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Thyroid and Bone Loss

sdivas
0 Recommendations

There are some posts about thyroid and bone loss. I thought a new thread specific to thyroid and bone loss may be helpful for community members if anyone would like to share.
Are you taking synthetic thyroid medication - Synthroid?
Are you taking Armour thyroid medication?
Why were you given thyroid medication?
How long have you been on thyroid medication?
What were your symptoms and changes with medication?
Have you taken a holistic natural approach with success?
Has thyroid medication caused any changes with bone loss; increase or decrease?
Thank you.

Explore topics in this discussion:

Exercise Nexium Osteoarthritis Osteoporosis Stress Premarin Hysterectomy Boniva Levoxyl Fosamax Reclast Synthroid Actonel Pain Depression Diarrhea Hypothyroidism

13 replies

blankie

I've been on thyroid, for about 30 years now. Most of the time synthroid, but for a while took armour. One lobe of my thyroid was removed way back then, & doctors placed me on thyroid, for the rest of my life.

Lulubell

I've been taking synthroid for about 25 yrs. i had an overactive thyroid and took a radio-active isotope that was supposed to kill part of the thyroid over a 6 month period. I was 30 yrs old then. Over the next five years, i went from 128 lbs to 195 lbs and finally when i was about 37, went to an endo dr. and was put on synthroid..lost the weight too. Now i am 60..and have osteo and hear that synthroid takes the calcium from your bones but the dr. tells me as long as thyroid levels are good that it isnt the case..I have an appt with a new endo dr in nov which took me 6 months to get in. I also take nexium which they also say is a calcium stealer. Cant tolerate any osteo drugs.. tried the fosteum, which is soy based and not good for thyroid and also can irritate the stomach which i also have ibs. so..i take calcium w/ vit d and mag..I'm hoping this new dr can give me some hope and some help..

pgreene

I have been on Fosamax for 12 years with my scores going from -2.5 to -1.2.

I have been on Levoxyl for 8 years. I haven't noticed a difference except that I feel better now that my thyroid hormones are where they should be. I have Hashimoto's thyroiditis which is an autoimmune disease and my body is slowly destroying my thyroid gland.

Peggy

SharonG

I take a low dosage .075mg of Synthroid. I was on Foxomax for about 5 years and Boniva for 1 year. My doctor suggested that I take a break from the biophosphates. Sounded good to me. Now I am just taking Synthroid and Calcitrate w/D. No matter what I have been taking, my dexa numbers keep degenerating. I try to walk but I have osteoarthritis in my hip so it is not possible to walk more than 30 minutes at a time. I hate going to the gym but try to go at least twice a week. Not sure if the Synthroid is affecting my calcium loss.
S

Gloucester

Sharon G:

I too had lower DEXA after 10 years on Fossamax; it was a roller coaster. Some years up; some years down. Has anyone experienced the roller coaster ride with Fossamax.
I just had a thyroid test and my result was 5.9 with a reference from .3 to 4.7. What does that mean? Is that an underactive thyroid? I don't see how I can have an underactive thyroid; I'm thin. I read somewhere (I think) that stress can cause one to have an underactive thyroid?? Does anyone know?
I also noticed in all the posts I have seen no one is on HRT or ERT?? I read that a low does estrogen such a Menostar can help preserve bone. But only one person said they were taking it. Any thoughts why more people are discussing various forms of HRT?

Gloucester

osteochick

I would also love to hear from anyone who has used Menostar.

Gennie

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism after the birth (8 1/2 lbs) of my third child in 1964. My doctor put me on Synthroid. It never worked for me even though I have tried it again at the insistence of every endocrinologist that I have consulted since then. I finally found a holistic physician who put me on compounded T3 and 1 grain of Armour thyroid. That finally got rid of the dry skin, depression, weight gain, low energy that I had been experiencing. Every time that I try to change this combination, my symptoms come back.

I was diagnosed with osteoporosis when I had 15 years of diarrhea after a perforated appendix in 1985. I have not noticed that my thyroid helped or hendered my osteoporosis.

After receiving bisphosphonates for 4 years (including two Reclast IV's), I have had such a bad reaction that I will NOT take any more pharmaceuticals for my osteoporosis. I am treating it with a combination of vitamins and minerals comopounded especially for osteoporosis by Dr. Jonathan Wright, exercise, a sensible diet, and an attitude of gratitude.

