Osteoporosis

I had a dexa scan last week and just heard from my doctor that I have osteoporosis in my hip.  My osteopenia in my back has gotten worse.  I was diagnosed with osteopenia quite a few years ago and tried taking Fosomax.  I had horrible pain from the Fosomax and quit taking it.  I am leary of trying something like Actonel for fear of the same side effects.  Prolia sounds like the best bet for me from what I've read on WebMD and the Mayo Clinic websites (among others).  

Unfortunately, my doctor will be out of the office for most of March, and I can't get in to see her until April 24. They said they would put me on a waiting list for cancellations.  I already have a long list of questions for her.  

I'm wondering what those of you who have been diagnosed with osteoporosis take, and how has it affected you.  Does anyone take Prolia?  They are injections given every six months.  I called my surgeon's office to see if there was an absorption problem with any of the drugs and what he recommended.  They didn't think there was a problem with them and had nothing specific to recommend.

I don't know about the osteoporosis drugs. I have ostepenia, but don't take meds for it.

Obviously, you need calcium supplements. I was up to 2,500mg per day of calcium citrate, and wasn't absorbing it well. I switched to the calcium/D3 patch and my calcium and PTH got better from the get-go.

Thank you for your reply.  I should have posted about the vitamins that I take.  I take Bari-Life bariatric vitamins that were developed by my surgeon.  They have at least all of the vitamins recommended by the AMBS.  I think that's the correct abbreviation.  My calcium was low at one point, so I take extra calcium which amounts to 2100 mg. per day of calcium citrate.  I have an appointment for blood work with my surgeon at the end of March.  

Do you take your calcium all at once?  Or in multiple doses?  You should be taking it, at that amount, in 4 different doses split 2 hours apart.  Also - are you supplementing vitamins D, K and magnesium?  All are required for proper bone health - to be able to utilize the Calcium correctly.  

Are you doing any weight bearing exercises like weight lifting?  Even adding one day a week of a good intensity weight lifting program can increase your bone density.  

Thank you for your reply Gwen M.  I take my calcium three times a day.  I take 6000 iu Vitamin D, 130 mcg Vitamin K and 800 mg magnesium.  These are all above the levels recommended by the ASMBS.  I am getting my blood work done at my surgeon's office at the end of next month, though, and will find out if I'm getting enough.

I know I need to be doing weight bearing exercises.  I have neck problems though, and have tried to do them.  I just can't.  It hurts my neck too much.  I do walk every day though.    

Many have learned the hard way that supplementation is not one-size-fits-all, even the expensive bariatric brands that meet the "recommended stadards".  Its important to know your bloodwork and know when to adjust on your own.  Surgeons and docs are merely making educated guesses here.

Being a malabsorber, you may need significantly more D.  I take 50,000 iu of D daily for maintenance, twice that when I'm low and need to get my level up.  Be sure to get some bloodwork done, for there are several bone builders that need to be measured.  

I also know of a gal who suffers osteoperosis has to combine several different types of calcium to get her levels up.

I think there's a lot of truth to this.  My MIL isn't even a WLS patient, and she found that she has to take over 20,000 IUs of D just to stay at around the 25 to 30 level in her blood work!  

Thank you Valerie G.  Yes, my blood work is scheduled for the end of March.  I scheduled it before getting this diagnosis.