AI Bone Loss - What are you doing?

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RMlulu
RMlulu Member Posts: 1,989
edited January 2015 in Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After

Hi There

Just celebrated my 1st year of Aromasin...but Bone Density tests reveal a significant loss (10%) of spine and hip.  I have faithfully exercised lifted weights and pound my bones...no weight gain...just bone loss...grr. Now, MO prescribes Zometa every 6 months.

What should I expect from infusion? Can I fly just hours after? Have a 6 hour flight planned.

For those taking AI, are you taking something for bone loss? Vitamins, pills, shots, infusions and are they working for you?

Has anyone switched over to tamoxifen?

Interested in a roll call.

Thanks

Cindy

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  • RMlulu
    RMlulu Member Posts: 1,989
    edited July 2014

    Aromasin 1 year

    10% bone loss spine and hip

    Zometa infusion

    Vitamins, multi, ca&d3

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  • corky60
    corky60 Member Posts: 726
    edited July 2014

    Cindy, maybe someone can help here:

    https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/120

    And also have you tried keyword searching?

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  • spendygirl
    spendygirl Member Posts: 231
    edited July 2014

    Hi.  I'm doing Prolia injections every six months.  It's very expensive and I had to fail two oral bisphosphinates for my insurance to cover it.  I had a terrible time with Fosamax and Actonel.  Not too bad with Prolia, just a little flu-like for about a week after injection.  Hope this helps.  Oh, started with Tamoxifen, then had total hysterectomy - on to Arimidex, switched to Femara, total of four years so far on anti-hormonals.

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  • BrooksideVT
    BrooksideVT Member Posts: 2,211
    edited July 2014

    Cindy, my hip (I think the DEXA scan just looks at one) is just a hair this side of osteoporosis.  I'm doing what you're doing--treadmill, weights, calcium, recently added an biosphosphate.  Next scan is planned for spring 2015.  If the news then ain't great, I'd ask about tamoxophen, but would probably want to take aspirin to ward off icky blood clots.  Not sure if that's a good plan or not.

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  • toomuch
    toomuch Member Posts: 901
    edited July 2014

    Osteopenia after 1 year of Arimidex. This is what I do:                                                                                                               Prolia every 6 months (no side effects)                                                                                                                                       Vitamin D 2000-4000IU/day depending on the season and how much sun I get                                                                            Bone Up                                                                                                                                                                                     Weight bearing exercise 3 times a week

    I had significant improvement in my bone density after the first year!


     Edited to say I can't seem to fix the spacing.

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  • RMlulu
    RMlulu Member Posts: 1,989
    edited July 2014

    Thank you!

    Corky - thanks for the links for bone health.  Reading through those threads now.  Greatly appreciate:)

    Spendygirl - MO didn't even mention Prolia as an option.  Like the idea of injection rather than infusion.  Sorry you had to go through so much in 4 yrs of HT...ugh, hate this c and treating all the angles.   Will this be your last year...fingers&toes crossed.  In my mind, I think it's just counting down car payments, but always paid car off early and there were no bodily losses.

    Brookside - :D pounding the bones with you!  Just hoping Zometa helps me have bones to pound. Annual Dexa Scans?  Guess just really caught off guard.  The focus has been c prevention...did not really consider small frame small bone would give me a disadvantage with AI. Agree if tamoxifen will do aspirin.

    Too much - so appreciate your game plan!  What brand of supplements? Great that your bone density is improving:) are you eating prunes!  How is your BUN levels cholesterol any issues with Prolia?

    Again, thank you!  I know there must be more of us out there with bone issues taking HT.  Every decision has a cost and benefit...being informed helps...trying to be my own best advocate!

    Here's to strong bones and c free living!

    Cindy

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  • BrooksideVT
    BrooksideVT Member Posts: 2,211
    edited July 2014

    Oh yes--I'm eating prunes too.  I think it is Ruthbru who knows all about them and bone building.

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  • ICanDoThis
    ICanDoThis Member Posts: 1,473
    edited July 2014

    Tamoxifen is a bone builder in post-menopausal women. It kept my bones dead flat stable.
    I absolutely refused to go on an AI, as I was also osteoporotic at diagnosis (which was just as I was going thru menopause)


    I was grade 1, stage 1. I figured out my long-term odds, and realized that I was a lot more likely to die of osteoporosis (broken hips are the leading killer of elderly women) than of breast cancer. My MO wasn't happy, but she agreed to 2.5 years on tamoxifen. After that time was up, she wanted me on Femara. I refused. I'm six  years out now, so far, so good.

