Osteoporosis here, and I am slender too. I think it's my early menopause at 39, from chemo, catching up with me 30 years later. I wanted to go to a rheumatologist, but it was Spring 2020, high-Covid. No one was accepting new patients, and the few that were didn't take my insurance. I was afraid to get involved with that long term, Fast-forward, I decided to go with Prolia shots. They are every 6 months. I have had 3 so far with zero side effects. I started to take calcium and Vitamin D supplements, which are recommended, but I got terrible stomach distress from them, so I stopped. I am doing the best I can by trying to eat more calcium foods. Too bad ice cream doesn't qualify. I will have a dexascan in December, which will, I hope, show no further deterioration.

I’ve been taking Evista for about 3 years now with no problems. I have a sister-in-law and friend who’ve both taken it longer than I have with no issues. It can be hard with meds since side effects can vary so much from person to person.

One of the common listed side effects of this medication is depression, but not everyone experiencing it. You can discuss with your doctor about this risk vs. benefit. Typically it takes 3 to 6 weeks for people to acclimate to the prescribed dose. If you can tolerate taking it, talk with the doc if you can take full dose every other day for sometime, like a week, then up to full dose. Or try a different drug.

I too have a slender build and DEXA scans have shown osteoporosis and osteopenia. I take no prescriptions because they always cause side effects but I take seven vitamins including Vitamin D and calcium. I hike 3 and 1/2 miles a day and try to eat healthily and hope for the best.

I have been taking alendronate sodium, generic for fosomax for about 7 months now. I don’t notice any side effects. I’d previously hoped that my diet and exercise habits would keep osteoporosis at bay, but no. Before I was given the prescription I rushed out and bought calcium tabs, but some reading made me feel that they wouldn’t have been sufficiently effective. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3970298/

I took Evista for several years with no ill effects. I took it on the recommendation of my sister, who preferred it over such drugs as Boniva because she had GERD, and Boniva and the other bisphosphonates could aggravate it.

My bone health did improve with Evista but it was a very slow process.

I also am slender and have osteoporosis. I take alendronate (generic Fosamax) without side effects. A more natural treatment would be vitamin D, calcium, and weight-bearing exercise.

Ditto on the weight bearing exercises.

Thanks for all of the input. Part of my concern is that my only "risk" factors are a slender build and drinking one cup of coffee a day, so there is nothing to cut out. I've been taking 2000 mg of D3 for about a dozen years in addition to my daily multivitamin. I walk an average of 4 miles a day, much of it carrying groceries. After finding out about osteopenia in my neck, I've changed my daily headstands to handstands. I do seated and supine exercises wearing my rollerskates which weigh 3 1/2 pounds each. Maybe I need to move into actual gym weights and add calcium + magnesium to my vitamin program. I eat dark, leafy greens, but I can always eat more. And maybe I just say, hey, I'm 66 and this is the reality of getting older. Up until a few years ago, I had an insurance policy with a $10,000 deductible. I went to the doctor when I got sick, paid out of pocket and the only tests I got were when I was a volunteer research subject. I never even knew I had this problem until I got that dexa scan test. Maybe I've had it for years. All I know is that I don't want to spend even three weeks feeling as emotionally distraught as I felt on that drug.

Jupidupi, I’m quite impressed with your walking daily. I would certainly add calcium supplement. Another major component of bone mass is collagen that many people overlook. So I would add collagen supplement as well, or you can buy gelatin powder (online) and mix a tablespoon with your favorite drink few times a day. And you’re right about the reality of getting older. We may only slow down the process.