I take Evista every single day for years, walking is extremely important. I have osteopenia, have held off osteoporosis for years. I had a complete hysterectomy at the age of 23, never did hormone therapy. I swear by Evista.

Yes. At least I do not now have osteopenia. Only thing I have been doing differently is pulling out brush and small trees manually so essentially strength training.

I only have it in my right hip which is secondary to being an above knee amputee for 35 years. There is no weight bearing on my hip joint in spite of walking with a prosthetic. My BMD improved the first few years I took bisphosphonates. That medication isn’t effective forever and I quit taking it after ten years because it wasn’t really helping. I went a few years without taking anything and recently started taking Prolia. Too soon to say how much that is helping.

Many people seem to be able to see improvement with regular weight bearing exercise. I think that’s the best bet if you’re able even regular walking.

DH has gone from osteoporosis to osteopenia with Prolia shots.

Like Terilynn, I had a total hysterectomy in my early 30's (some 35 yrs ago) & had a Specialist who happened to believe in the virtues of Hormone Replacement. That and helping my current SO everyday after work for almost a year split, cut & stack a logging truck load of logs (firewood). My Dr's were impressed. I believe the combination of HRT and exercise was instrumental. I have never been in better shape in my life.

Annie - how long ha your DH been on Prolia?

He was on it for 4 years and then we stopped it. While the endo said he could be on it longer, I was very concerned about broken bones and necrosis, so when his results came back we decided to let it go.

I had significant increase while on a course of Forteo. My last scan I was 'holding my own', no loss. I'm due for a scan sometime in the next few months, my endo said no rush but forwarded the orders to local imaging so I didn't have to go to Seattle for it. To be at my convenience.

With some thyroid issues and aging, I used hormone replacement therapies very successfully with no side effects (none that weren't good ;0)) When I stopped, big drop in bone density all at once. I gained most of it back with Forteo.

I'm due for another bone scan. The doctor mentioned it in June but I said why bother because I won't take meds for it. I am very small boned with wrists the size of a preschooler. I have osteopenia in some areas. So I walk four miles a day over rocks and hills and that is my way of trying to keep it at bay. Although today my dog tried to kill me. I usually walk alone and husband who is slower has the two old dogs but since his knee is acting up I took the 15 year old dachshund. It was later than it should have been since the sun sets before 7 now and I was in deep woods then. So wally races down this small cliff which I usually take much slower and since it was getting dark he caused me to fall. I have hiked this trail a gazillion times and never even tripped. The good news is nothings broken, the bad news is I think I sprained my shoulder and I have a gash on my hand. But it could have been worse. A college friend of mine fell down the cellar stairs in April and is just now getting around.

lily, I hope you aren't stiff and sore tomorrow!

I am 64 and have had osteoporosis and osteopenia in different areas. I started about three years ago on a supplement called Fosteum Plus. My doctor had never heard of it, but an acquaintance had been using it with great success. My next bone scan (within one year) the osteoporosis had dropped to osteopenia and the osteopenia had dropped to normal. The doctor couldn't even believe it. It is a prescription BUT you get it filled online. I go through GoGo Meds. The next bone scan I had, everything was holding and still about the same. I am having a scan at the end of this month, so we will see. I was very hesitant about all the other options, too. Look it up and make your own decision.

I've never had a bone scan and no history in my family. But, a good friend that's a bit older and had a family history had it. Came back as osteopenia, then she switched from Levothyroxine to NDT and within one year the osteopenia was gone. NDT contains Calcitonin, a hormone produced by the thyroid. Calcitonin protects the bones and is used as medication for osteoporosis.

So if you're on Levothyroxine (doesn't contain 4 of the 5 thyroid hormones) you are not getting that thyroid hormone that protects your bones.

Yes. I had osteopenia in the late 1990s. Put on Fosomax and STOPPED SMOKING in 2003. That was the best thing. Moved to upstate NY later that year. Dr. Said that the Fosomax was too strong so put me on a lighter med. Don’t remember what. And 1200 mg. Of calcium a day. Several years ago my dexa scan put me in the “normal for my age” range which was in my mid 70s, and discontinued medicine, but I continue the calcium (Caltrate 600 mg twice a day). Up until a rare lymphoma diagnosis and chemo 4 years ago, I did a lot of heavy gardening.

Never had a scan. I do take Levothoxine. Never heard anything about it causing bone loss. Have heard long term steroid use can cause bone loss however.

I have discussed bone density tests with my doctor and he agrees I don't need them.

I have zero warning signs of bone thinning and I will be 70 on my next birthday. Never broke a bone to my knowledge even though I am rough and tumble with the equestrian thing and all. No height loss. I've been 5'1" or 5' 1.25" (depending on my posture I guess) since I was 12. Still the same. When I had a dental implant around 5 years ago the dentist mentioned I had a healthy jaw for my age. I quit drinking milk at age 3 and get my calcium from other foods. Never took supplements, don't intend to start now. Other than the thyroid meds I take no medication except occasionally Aspirin, Excedrine or Ibuprofen for when I get really achy from over exerting myself or minor injuries or muscle strains. I do walk around with mystery bruises, cuts and scrapes most of the time but that is to be expected when working with large animals and rough housing with an 80 pound Rottie.