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  • RMlulu
    RMlulu Member Posts: 1,989
    edited July 2014

    Thanks ICanDoThis!

    Yes, I had that discussion in the beginning of HT.  I wanted to go on tamoxifen first and then switch, but family risk factors caused me to take AI.

    Agree, bones are our leading killer/enemy...QOL  don't want to be in wheelchair.

    Congrats on 6 years out...Ooo who Happy Dance!

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  • toomuch
    toomuch Member Posts: 901
    edited July 2014

    RMiulu- I use Jarrow Bone-Up. It is a calcium supplement that has all of the minor minerals and vitamins that aid bone absorption of calcium in 1 supplement.

    I typically use Doctor's Best or NOW brand for my other supplements.

    My BUN has been fine. I switched my diet to mostly plant and fish based after I was diagnosed and I eat dressings and cook with olive oil. My cholesterol was a healthy 155 on my test this year. It had been 200 the year I was diagnosed. I attribute it to not eating meat and trying to stick to a Mediterranean diet. I haven't added prunes to my diet.

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  • Golden01
    Golden01 Member Posts: 916
    edited July 2014

    Will be starting an AI after I see my MO this week and talking about Reclast or other meds for bones. I did Tamoxifen first for 2.5 years as I am osteopenic. Here's what I do:

    • Calcium intake >1200 mg per day
    • Vitamin D 4,000 IU per Day
    • Walk - 3 miles a day, 5-6 times per week
    • Weight bearing exercise - working on it but need to do more!
    • Dexa once a year
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  • Golden01
    Golden01 Member Posts: 916
    edited July 2014

    I've started doing "Strong Bones Yoga" with a DVD:

    http://www.amazon.com/Strong-Bones-Yoga-Christine-...

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  • RMlulu
    RMlulu Member Posts: 1,989
    edited July 2014

    Thank You Golden and Toomuch!

    Zometa infusion done...not too bad real achy and fever for about 12 hours Sat evening.  Today feeling much improved.  

    Purchase more supplements....will take 4X times a day  hoping to encourage body not to slough off vitamines.

    Have been doing Mediterranean diet with fish only 2x a week...so fruits veggies and gluten free grains.

    Have added 10-12 prunes a day...spacing out with my 3 cups of green tea.

    FitBit keeps me moving 4-6 miles a day, yoga, Zumba, line dance and weights 4X a week...whew it's a chore and full time job...

    Again, thanks...if I missed so ething let me know!

    Cindy

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  • april485
    april485 Member Posts: 3,257
    edited July 2014

    Fibit keeps you movin? I am betting those prunes are gonna keep you movin even more! LOL...JK Cindy girl xoxo

    My dexa showed that my right hip decreased slightly from 2 years ago but the rest of my bones showed normal thinning for my age (59) so I am staying with the Aromasin for now without any bone builders like Prolia or Zometa...but, we shall see what the next dexa brings!

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  • bc101
    bc101 Member Posts: 1,108
    edited July 2014

    How often do you ladies get Dexa scans? I started with AIs before I got the scan done and it showed I had osteoporosis. I've heard with some ladies here that they've shown improvement in bone loss over time with Prolia. I had one injection of Prolia, then was switched to Zometa. I'm not very good about taking Calcium tablets. I need to get on a regular schedule. I try to eat foods with Calcium and always drink a lot of milk. Hope it's enough!

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  • RMlulu
    RMlulu Member Posts: 1,989
    edited July 2014

    Thanks April...ha ha...did my walk very close to home...admit I eat only 4 at a time 3 times a day don't need that excitement,  Normal thinning for our age...geeez just turned 61...better have bones left for my 99th!  That's good news April glad AI has been kind to your bones at least. 

    Bc101 - 1st scan before AI than annual...expect once stable with AI & Zometa maybe less, but that's the plan for now.

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  • RMlulu
    RMlulu Member Posts: 1,989
    edited January 2015

    Hi Yall

    Has anyone done infusions for Zometa? Friday is #2...under the weather with bronchitis and hoping there will be no SEs.

    Golden - upped my Calcium levels, but now have white spots on nail bed...deficiency? Vit D was low so upping that also.

    MO is confident Zometa will make dex scan good this summer...gosh there's so many supplements needed to go with that tiny white pill.

    Happy Healthy New Year

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