Osteoporosis diagnosis please help

[JenaWren]

I've just had a text from my Drs diagnosing osteoporosis following a DEXA scan. I'm in total shock.

I'm only 54.

They prescribed alendronic acid which I know has some potentially serious side efffects.

Can anyone help me understand a bit more until I get get to speak to a doctor.

I'm in a bit of a mess at the moment.

Thank you everyone, I didn't know about the dentist, the gynae just said if I was having any major dental work such as an implant I would need to tell the dentist, thanks for that advice.

I am not happy with my gynae, she didn't even want to send me for the Dexa scan in the first place, 'Why, you haven't had a fracture, have you?' was her answer, but I insisted due to having had an overactive thyroid for years and thought it would be good to have a baseline. Then she sent a letter with only the first page of the report asking me to make an appointment to discuss results with her, it took two months to get an appointment, when I turned up for her appointment, she asked why was I there, she had just seen me a few months ago😡She clearly had not read the report in advance, because as she was reading it in front of me, I could see her face was looking quite shocked. She didn't explain anything about the side effects of the medications either.

She prescribed Fosavance, D3, and something else which I can't make out, (Viclez or Videz) I didn't buy the prescription yet, I will see my GP tomorrow who I really trust and ask if she is happy with the treatment prescribed, and I probably should see the endocrinologist also.

I realise this is silly in the overall scheme of things, but we are going skiing for the New Year and I won't be able to ski now and will be a nervous wreck even walking around in case I fall and break something, haven't told the kids yet that I won't be on the slopes with them.

By the way, did you have blood tests prior to starting treatment ?

@langflug I don't recognise those drugs, I don't think they are bisonophosphates?
Your experience sounds a bit like mine. Iasked my rheumatologist for a dexa scan because a) big family history of OP, b) I just finished breast cancer treatment and c) I was on steroids. All risk factors. He refused. It took another year to get the scan and I had a telephone appointment. He had forgotten it was for the scan results and had clearly not read the report. He just said oh yes you have osteoporosis I'll arrange a prescription. That was it.
It wasn't until I saw a different rheumatologist that I found out how bad my bone loss was (I asked for a 2nd opinion because I lost all confidence in mine).

I didn't have blood tests for this. I haven't broken any bones apart from a foot fracture a few years ago. I definitely wouldn't be going skiiing though. I avoid risky activity but still do most things.

fosavance is alendronic acid & vit d3

it's a bisphosphonate.
so yes, you really should see your dentist before starting it.

I'm not in the UK so maybe Fosavance is a different brand name to UK ones.

@Cephalaria it is awful how disinterested some doctors can be, glad you found a good rheumatologist, I think I will go down that route too.

My health is in a mess too. I have osteopenia and no treatment apart from vitamin D. I can’t have hrt due to other illness. But dr not given any recommendation for hrt or anything else. I’m same age as you op

The Mayo Clinic has a lot of useful information about osteopenia and treatment:

https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/dont-be-bad-to-the-bone-how-to-preserve-bone-mass#:~:text=Because%20of%20these%20changes%2C%20people,at%20risk%20for%20a%20fracture.

I'd definitely start weight bearing exercise if you're not already doing this.

Look up the LIFTMOR study.

There’s a way to build bone without taking drugs of any kind.

Just back from the GP, she said to hold off on the bisphosphonate, until we do blood tests first, she is running a full bone panel.

She said there are new guidelines and I fall slightly outside the limit for starting bisphosphonate, so she is requesting a specialist to review it and confirm if I should start the medication now or wait and see. In the meantime, I start on the calcium and D3 supplement and increase calcium in my diet, including calcium fortified water, which I didn't know about. .

She said there are other options for taking the medication, when the time comes, she mentioned an injection once per year, which would be much more convenient than a weekly pill.

I feel more reassured having spoken to her.

the yearly injection is probably denusomab.

same caution regarding dental care apply

Yes, she said to visit the dentist before starting any medication.

an injection once per year, which would be much more convenient than a weekly pill.
I's also stronger and therefore more potential for side effects.

I'd be interested to know what the new guidelines are. Also calcium fortified water!
I decided some time ago to try and get my calcium by diet because there is research suggesting that calcium tablets can be bad for heart health. I was advised I needed 1200 to 1500mg a day. I found it very hard to achieve that even by massively increasing my dairy intake so I'm still taking a small supplement.

She had a chart in front of her, then pulled out another one which she said was the updated one (I am in Switzerland)

I will definitely research the injection before I start on the medication, thanks for the heads up on that.

Re the mineral water, I guess fortified is the wrong term, she showed me a list of all mineral waters and their calcium and mineral content. One of the local spring waters has 435mg calcium per litre, which was the highest of the lot. By comparison Evian has 80mg per litre.

https://www.foodnetwork.com/healthyeats/healthy-tips/2019/12/can-water-have-more-calcium-than-milk

The thing with mineral waters is to check the other minerals besides calcium.

If there’s too much sulphate then it makes your bones worse.

In Germany there’s a water called Gerolsteiner. I would drink that one if I could but they don’t sell it here.

No U.K. mineral water is any good. So it’s Thames Water for me which is not bad at 173mg calcium per litre.

In France they’re a very high calcium water but yes the sulphur is too high and it leaches calcium from the bones.

Atralagus root and liposomal Curcumin are what I’m trying right now.

Both suppress NF-kB which means osteoblastic activity is not suppressed but allowed to carry on so hopefully I’m building bone again.

I shall get an NTX urine test shortly to confirm.

I won’t be taking any injections or bisphosphonates. They stop bone from remodelling. You don’t get any new bone formation.

There’s definitely a place for them in the mix but not something I want to do. Yet.

Weights and herbs/spices and probiotics for me.

Have you had a look into vitamin K2? There's good evidence that it can improve bone quality and reduce fracture risk in people with osteoporosis. In Japan, a particular form of it is actually prescribed in very high doses for osteoporosis, but I think there's also evidence that lower dose supplements can help.

@Utini I have read about Vitamin K. There is an interesting from York Cardiology called the vitamin K and the bone heart connection. It's essentially what put me off taking calcium. Unfortunately I had a very bad reaction to taking Vitamin K and it's not easily found in food.

I've been diagnosed this week with osteoporosis. T score of minus 3.5 . I have a back fracture and lost my job. GP has put me on calcium and Vit D and alendronic acid. Yet to start . I am nervous and was really upset but 3 days on feel its a blessing that o know and can improve my bone health. Not going to let this beat me. I will have a normal life. I will work and will build up my bone strength. Just praying no side effects and can try and heal and focus on positives.