Osteoporosis

[saysfaa]

I don't feel well; haven't for what feels like a long time. Not sick, just not well. It's probably SAD (seasonal affective disorder). Or synthroid too high. Or both. Or not sleeping (SAD and wrong dose of synthroid each can do that too).

Anyway, I hope this comes out better than it feels like it is....

I'm convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that the osteoporosis drugs make bone health worse. They can make the results of the bone density tests look better but bone density tests measure one specific narrow thing.

They can't tell if the bone is denser because of more healthy bone cells or because of more brittle dead cells. Worse, forcing the body to keep more brittle dead cells starts a cascade of bad effects such as preventing the stimulation new, healthy bone cells.

It is kind of like putting a cast on a broken leg prevents people from removing dead skin cells from their leg. This skin ends up thicker but less functional so it is not a good treatment for the thinning skin that happens as people age.

 

[Sally PB]

So may reactions to your post. I'm sorry you're not feeling well. Interesting, what you've learned about how osteoporosis drugs work. Sad that pills are "treating" everything nowadays. Angry that big pharma is taking over how doctors treat patients.

 

[Cebarmlds]

Sad that pills are "treating" everything nowadays. Angry that big pharma is taking over how doctors treat patients.

We need to do lots of our own research. I like GreenMedInfo.com

 

[Sally PB]

We need to do lots of our own research. I like GreenMedInfo.com

Thanks for the link.

Absolutely we need to advocate for our own health and do our own research! A lot of doctors these days are pill pushers. Mine is NOT, thank goodness! My neighbor and a friend of mine have doctors that are. The neighbor refuses to comply; the friend just says, "They're all pill pushers nowadays!" I've told her mine is not, but she won't switch doctors. It would be an hour+ drive for her to go to my doctor.

My doc is a DO, not an MD. That might be the difference.

 

[Kiki]

How long have you been taking it, and do you feel any changes? Not just bones, anything?

I've been on a biweekly estrogen patch and nightly progesterone pills for only about 2 weeks. I am not sure yet if I feel anything. I'll report back as soon as I feel something.

 

[Kiki]

I don't feel well; haven't for what feels like a long time. Not sick, just not well. It's probably SAD (seasonal affective disorder). Or synthroid too high. Or both. Or not sleeping (SAD and wrong dose of synthroid each can do that too).

Anyway, I hope this comes out better than it feels like it is....

I'm convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt that the osteoporosis drugs make bone health worse. They can make the results of the bone density tests look better but bone density tests measure one specific narrow thing.

They can't tell if the bone is denser because of more healthy bone cells or because of more brittle dead cells. Worse, forcing the body to keep more brittle dead cells starts a cascade of bad effects such as preventing the stimulation new, healthy bone cells.

It is kind of like putting a cast on a broken leg prevents people from removing dead skin cells from their leg. This skin ends up thicker but less functional so it is not a good treatment for the thinning skin that happens as people age.

My mom took ONE pill...some osteoporosis crap and then threw the bottle away. It made her feel horrible. I can't remember the name of the drug but I'll find out.

Make sure you get your hormone levels checked if you haven't done so yet because just having different hormone levels off can really make you feel bad.

 

[Cebarmlds]

I came across this article about microplastics getting into our bones (among other areas of our bodies)... just thought I'd share it if anyone is interested....




https://articles.mercola.com/sites/...4_HL2&foDate=true&mid=DM1861133&rid=464339319

 

[Exopoulterer]

I've been on a biweekly estrogen patch and nightly progesterone pills for only about 2 weeks. I am not sure yet if I feel anything. I'll report back as soon as I feel something.

I hope this makes you feel better at the least. I was diagnosed with osteoporosis last year.

I feel better than I have in around 15 years after about a year on a similar treatment. My doctor gave me just the 200 mg progesterone nightly and vaginal estradiol cream until I (unwillingly - I believe mammograms cause harm) jumped through the mammogram hoop. Then I went on the bi weekly patches.05, then .075, then 0.1 mg patches within a few months. I will probably get another bone scan this year to see if the osteoporosis has gotten any better, or at least not worse.