Interesting Raye, I'll follow up with my endo on that one...calcitonin.

Evista for me. I had dexa scans over the years and saw the numbers improve, but very slowly. Once I got to normal-for-my-age, I went off the Evisa for a year or so, and my numbers backslid, so I am taking it again.

Wildchild, Levo won't cause bone loss but not having needed hormones will make bone loss more likely. Levo is also a synthetic and NDT is natural and contains all five hormones that a damaged (or missing) thyroid is under producing.

Annie - looked up two common drug names for calcitonin, they are Fortical & Miacalcin. Sure there are others too.

Don't forget about resistance training! You can start light but you need to progress higher intensity to weights you can lift in a 6-8 rep range 2-3 days per week, 8-10 exercises that should take about 20-30 min per session. And continue with weight bearing exercise--walking, running, aerobics, tennis, etc. Pool exercises are not weight-bearing but can be used when there is pain.

I inject daily with Forteo. Started in April of this year. Not surprised when I received the osteoporosis diagnosis. Had osteopenia since 50 years old. Used boniva with no results for years. I am now 82 , 5 feet tall and 100 pounds. Will be on injections for 18 months and then a bone density. Have always eaten a healthy diet and also exercise. No side effects or pain with injections.

I have osteopenia and am not on any meds or particular supplements yet nor has my dr mentioned starting. I'm also small boned and haven't ever been an athlete so exercise is a hard hurdle for me!

Since retirement I have been trying to make it a priority. With interruptions for surgery, the pandemic closings and then a frozen shoulder(!), I am trying to do resistance/weight training 2-3 times weekly. But regular weight bearing exercise.....that's proving very, very hard because I can't seem to self motivate myself into regular routines.

Walking outside is definitely an option especially as our hellish summer starts to wind down, but since I prefer to go after dinner when the worst of the sun exposure is over it seems every night my choice of go walk a couple of miles v. lounge around and watch tv is a battle that's over before it starts LOL.

Lately I've been telling myself that after the weight training circuit at my gym I owe myself 20 minutes on the elliptical or treadmill. That gives me ~1.5 miles and if I can make myself keep it up, hopefully that will help these old bones.

I just signed up with one of the personal trainers at my gym, which is part of a medical complex. They offer 30 minute sessions, so I will go twice weekly and have her 1) show me a routine that will help with my strength goals and 2) help me incorporate several exercise options, including weight training, weight bearing exercise and my Pilates habit to move me further toward a healthy body as I age.

It's not about the visible changes really, but about staying strong instead of becoming weak and frail!

I have Graves Disease and early menopause (age 46), and was osteopenia at first scan around 48 years old.

I was on Actonel (I think that's what it's called) for a few years until I developed ulcers. I was steady in some areas in terms of bone loss while on Actonel, but in other areas I still had slight bone loss. I stopped taking it when I got ulcers.

I then went to see my current Endo Dr who specializes in osteoporosis. I was then put on Reclast and started having better scans.

Around the same time I started have some issues with the HRT that I was taking (Activella). I was off of all HRT for a few months and the bleeding stopped and the fibroid shrunk but I was miserable with hot flashes, mood-swings, and insomnia.

I then started taking Duavee, which took care of all the awful menopause symptoms and my bone density at my next scan was so good I didn't need another round of Reclast. My endo Dr. attributes the good score to the Duavee.

Unfortunately, Pfizer had some packaging issues with Duavee in the spring and now it's on back-order. I just had a tele-med visit with her last month and she wants me back on the Duavee ASAP. My hot flashes are back and the insomnia is getting worse too.

I have been doing Pilates for 15 years and that helps with bone loss but really what made the biggest difference is the Duavee.

Duavee

No luck with Boniva, Fosamex and Actonel but Prolia has made a difference. Have always walked, exercised, had a healthy weight and eaten well.

Lots of good information. Thank you so much for the starting points. Annie, please post if you learn anything from you endo about calcitonin. I'll do the same.

I walk 3-5 miles at least 4 times a week. Pilates 2x a week now that they are reopened. Thinking about adding a weighted vest to the walks. Does anyone use a weighted vest?

I took reclast once and had a horrible reaction so didn't use anything for a few years, when it got worse I started taking prolia after two years on that I had improved .4 so that is hopeful. It is still bad but I'm told it can keep improving. I have taken Calcium for over 30 years, did high impact aerobics for 10 years and have walked on a treadmill 8 miles a day for 24 years and I still have low bone density.

lonestar, you and me both regarding the calcium the activity level. Can't do HRT so still trying to figure it out...

Nice, Trailrunner! That worked out well!

Does anyone else here have a sensitive stomach and problems taking Calcium vitamins? My dr wanted me to take 1200mg a day of a Calcium Citrate. It just killed my stomach. I switched to a smaller dosage of Calcium Carbonate. It doesn’t hurt my stomach as much but still does some so I just don’t take it often.

No HRT here due to an estrogen receptor positive cancer. The older you get the more complicated things become. ☹️

Mimi, as I understand it, the 1200 mg of calcium a day is from all sources. So if you eat foods with calcium, you can take less in calcium in the form of pills.

Calcium in foods