Looking for alternative way to strengthen bone mass.

BTW the Nexium ad on TV that I saw yesterday specifically mentions osteoporosis and how you need to talk to your doctor to manage this.

Evebarry have you talked with your dr?  The fosamax did the same thing to me,I felt like I had the flu,headache,body ache,severe nausea and burning in the stomach.  My dr switched me to Alendronate Sodium which is a generic Actonel which is a medicine thats for bones like Fosamax. There are several and you may be able to tolerate another kind. I take mine with a glass of water,I was even told I could take a little food with it then I go for a walk about 15 to 30 min and I have not had any trouble with it.    On the other hand voraciousre...see I had a Q pain pump for about a wk after surg and came home with it and it did nothing for me at all. I was in severe pain and took TyCodeine #3 and still have a ton of it but now 3 wks later I have no pain at all. Just tightness off and on from the TE and right I am allergic to Lortab and Percocet so the dr were worried about giving me paid meds at all but TyCo was great except you cant poop on it. Took Colace and laxatives and ate prunes for 3 days to get the plumbing working again. I might take half a TyCo if the TE fills hurt or save it for exchange surg but I really dont take anything at all now. I feel great physically and glad my nodes are clear but cry when I look in the mirror at the train wreck on my chest. Can a PS fix it? I am going to a cancer psychologist on Tues,will need to take a few hrs off work to discuss if I need to see a psychiatrist who can prescribe valium or xanax or some sort of anti depressant. Real sad dont want fiance to see me like sad or with train wrecked boobs..

Evaberry my mom uses Garden of Life Bone code.  She had CML (1 yrs remisson naturally) and they tested her bones and they said they were that of a teenager now.  I have friend who works with Dr. Naidu who created what seems like a similar product.  email me for his info.  I have not done research on his product but according to her he was approched for his formula with a HUGE sum but feared it would be shelfed due to it being natural.  

Have no idea where my forum went but hear that someone was talking about look what happened to wornoutmom which I had to laugh as unless they know me they would have no idea what happened.  Getting to watch all the flukes in the clinics I go to.   Not sure what she thinks happened but if she said I am dead well that wouldn't be true.  See you where we can support one anohter.  Was told of a woman with a question but have no idea how to look up her screen name and PM her like all the PM's I got. 

Evebarry, those of us who are light weight carry a bigger risk of osteoporosis as we don't have the weight stressing our bones.  That may be one reason why long distance runners can still have thin bones.  Wearing a weighted vest while walking or running is a good idea.  Using weights in the form of a heavy back pack can cause us to lose our balance and fall backwards so I'm trying to find a suitable stretchy vest to attach soft sand filled weights to, so the weights are evenly distributed and don't rub and knock me as I run and jump on my mini tramp. Since staying on Tamox raises the risk of uterine cancer, I need to get busy building bone so I can progress to AI's at some stage.

Just checking in and saw a hi from Athena.  I left after the ugliness I saw on here and only came back as I got a specific request from someone.  Wanted to say hi Athena  Did miss you and some of the others.  Better get moving lots of packing for our trip to the clinic in the morning. Me and my little princess are in the skies again!  So sad you have to travel so far to get this treatment but blessed to have the opportunity.  Wishing you all good health and happiness!  

Hi Eve, have you seen this article from Science Daily?

No Bones About It: Eating Dried Plums Helps Prevent Fractures and Osteoporosis, Study Suggests

I have osteoporosis, which developed DESPITE taking fosamax for about 3 years....was osteopenic before that, and it was attributed to chemopause plus an AI.

When i saw an endocrinologist, I had a battery of blood and urine tests, including PTH levels - sure enough, my PTH (parathyroid hormone) was elevated.After a long story, it was discovered I had an adenoma (benign tumor) on one parathyroid gland : this effectively shut down the other 3 glands and calcium was being leached from my bones.....I had the offending gland plus adenoma removed - and the PTH problem was resolved. Although i still have osteoporosis, my endocrinologist used an online tool called FRAX, which gives your likelihood of fracture; mine was low, so she advised : NO fosamax or other bisphosphonates, NO calcium supplements (some research links it to atherosclerosis in post-menopausal women)......she said to get calcium from the diet and take vitamin D, also to do weight-bearing exercise.

No, jacksnana......I stopped aromasin about 18 months ago......

Thanks, Sam.  Did you continue to take the AI even after being diagnosed with osteoporosis?  Sounds like you have a great doctor to help find other answers for you and not just rush in with a bisphosphenate.  I want to do whatever I can to avoid taking one.  My MO has said that we will change me from arimidex to tamoxifen if my bone density has decreased significantly the past two years, even though I am postmenopausal.  I'm really hoping to stay on the arimidex and praying that that there has been very little change in my bone density.

jacksnana - yes I did continue taking aromasin, even after being diagnosed with osteoporosis. I felt it was more important to try and prevent a recurrence than worry about my bone density.

I also feel that one of the main reasons for my loss of bone density was the parathyroid disease that I might have had for many years; I am hoping that the next time I have a BMD scan it will show some improvements, since I had the parathyroid tumor removed 2 years ago.

I was pleased that my endocrinologist told me that a combination of vitamin D and calcium from my diet was the way to go; I do not like the idea of putting too many chemicals in my body, and especially not bisphosphonates, which have all kinds of side effects.