I had my DEXA scan done on 12-24-08 and finally got the results this week 1-12-09...I really had never given a thought to osteoporosis, that was for women lots older than myself...or so I thought! I am 59, in good health and active. My scan showed mild oteo. in both hips and moderate in the spine. In Sept. I had surgery to remove my thyroid, I had a hyper active thyroid, unbeknownst to me, for maybe 5 years. Now I read that that adds to the problem. I probably would never have had a scan if it hadn't been that my vit. D level was low and the Dr. ordered it. Ignorance is bliss!! Anyway, the Dr. has his nurse call me and tell me this over the phone...I was shocked. Then she said I was to start Forteo right away...never mentioned side effects or price...boy was I shocked, again!! Right now, from my brief research, it doesn't look like any of the "accepted" medical interventions make me feel "warm and fuzzy". What do I do next? I've been looking into "natural" methods, at least would like to give it a shot. I'm a newbie at this osteo stuff, so any help, advice, support etc. would truly be appreciated. I've told the Dr. my plans, and he didn't seem happy.
Hi Donna: Welcome to the community. I know it's hard hearing that you have osteoporosis, but you can deal with it. I believe that all patients should have a say in what treatment option they'll choose, so if you really don't want to take what your Dr recommends, you should look into something that interests you.
I took Forteo for 2 years and did really well on it with no side effects, however if you feel that this isn't something you'd like to try then look into other options.
Here's a link for a treatment call Fosteum, which you could read about. I don't have any personal experience with it, but it is available through a Dr.'s prescription.
Good luck researching your choice of treatments, and know you'll gain strength along the way. Even though you may not be interested in Forteo, you might like to read about it anyway while you're deciding which treatment is the best for you.
Let us know how things go, and hang in there...
Thanks for contacting me, Pam, it is always so encouraging to hear from others who are going through a similar situation. Wow, your story really is unbelievable! the only surgery I've ever had was the thyroidectomy last Sept, so I can't relate fully to what you've been through....but you sure are a trooper!!! I guess I was just angry that the Dr. had to give me the news through his nurse, and not in person, not discussed it and treatment options directly with me...especially when Forteo seems so drastic to me...your case sounds like the kind that would require this type of intervention, and I'm so glad it was successful for you. I talked to a chiropractor who specializes in more natural approaches and he encouraged me to try the supplement/vitamin/diet route, which I intend to do, for a year or so, then have another DEXA scan and she where I am then. After that who knows. Anyway, thanks again I sure appreciate hearing from you....Best of luck to you...you sure will be in my prayers!
Hi Donna: I hope that I helped in some way.
If you get a chance to read about Fosteum, its the closest thing to a natural treatment for osteo that I know of, other than Strontium Citrate which is available over the counter. However, since you've had your thyroid removed I'm not sure if you can take soy, which is an ingredient in Fosteum. Do you know if soy is something you need to avoid?
The way your Dr told you about your dx is atrocious, but luckily you sound like a strong and capable person who can take all of this in stride. If your t-scores aren't below -2.5 and you haven't had a frax, then I don't think Forteo would be the obvious choice for you unless there is some other reason the Dr mention this particular treatment. There may be something in your medical history that led him or her to this treatment, that I'm not aware of.
Good luck with your plan with supplements and exercise, just be very careful to not let a chiropractor twist or bend your spine in any way. I know many people like these treatments, but you can get further injuries if you go to someone who doesn't take precautions with the spine and in particular the rotation or bending of it which is dangerous.
The National Osteoporosis Foundation has a good page on safe physical activities for those with osteo that you might like to read. You can also download the Safe Movement PDF free from the NOF that will give you a lot of good info on the importance of this theory (it's located towards the end of the page).
If you don't see improvements with your plan on supplements and exercise, don't forget you can always rethink your original plan at some point in the future.
Thanks so much for your kinds words of encouragement. Keep us posted on how you get along...
Hi again Pam, Since I haven't talked directly to my Dr., I'm just guessing about a lot of things...My T scores were -2.6 and -2.7 in my hips and -4.5 in spine....that spine one isn't too great...this I had to find out on my own too...I'm certainly open to all options, I just don't want to jump into something without researching it first...hopefully I won't fall apart in the next few weeks
...I'm so grateful to you and this website, it really helps to share experiences...thanks again!
Hi Donna: Now I see why your Dr rx'd the Forteo... Good luck finding an appropriate treatment.
I hope you got a chance to read the Cleveland Clinic article even though you aren't interested in Forteo, because it explains other things besides what the drug does that helps to make osteo a bit easier to understand, plus the graphics help too.
I'm sure you've already read this web site, but if not, it gives a good explanation on t-scores, and just about everything you would want to know about osteoporosis. The site is extremely long since it's a bone physiology course from the Univ of WA, but it's real easy to follow. To get to the home page of the above site, just scroll down to the bottom of the link above and click "home page".
Hang in there, and be careful with your spine!!!