Osteoporosis Support

I was diagnosed with severe osteoporosis in 1998 when I had a DEXA bone mineral density scan to see if I was "at risk" before my doc would put me on Evista. He called and told me I'd flunked the test...started me on miacalcin nasal spray, Evista and calcium supplements. I go back Tuesday to see if I'm making any progress on the bone thinning.

It'll be interesting to see what the results are.

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Dear Bondugan, I am assuming you have had a bone density test. Two years ago, a bone density test showed that I had osteoporosis. I was put on Evista. Also 1,500 mil of calcium with vit D daily. I just had another bone density test. I'm happy to say that it came back "normal". I had chosen not to take estrogen because of a family history of breast cancer. The Evista appears to have worked. You might ask your doctor about it. Good luck and don't give up hope. Jamiesong.

I am 48 and have Multiple Sclerosis, Scoliosais, and Osteopina. I take Evista, (I have not gone through menopause) drink a glass of milk everyday, take Vitamin D and Calcium. I had a compression fracture 7 years ago. I was still walking at the time. I cannot exercise my lower body. I am in a wheelchair. Is there anything else I can do? I nerver drank milk growing up and had several fractures growing up. Now I am paying for it.

Hello,

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I am glad to see some new friends here. A have just read some good news concerning osteoporosis in a Hungarian periodical. I wonder wether anybody of you also heard about it.
According to some very recent announcements of dr Lawrence Riggs of the Mayo Clinic of Rochester they discovered that some cholesterine reducing compounds (this may not be the precise translation of it), the so called statines are able to increase bone density. Experiments had been carried out on rats with drugs called Mevacor and Zocor.
If experiments on humans prove to be also successful, this will be the first medicine that will be able to rebuild bone mass as recent medicines can just slow down the pace of bone loss, the article says.

I suspect that the no symptoms happen more often than not. I had to have a bone density test to see if I was "at risk" before the doctor would prescribe Evista which I wanted after hearing about it so much. He then called and said I'd "flunked" the test...I was beyond "at risk"...and had severe osteoporosis in my hips. I suppose if I hadn't asked about the Evista, it wouldn't have been known and I'd have learned of the osteoporosis when I fell and broke a hip or whatever. I'd rather know now.šGingersnap›

Linda, it was the same with me -- no symptoms at
all. I forget how I got into that Raloxifene
study research, but must have found out somehow
that something was wrong. I know, it seems like
a brutal blow from the Fates suddenly to find
oneself losing bone and with a disease with so
horrid a name and prognosis! But hang in there,
Linda -- you will soon find fellow sufferers,
and medications, and exercises, and you'll feel
better and part of a community. Hugs.
ElizabethR

Elizabeth: What wonderful news. I'm going to continue with my Evista and Miacalcin and calcium supplements. 18% sounds terrific!!šGingersnap›

In 1996, I joined a research group study sponsored by Eli Lilly & Co., a well-known drug company. I was in the study (a double-blind study, wherein no one at all knew which medication any of us were taking) for four years. We met with the research doctor and his assistant once a month, then once every six months. We were tested each time for blood pressure, for various blood chems, for psychological condition, height and weight; and, we received a bone density test each time. The test medications given were @1300 mg calcium, Vitamin D, and Raloxifene (or a placebo--we never knew for sure) We had to keep the research team up to date on any illnesses or accidents we might have suffered. I fell several times, and had assorted injuries, and duly reported them. At the end of the four years (just last February, 1999), my bone density had improved by 18%! So I was ready to tout Raloxifene to the world. When I finished, the doctor recommended I take Fosamax for improving bone density, BUT you take it in the morning before breakfact and you stay upright for a good hour so that it won't return back up the esophagus. So I dropped it.
I continue to take calcium and Vitamin D every day, plus lots of vegetables and fruits (and several other medications for CHF, COPD, osteoarthritis, etc., et al.
Slightly degenerated disks, a slowly healing broken knee and broken toes, etc., make it hard to walk outside, but I do bed exercises and dancing in the house, and it seems to me I recover my former agility slowly but surely. I'm 75, a long-time "tomboy", and very active over the years; and I believe all those years of vigorous activity has helped a lot.
I'm due for another bone density test in a few months, and I have crossed all my fingers and toes, and wished on evening stars, and so on, that the old osteop has gone away.
And I wish that for all of you, too.

ElizabethR

Jon: Please give us some citations to scientific research studies which bear out what you state above. I'm not interested in the views of a Vegetarian Farmer as authoritative. What does an LL.D degree have to do with being authoritative about chemical ingredients in dairy products and their affects on the human bodies? Where did Mr. Lyman earn this degree? [I assume he earned it, and it is not an honorary.] What was the title, please, of his dissertation? You make it sound as if cows live outside and are milked outside. They are washed thoroughly before milking, milk is stored in special refrigerated holding tanks on farms, etc. I don't think you've presented the true picture of a dairy farm who sells to commercial milk processors.šGingersnap›

dixied41,

There are many different medicines for osteoporosis, you find interesting informartion on them if you read erlier postings in this forum. There are also some links there to sites about the disease. I think that besides walking special exersizes that strenghten your muscles would be also useful to you.

