Update on iffy DEXA

Momine

So I saw my doc last night. After 2.5 years on femara, my hip is holding steady at a perfectly acceptable -1.1.

The back has declined steadily since femara and it was osteopenic already when we started. It is down to -2.3 (L2-L4), but L4 is all the way down to -2.9, which strictly speaking means I "qualify" for osteoporosis treatment.

Doc said:

1. Because of the SEs of both bisphosphonates and prolia (he is inclined to use prolia, btw, if necesary, rather than zometa), he does not want to jump the gun on the drugs. 

2. Because I am physically active and in good shape, he considers my fracture risk low, in spite of the low score on in the back.

3. Even on femara, in his experience, the bone loss could still slow down and stabilize (as my hip already has). 

So, we will wait and see for now and I am glad that my doc, as he said himself, is not a "drug-pusher."

Ariom

I am so pleased to hear you have a Doctor who takes this approach, Momine.

I have been -3 in the spine for almost 12 years and I had a slight increase, in my hip too. I have had the once a year Aclasta infusion and I tried to tolerate the weekly Actonel, but 8 weeks was my limit. They both gave me terrible SE's, so I am not jumping in to try the Prolia that has been suggested for me either.  

I am fairly active too and I try to get as much calcium rich food in my diet as possible, as well as making sure my vitamin D is at optimal level.

I wish you all the best with it!

Lily55

My doctors just say you get bone loss and will not even do scans but keep on taking the pills!!!

Momine

Ariom, ugh! on those SEs. I am happy too. i was quite dreading the meeting. I still have to stare down my other doc, but it helps a lot that doc #1 has my back (no pun intended).

Lily, here they do a DEXA baseline before starting the AI. Don't they have private diagnostic testing where you are?

Momine

I also asked him what happens to healthy bones when you take these drugs. He said that the serious adverse effects are atypical femur fracture and jaw necrosis, but that both are rare. He was not aware of any other ill effects on healthy bone, because, by his reasoning, if such existed they would have been discovered in the numerous trials and studies of the drugs over the years. Not completely sure I buy that, but I do see his point.

He emphasized the importance of exercise and a good diet, as well as the need to keep up your D3.