I am presently reading Dr. Sherry Roger's book, "Detox or Die" in which she discusses the many ways we get toxins into our bodies from the pollution in the air, water and food we consume. She relates how all this pollution affects our health in many ways. She has a vitamin "detox cocktail" that is supposed to help us detox from the overload of chemicals. I have ordered the ingredients (vitamin C, glutathione and Lipoic Acid) that one takes twice a day. I am hoping that it will improve my health as I believe that the second Reclast IV poisoned me.

carmk5

Hi,
I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis when I was thirteen. I am now 58. My primary doctor concurred with me that it was all the synthroid that produced my bone loss. Lately they have lowered my dose, I take 0.088mg. There were times in my life that I was taking 1.75mg. I am also small framed and have been thin all my life. I had three children and breast fed the last one for two years. That didn't help either.
I was on the bisphosphonates for eight years. I was on Fosomax for five years and Actonel for three with no improvement but the doctor kept saying that at least I hadn't lost any more bone. I am now taking Strontium Citrate and will have a dexa in late summer. Carmen

Caleigh

To: Gloucester: Most doctors will not recommend HRT for oste. Although a couple of GP's in my area had written prescriptions for friends I know. They have done very well on estrogen/progesterone and increased their DEXA scores by 6 to 8% in one year. Even thought I am 60 years of age, I am going to look into taking HRT - a low dose of course. I have had terrible experiences with Fosomax and Actonel and will not take them. Strontium Citrate sounds interesting - I will also look at that option as well.

krb

I have taken synthroid for many years - can't remember how many now. Started with dosage of 50 and am now up to 100. It definitely made me feel better and decreased my fatigue. I think as long as the levels of thyroid medication are monitored and you are not getting too much, it should not affect bones.

My bone loss seemed to occur right after I discontinued taking Premarin at the advice of my dr. I had been on it for 11 years, starting after my hysterectomy. I think suddenly stopping the Premarin hastened the bone loss.

I have taken Actonel and Fosamax. I distrust these drugs, but do not think doctors want to hear this. My gynecologist is okay with my taking a break from these, but my primary dr. seems to think I should take them forever. I have taken them for 5+ years and mentioned to my primary that I had read that you should not take them for more than five years. He disagreed. But he also seems unaware that the FDA had issued a warning regarding biosphonates and muscle and bone pain. When I take these drugs, it seems that I have pain in my arm muscles and in my shins so I am not taking these drugs on a consistent basis.

I am interested in other's experiences with forms of estrogen which might be helpful with bone loss.

I do take calcium tablets and my last scan was much better. I am due for another scan next month so we'll see.

joie

I started taking synthroid 33 years ago when I was 45 years old. I am a petite caucasion and have always taken my calcium & exercised .I had been on Fosamax, & then switched to Actonel about 10 years ago. My Bone density tests show that my osteoporosis is getting worse. I started taking extra Vit D3 . I believe the Synthroid is the main reason for my bone loss. Anyone else out there with this problem?

juliemarie

I was finally diagnosed with hypothyroidism in my mid-20's. It was probably present in my adolscence...I was always tired, cold and depressed. My doctor in Michigan said that I was just 'lazy.' Hardly--I sailed through high school and college on scholarships and was in the top of my class at all times. Finally, when I relocated to New York, a very talented internist tracked my problem to the thyroid. At that point, I was in the hospital with my bodily systems failing. I could not digest any food whatsoever and had trouble even handling the water I drank.

I was never fat. As a matter of fact, at that point I weighed under 100 lbs at 5'6". I took Proloid at first that was manufactured by Armour. It was made from pig thyroids and was natural. After Armour discontinued it, I was put on Synthroid that is synthetic. I liked the Proloid best but the Synthroid works. I just feel normal. My conventional doctor and my complementary doctor both agree that we will watch the balance between the Synthroid and the osteo. I tried the iodine supplements and the holistic thyroid treatments but the results were disastrous.

I am planning to ask my complementary doctor about bioidentical hormones. I refuse to take bisphosphonates and the calcitonin spray made me very, very sick. It did not have any good effect, either.

So I swallow the cocktail of calcium, Vit D, Magnesium, Zinc, etc. including Strontium-the natural product.

It is really important to work with professionals on this osteo, even if we decide against certain treatments. I know for a fact that my doctor did not report my reaction to the Fortical because it is her favorite treatment for osteo if the patient refuses bisphosphonates.

Best to all...

reversiblecat

juliemarie,

I was diagnosed with hypo one year ago, but like you, I think I may have had it a long time. I was also quite thin. I'm curious to know about the iodine supplements & holistic thyroid treatments you took. Did you take these in addition to the thyroid meds? Or did you attempt to treat yourself solely with these alone? Are you talking about iodoral and health-store thyroid pills? Thanks.

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