1 and K2, strontium citrate, silica, and it is reported possible Xyotol and artificial sweetner. I take all of them and and have given up my Fosamax .
Bob in VA at truman1948@comcast.net
Bob, I am not familiar with all of the things you mentioned. (iprilflavones) What form are these in, one pill, several? Also, have you had conformation that they are helping? Thanks,
Ipriflavones are indicated on the label for bone health.
These capsules I believe help in the absorbtion of calcium. I order mine off the net. One also needs to take 2000 I.U. of Vitamin D3, also magnenese and magnesium (pardon my spelling. Weight bearing exercise is essential even if it is nothing more than walking. Because of my Celiac Disease, the number cause of osteoporosis in men, I was not absorbing my necessary nutrients. After a year on the gluten-free diet my bone scan has improved, especially in my spine. Only my femur neck needs watching.
Bob in VA
hi kathy.. I appreciate you responding to my question about why my osteopenia is getting worse. I already go to an endocrinologist. I have hypothyroidism but faithfully get tested and take synthroid.
What type of tests could I ask my dr about getting, that may show other problems? thanks :) i have heard that sometimes calcium is not absorbed well in the body, due to an other problem. Julie at snofyre@aol.com
What are the other factors you talk about that can be involved in osteopenia? Also, what types of tests are you referring to, which may show reasons why I seem to be getting worse? I.e. calcium not being absorbed in my body correctly?
I do not know if I can determine if the machine used on me was in error. I can request the test results of the last 2 tests, however.
I do not have time to exercise, sadly. I must work more than full time, as my husband is not well and on disability, I travel a long ways to work and spend 7 days a week trying to work to survive.
When I get home, I collapse in sleep.
Not trying to whine.. I just have no time for anything but no money for physical therapy which I would give anything to have. Just very bad time in life right now, financially.
If you could help with conditions or tests to be investigated, to help cancel out any extra problems why I seem to be getting worse. that would be great! thanks
Julie at snofyre@aol.com
Definitely get your Vitamin D levels checked. A simple blood test can do this. Mine levels are very low and I'm now taking 1800iu D3 a day (rather than the 800iu I was taking previously). Maybe this is why my osteo was getting worse? I hope that it will help.
I, too, had osteopenia that worsened (was taking Evista), then diagnosed with osteoporosis, took Actonel, after1 year it was worse. Referred to an endocrinologist who did a battery of tests and found out I was excreting my calcium in my urine. He prescribed Hydroclorat and now 1 year after, my T scores are much better, putting me in the osteopenia range again.
Good Luck,
Cher
thanks for telling me that. It is the first thing that I have read that seems to me as if it might fit me. I will inquire about to my dr. :) Julie at snofyre@aol.com
Cher - you say you are taking Hydroclorat, but I can find no trace of that in the UK - does this medication have any additional names?
I have been doing everything I can but still my bone turnover his soaring (excreting calcium).
Thanks, Lynne
Bob wondering your opinion on algae calcium.. is it what they say it is??? that it aborbs way way better than the ordinary calcium.
are you taking 1500 milligrams of calcium taking 500 milligrams only at a time because your body cant absobed any more than that. I also take 1200 milligrams of vitamin d 3 times a day and horsetail(from the house of nutritioni) and I dont take the drugs, and my osteopenia has stabilized and one even got better. Helen
I also exercise and I take calcium nitrate which has magnisum in it.
Hi Julie,
You mentioned, " ... i have heard that sometimes calcium is not absorbed well in the body,..."
True! My cousin who is a pharmacist told me that I need to take calcium three times a day, as the body can only absorb approximately 500 mg at one time.
I had a DEXA a couple of weeks ago and was told that I have Osteopenia. After some searching, I decided to take a lower dosage of Fosamax (35 mg) weekly, and chew two Viactiv daily (which is delicious ;-) and it contains vitamins D and K). I also drink additional milk with my coffee, eat Yogurt (Calcium & vitamin D), more vegetables, etc.
I am also looking into Evista (in instead of taking Fosamax). It was recommended by a team member in the discussion started by Priya Nathji :
"Osteopenia -- Should we start biophosphonates right away?" Please check out the discussion -- many good points.
A website which is useful (but scary) is
http://www.askapatient.com/
Typing in the drugs names of Fosamax, Actonel, Boniva, and Evista have been alarming. Their rating are significantly lower then other common drugs such as Norvasc, Lipitor, Claritin, Vicodin, etc.
You are I are among the lucky ones since we don't seem to have immediate horrible side effects. You've taken Actonel and now take Boniva. I took 2 tablets of Fosamax so far, and not sure if I should continue, switch, or stop. It's good that we have choices.
Best regards,
Sylvia
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