UC - drugs - osteoporosis

Yes! My numbers were not quite as bad as yours but I definitely have osteoporosis so have taken an annual infusion of Reclast. After a couple of years, my numbers have improved a bit and so I'll continue with them.
Hope your numbers improve too. Insurance usually covers bone density tests every 2 years so I guess you'll have to wait until then to see if Fosamax helps.

i have osteoprosis too from drugs menepause etc..but i do not plan to take any of the drugs..osteoprosis scare is over rated..if you stayed at 3.4 or 3.6 for life for example your risk for fracture is no more than person without osteo..perhaps you might consider exercise(weight baring) and calcium and vit d first and than check to see in two years how much you are loosing..my numbers stayed pretty steady with exercise and calcium until i hadto take predisone when i had colitus for 9 months..brought my numbers in your range too..i am stil not panicing..seeing how i do next test and see if i stabilize..drs are over prescribing those drugs which can create other problems..

Talk with your dentist about Fosamax. My brother is a dentist and he does not recommend those drugs. Even my 88 year old mother's doctor won't put her on that drug. It has some very serious and irreversible side effects.

Sue

@SueBear - what kind of problems does your brother see?

Complete disintegration of the jawbone.

Sue

I was diagnosed with severe osteoporosis after my first dexa scan at age 41. Thanks to prednisone, UC as a disease, small frame, and genetic history. My endocrinologist now (yup had to get one because of this) calls it all a "perfect storm). So she put me on actonel. I had a severe allergic reaction 2hrs after first dose.... ended up in ER. Determined I'm allergic to biphosphantes. So my endo.. said wait until menopause and you will have to try forteo as that's the only other option.

Well now at 48, not menopausal and my recent DEXA took an even worse dive. This is despite weight bearing exercise, calcium, vit. D. etc..
So I just started Forteo last week. Yep this is the drug that causes cancer in rats. and has such little human proof that you are allowed to take it for two years. Daily shots, horrid side effects right now, and I am at a loss what to do.

Liz- wow! Sorry to hear this. I don't "feel" fragile, but I guess we are at the mercy of those in the know. I, too, am on Vit D, vitamins, etc. You are taking shots daily?

I'm on Prolia, by injection, and take it every six months. So far no side effects felt. Prior to Prolia I was on Boniva by infusion every three months. Insurance stuff made me switch. It's been awhile since I've had a bone density test. I have osteopenia.

yup forteo is a daily self inject. Its rough with the side effects so far.
but I'm a freak case... serious osteoporosis, pre-menopausal, and allergic to biphosphonates.... no other option... as exercise, vit D calciumm... aren't making a difference.

Yes, me too! but I refuse to take anything for it or even go for another bone destiny test. I have it it's not gong away so why have more x rays. I do weights. It actually improved my numbers on my second scan.

I, too, am osteopenia (not quite osteoporosis). Diagnosed at 47 (before j pouch surgeries). I take the chewable vitamin D/calcium I find that I absorb that better than the pill. Takedown surgery brought on menopause at the age of 49. I am not sure of my numbers as of yet; due to go to primary dr. in February. Hopefully, no changes! Can't we j pouchers get a break in life! I know it can be worse but what the fudge! Our bodies need a break from all the meds we have been on! Just saying...!

Roberta

I was diagnosed with osteopenia and was put on a calcium/Vitamin D supplements a few years ago. Although my vitamin D level at the time tested at 30 which was "on the cusp of acceptable" according to my PCP, he felt the osteopenia (which mostly showed in my left forearm) was due to 20 years of on and off prednisone when I had ulcerative colitis. At the time of diagnosis I was 47.