The hormonal treatment has helped me in many ways. Even just the progesterone and estradiol cream did a lot within that first month. I was underweight with wasted muscles and had fascia pain to the point where it hurt to even be touched. The progesterone alone helped that and I am still blown away by that. I can touch my legs! I can even put on lotion without the pain! Gyn seemed to not be aware that that could happen or had anything to do with hormones. I can say it did. My muscles are better and I have a few more pounds on which were needed in my case. The estradiol patches keep me from having hot flashes and just better all around. GSM is held at bay as long as I don't forget the cream. Huge QOL changes for me as I suppose I had produced no hormones for so long.

There were some minor discomforts at first, like breast tenderness and swelling, uterine cramping, and water retention in the stomach and thighs, and a surprising intolerance for stupid BS when I was much more patient before the hormones. It takes a little while but all the unpleasant side effects have stopped. The many other "side effects" are positive.

I was in bad shape as I had untreated POF for a very long time. I am 48 now with osteoporosis and haven't had a period since I was 36 or 37. The decade before that was rough but I thought I had some deadly illness and didn't think it was ovarian failure until I was told at around 36. Before that I was doctor to doctor and treated like a hypochondriac, even convinced that I was.

I was afraid of hormone treatments because of the dumb cancer warnings. I shouldn't have been afraid as some damage can not be reversed. Even if the cancer risk is as great as they made it out to be I will take this as long as I can. Quality of life is much more important to me than risk of death after going through that tough time.

 

[Kiki]

I stopped taking the estrogen patch and progesterone. I think it made my anxiety worse. I feel completely normal again off of both.


I am going to start taking both again soon. I want to try them again and see if they are what made my anxiety worse but this time I am going to take only one for a few weeks then add the other.

I've read that some people can be sensitive to the progesterone and I have a feeling that might be me.

 

[Exopoulterer]

I stopped taking the estrogen patch and progesterone. I think it made my anxiety worse. I feel completely normal again off of both.


I am going to start taking both again soon. I want to try them again and see if they are what made my anxiety worse but this time I am going to take only one for a few weeks then add the other.

I've read that some people can be sensitive to the progesterone and I have a feeling that might be me.

With my first month on only progesterone I noticed changes and it caused me some anxiety. The micronized progesterone has a certain effect for the first hour or few after taking with food as I was advised. It is a gaba type feeling like a valium or other antianxiety med. It can be really nice, strange, or uncomfortable and annoying. I found that I looked forward to med time for that relaxation or dreaded it when I didn't feel like being high like that. Text on my screen can appear to wobble or jump up and down so it was disconcerting on days that it decided to hit hard. Sometimes that is not welcome as I am not comfortable driving so I make sure I do not have to go anywhere within that hour or so. Sometimes it is a complete miss and I feel totally normal for those couple hours. I think it is meal time and type related and try to keep a consistent snack and meal schedule.

For the first month or so it was rough at work because I had apathy and a sort of weakness/fatigue even during the day. I was afraid I would mess up counting and keeping track of numbers and money. Anxious because I found myself apathetic and worrying that I was not quite myself and people would notice.

When the estradiol patch was added that apathy evened out but I found I had less patience with people in general.

I am normal after a year but even last night the progesterone decided to hit hard and affect my solitaire game. Lol It is just about an hour or so and I won't change that because my body is so much better now.

I keep a calendar and make sure to not miss or deviate from pill or patch time because that causes issues like uterine cramps or day time progestone feelings.

Whatever the reason or symptoms you are taking the treatment for will be the deciding factor for you. If it is intolerable then it is. I take no other medications so it is pretty straight forward for me.

Some people have a progestin releasing IUD placed but it is not like you can just stop taking that and will have to have it removed if it causes issues.

If you don't have a uterus, you don't need progestrone at all to keep it safe. It is optional.

Starting slow and lower doses of estradiol doses at first can help but it annoyed me because my uterus and breasts had to get used to it every time. Late patch application or brand changes can do that too and it is aggravating. Consistent and on time, every time, works for me.

It does take time and adjustments to get comfortable and for me it was a bit of a ride mentally and emotionally because I went without certain feelings for so long.