Gingersnap,

Thanks for the correction, you must be right.

We have a winter here and no sunshine for more than 4 months, so I used to go into solarium as this is supposed to be very good for the bones. What kind of weather you have there now?

Alice and Tresya: I don't think it's a bone scan you want to ask for. At least in the USA, a bone scan is done for things like locating the spread of cancer. What you get for Osteoporosis is a Bone Density test. It is not the same as a bone scan (at least as the terms are used in the USA). I have had both tests. They are very different. Bone Density is a piece of cake compared to a bone scan. Gingersnap

Thank you tresya for your reply. I will carry on living my life the way I do as I know this is one of the best ways to take care of myself and my well being. Glad to know I am doing all the right things. As for the scan I think I will ask my doctor again.
Many thanks. I wish you a very Happy New Year and a Happy New Year to everyone at thirdage. Jo

Happy New Year To All Of You!

ALICE7,

I understand your worries, athough you seem to have a good therapy to prevent the development of osteoporosis.
Did your doctor explain why he thinks you do not need a bone scan? As far as I know there are also some other methods (X-ray, urine test)to see whether somebody has osteoporisis, but the densiometric measurement is the most precise one to detect the changes occuring in bone density.

Six years ago at the age of 40 I underwent a radical hysterectomy. I am on HRT and teststerone treatment.
My mother and grandmother both had osteoperosis and padgets disease, both bone crippling illnesess.
I excercise daily,weight bearing and swimmimg.
Do I still need to have a bone scan? My doctor does not seem to think I do, but still I worry.
I live in the UK and do not want to become housebound for the last 15 years of my life like my mother and grandmother. Please help. thanks Jo

Hi Sharyne,

I also took miacalcin for years without having any side effects, and axchieving very good results. I was taking it along with Alfa D, which is helping the absorption of calcium.
Wish you to improve with back pain!
Are you making daily excersizes? This helps much with back pain.

Sharyne: I've been on Miacalcin for 1 1/2 years now...and I have had no side effects that I've been aware of. It's the easiest medicine/supplement/vitamin /whatever I've taken. Vitamins are more of a problem for me because of their size, etc. šGingersnap›

Good morning, friends
Had a Dr. appointment yesterday and she took me off the fosamax that I have been taking for the last 3 1/2 yrs. because of upper and lower back pain. We are going to try Miacalcin. I went on the web last night to read up on it,, but need to know from you anything not in the lit. that you may want to share. Any problems with blotting, fluid reten. etc.

Thanks,
Sharyne

I was told by my doctor to have a break in taking miacalcin spray (I was on it for 4 years) and to take just calcium and vitamins. The bone scan after a half year pause showed the best ever result. I kept on not taking anything but calcium for another half year and bone scan showed the same good result. Now I was told to continue this way. Although I am happy with the good results, I find this somewhat strange. Does anybody had similar experiences?

I am 58 and I have severe osteoporosis in my hips. I'm on miacalcin spray, 1500 mg calcium supplements, and Evista. I'm hoping this will help deter any hip fractures. The idea of that scares me badly, since I live in an area with a lot of snow and ice.

Gingersnap

TracyO,

You could get a portion of your daily 1500 mg of Calcium need by food. E.g. one cup of skim milk contains 300 mg of Calcium. Postings number 25.1. contains a table on the calcium content of different food. According to my doctor Calcium overdosage is harmful, might result in the development of kidney stones.
I take Calcium effervescent tablets. Do you have such one in the States?

TracyO: Yours are probably different, but while my label says:"Liquid Filled Calcium '900'...in smaller letters it says 90 softgels (300 MG calcium) further down. The dosage is 3 softgels. So, each is worth only 300 mg...so I take 3 in the morning and 3 in the evening. These also come with '600' on the label, but I believe they're only 200 mg of calcium each. I've seen this same brand with '1200' on the label, but the amount of Vit D was lower, so I bought the '900'. I don't know if I'm doing the right thing, but it's what I'm doing! ;0)Gingersnap

Hi Tresya and All, I was considered a high risk for
Osteoporosis. I was given a bone scan and was found to be on the verge of developing this disease. I was put on Fosamax and told to take 1500mg. of calcium a day.

In order to get the full benifits of calcium it is better to take it in liquid form. I take the liquid calcium capsules. I have only been able to find them in 600mg. I take three a day. Which brings it to 1800mg. a day. I do not take etsrogen. I am wondering if I may be taking too high a dosage of calcium.

On the occasion of the Day of Osteoporosis the illness had a wide media coverage here in Hungary. The best thing I have heard is that bone density can be improved by 8-10%. A bad news was that children of today do not eat enough dairy products, so their bone mass can not develop properly resulting in a much higher risk of early osteoporosis.

Thank you,Gingersnap!!
You said what I wanted to say, all one needs to do is look at the risk factors and you will know about osteo. Thanks again,

Sharyne