osteoporosis and fosamax

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flphotog

New Member
Location
Clearwater,FL
I'm a 73 yo man and a new doctor sent me in for a bone scan a couple of months ago. When I went in for a follow up was told that my t score on the test was -2.5 and was prescribed fosamax which I started on yesterday, however I really do not want to take this medication.
I ask for and received a copy of the report from the bone scan and it turns out the the spin area had a t score in the plus range, I don't remember the exact numbers but the hip area wasn't given a single t score but a range from -1.6 to -2.5 and I have not been able to get a straight answer as to what this range actually means. To my layman's mind it would indicate that not all of the hip area is actually at -2.5.
I talked to a nurse not associated with my doctors office and she said that being given a range rather and a single score is unusual and she has not seen that before.
Sorry for rambling on but I was wondering if anyone has has seen this in a bone scan?
I'm about ready to make an appt to go back in to see either the Dr or PA to see is I can get a straight answer face to face, so far talking to one of their nurses over the phone has been a total waste of time.
Any thoughts on this are welcome and appreciated.
 

flphotog said:
I'm a 73 yo man and a new doctor sent me in for a bone scan a couple of months ago. When I went in for a follow up was told that my t score on the test was -2.5 and was prescribed fosamax which I started on yesterday, however I really do not want to take this medication.
I ask for and received a copy of the report from the bone scan and it turns out the the spin area had a t score in the plus range, I don't remember the exact numbers but the hip area wasn't given a single t score but a range from -1.6 to -2.5 and I have not been able to get a straight answer as to what this range actually means. To my layman's mind it would indicate that not all of the hip area is actually at -2.5.
I talked to a nurse not associated with my doctors office and she said that being given a range rather and a single score is unusual and she has not seen that before.
Sorry for rambling on but I was wondering if anyone has has seen this in a bone scan?
I'm about ready to make an appt to go back in to see either the Dr or PA to see is I can get a straight answer face to face, so far talking to one of their nurses over the phone has been a total waste of time.
Any thoughts on this are welcome and appreciated.
Click to expand...

I'm near your age and a few years ago I was prescribed fosamax because of alleged osteopenia (which is supposed to be the precursor to osteoporosis). It caused me to have a lot of serious problems with my stomach, and I quit taking it for that reason, and also for the reason that my dentist of many years had seen some jaw degeneration as a result of this and similar drugs.

Here's what the Mayo Clinic website says about the t-score:

Your bone density test results are reported in two numbers: T-score and Z-score.
T-score

Your T-score is your bone density compared with what is normally expected in a healthy young adult of your sex. Your T-score is the number of units — called standard deviations — that your bone density is above or below the average.

T-scoreWhat your score means
-1 and above
Your bone density is considered normal.
Between -1 and -2.5Your score is a sign of osteopenia, a condition in which bone density is below normal and may lead to osteoporosis.
-2.5 and belowYour bone density indicates you likely have osteoporosis.
 
Butterfly said:
I'm near your age and a few years ago I was prescribed fosamax because of alleged osteopenia (which is supposed to be the precursor to osteoporosis). It caused me to have a lot of serious problems with my stomach, and I quit taking it for that reason, and also for the reason that my dentist of many years had seen some jaw degeneration as a result of this and similar drugs.

Here's what the Mayo Clinic website says about the t-score:

Your bone density test results are reported in two numbers: T-score and Z-score.
T-score

Your T-score is your bone density compared with what is normally expected in a healthy young adult of your sex. Your T-score is the number of units — called standard deviations — that your bone density is above or below the average.

T-scoreWhat your score means
-1 and aboveYour bone density is considered normal.
Between -1 and -2.5Your score is a sign of osteopenia, a condition in which bone density is below normal and may lead to osteoporosis.
-2.5 and belowYour bone density indicates you likely have osteoporosis.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I'm aware of those t score values, my confusion comes because they didn't give me a t score but a range and no explanation of what that actually means. I also have concerns about the jaw issue which I have read about.
Can you tell me how long your were on fosamax before you stopped taking it and also, did your issues clear up after you stopped?

Thanks
 

I'd don't how mobile you are but I would try to get some very light exercise to help stimulate bone growth/repair. Drugs alone won't do it. And they do come with side effects. I know someone who was told they were pre and they prescribed prescription strength mega doses of vitamin D, tore up their stomach. It's not fosamax but still. And don't assume just extra calcium will do it. Always take calcium with magnesium and D.

https://www.drugwatch.com/fosamax/side-effects/

http://www.news-medical.net/drugs/Fosamax.aspx

If you trust the doctors go with their recommendations.

Stay healthy stay fit!
 
flphotog said:
Thanks, I'm aware of those t score values, my confusion comes because they didn't give me a t score but a range and no explanation of what that actually means. I also have concerns about the jaw issue which I have read about.
Can you tell me how long your were on fosamax before you stopped taking it and also, did your issues clear up after you stopped?

Thanks
Click to expand...

I wasn't on fosamax very long -- they switched me to a couple of others that were just as bad. I don't recall their names. Probably the whole episode was about a year and a half. Yes, all the stomach pain, heartburn, etc., cleared up after I quit taking those drugs.

I'd also point out that my scan readings have not gotten any worse since I quit taking those meds, and that's been about 10 years. I'm 71 now.

Some people do better on other drugs than fosomax, but you have to fail at fosamax before most insurance will cover the next ones. I went through several and to me, the risks of them (stomach pain, possible ulcers of esophagus and stomach, etc.) were worse than the possibility of osteoporosis. As I understand it the osteo drugs don't help anywhere near everybody, anyway. I just decided I didn't want to take something that had adverse effects for me and that might or might not work for something I might or might not really have., and I sure didn't want to get into the maelstrom of taking other drugs to combat the effects of this drug. My doc concurred in my decision, and as I said above, I've had no decline in bone loss. Some bone loss is natural as you age, anyway.

Look on the net and read the label warnings and so on. I certainly can't advise whether to take it or not, as everyone is different, but for me, it wasn't a good idea. One thing I would say for sure, though, is that if you are going to take it, be sure you follow the warning to remain upright at least 30 minutes after taking it so that it doesn't back up in your esophagus. I was religious about doing that, though, and still had problems.
 
I appreciate the responses. I had a sit down with the PA yesterday and told her that I didn't feel that the risks were worth it to take fosamax at this time. I'm going with diet, exercise and calcium suppliments along with eliminating the risk factors that are involved in this and re-doing the bone scan in 2 years. I'd have preferred to redo it after a year but the PA said 2 years. I may bring this up with the doctor when I see her in December, not sure yet.
 
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