Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Osteoporosis

Rheumy sent me for a bone density scan, and the results were sufficiently bad that she prescribed Fosamax weekly.

Have other people had this?

I took the pill yesterday, and feel very tired now, even though my face looks rested (if you know what I mean)...is this a side effect of the drug, or just because building bone takes a lot of work?

Anyway, hope everyone had a good weekend.

I took it for 9 months and had to stop due to difficulty swallowing (not swallowing the pill, but swallowing food). Food would feel that it was hung up in esophogus. As soon as I stopped the Fosamax, it went away. Rheumy tried me on Atelvia, different formulation of the same sort of drug, bisphosphonate, and the same thing happened in 2 months. I won't take them now.

My mom has safely taken Fosamax for 10+ years, though.

My strontium is on order. Molly will likely chime in on the wonders of strontium. You can do a search on this site and find lots of info.

You won't be able to feel anything happening because the changes are so slow. It won't be for a year that anything could show up on the bone density, likely not for 2 yrs. It's that slow. Not sure about the tiredness, though.

Definitely worth reading up on strontium as an alternative. I believe a lot of the biphos. drugs are causing problems in other ways, so good to actually have full information on it you can discuss with your doc. You definitely want something that is going to work though - fragile bones are not fun (as I have just seen with my mother having a very nasty femur break that snapped clean through and impacted).

Is it just the ones in your spine, or is it all of your bones?

Paul - check out the Strontium Citrate. Stuff works as the bisphosphonates do not work. Bis drugs stop bone turnover and remodelling leading eventually TO fragile bones as the bones brittle up - like dead wood. Strontium Citrate does not stop bone turnover neither does strontium citrate stop bone remodelling. Strontium Citrate leads to strengthened bone, as opposed to to just obne density. New findings find...that actual 'bone density' is not the answer. Bone strength is what is looked for. Strongest legs are those of the Arab horse. Fine, strong legs. Whereas the bones of the shirehorses - massive bone - are not as strong! That is simplistic but you get the picture.

All the info is here on the boards. Put in a search. There are not files to refer to so will just have to search out.

BTW. Pharma and FDA advise not to take the Bis drugs for longer than 3yrs together owing to the side effects, that are now really piling in to view (were swept under the carpet somewhat before). Bad news. AND, THE HALF LIFE OF THE bis DRUGS IS 10YRS

There is also enough and more info on the websites/cyberspace. Do not be persuaded to take the Protelos Strontium Ranelate. That is the chemicalised version of strontium citrate with maltodextrin, mannitol and aspartame as carriers. Dreadful stuff - many side effects due to the nasty excipients. Go to the Strontium Citrate, unadulterated and not chemicalised.

Strontium Citrate is slow but works.

Oops, forgot to tick the box...

this seemed timely considering this discussion:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/loren-fishman-md/osteoporosis-drugs-the-ba_b_852494.html

i do see some flaws here, like mentions of Ca and D, but not Mg or Strontium. or the mention of yoga but not pilates.

still, another caution against the bisphosphanates.

think i'm fortunate to have doctors who already are not big fans of these bisphosphanates. but they didn't know what to suggest instead. i was the one who brought up the strontium and they seemed happy to let me try that until my next scan. if i can hold my own or improve, then problem solved, for now. if i'm worse next time, then guess it will be time to negotiate. but will cross that bridge when i come to it.

Will also add to take: calcium, VitD, VitK2 and magnesium. These will all help. As indeed will exercise especially load bearing exercise. Light weight training exercise? For good stretching exercises and deep breathing, Pilates is good as is Yoga. But only working with fully trained therapists - and who know the limits of AS patients. Work 'to' the poit, never over it. Again, much material on Pilates here on the boards. Will need to put in a search.

Ref Huffington - wonder who has paid her to push Evista...!!

one more thought, the person who wrote this, who seems to have a vested interest in yoga, said, "Participants in my study did over 20,000 hours of yoga. There was not one injury! There is still room in the study, so if you're interested, you can sign up"

HA! No thank you. Apparently he has never met me, LOL!

(i stopped doing it in a class and started just doing the things i knew i could do at home because i repeatedly "injured" myself (by pulling this tendon or that) and i was pretty careful too.

still as flawed as it may be, another warning about the bisphosphonates.