osteopenia and zometa

I do Arimidex and have no issues except with the bottoms of my feet in the moring. Give yourselfa couple of weeksto adjust.

Wha tis osteopenia?

Wow, I am so sorry to hear that.

I would have thought that you of all people would have super-strong bones from exercising. And the Zometa....thats quite depressing actually. Once again, you think you do do everything right, and yet.....yada yada yada.....

I am due a bone density in the new year. my last one was perfect, it will be interesting to see what 2 years of arimidex and an ooph will have done to me. 

Mary... 

You will probably laugh, but some of the groundbreaking research into osteoporosis is going on in your back yard.  The two states for orthopedics are Vermont and Washington.  They are doing a lot of research into this at the Vermont Medical Center.  One of the orthopedists involved is a Dr Huber who practices at Copley Hospital in Morrisville Vermont.  (Putting ski accident patients back together etc.)  One of the things he and his UVM colleague are working on is injecting bone strengthening agents into the femurs of women with weak bones to prevent hip fractures.

His counsel to a friend of mine was not to even worry as this whole area is moving forward and we will have a ton of treatment options available in ten year's time.

So while I am concerned about maintaining bone health, I am not stressing it to the degree that I could be.  I do need a dexa scan at some point however.  I came through menopause with normal readings as got a baseline done five years ago.

Glad though that you are doing Zometa....and that you do benchmark exercising.

As for the AIs, the research I read was Tamoxifen for 2 years, followed by 3 years of AIs.  This is another moving target so could change by the time either one of us gets to the five year mark. - Claire

Sorry to hear about osteopenia Mary.  That just seems so wrong based on your lifestyle. 

The zometa findings are very confusing.  I am waiting to hear back from my dr. as I have had my hormone levels tested and they are indicating that I am in menopause. 

 Keeping informed gets to be a job in itself. 

Bev

Just one $,

Why are there three different meds on the market for post-menauposal.

Femera, Aromasin and Arimidex........

Dont get it. Could you explain.

Thanks 

My onc put me on Aromasin from the get-go.  Never had tamox.  It's chemical make up is based on a synthetic steriod and it supposed to be easier on the joint pain.  However, it is not a steriod.  Since I've never had Femara or Arimidex I can't compare the joint issues.  Mine are usually minimal but I have had days where one or both hip joints are pretty achy.

And I just got the call from the onc's office.  Regence ins. approved my Zometa for tomorrow!  The irony is that tomorrow is my last day on Regence and then we start Aetna on Jan 1.  And we already know that Aetna won't approve it.  So at least I get 6 more months.  Maybe new studies will be released by then and the ins companies will change their minds!