Bone Density article - why am I not surprised?

[Deb]

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/19/healt ... ef=general


Bone loss and osteoporosis develop so slowly in most women whose bones test normal at age 65 that many can safely wait as long as 15 years before having a second bone density test, researchers report in a new study.



The study, published in Thursday’s issue of The New England Journal of Medicine, is part of a broad rethinking of how to diagnose and treat the potentially debilitating bone disease that can lead to broken hips and collapsing spines.

A class of drugs, bisphosphonates, which includes Fosamax, have been found to prevent fractures in people with osteoporosis. But medical experts no longer recommend the medicines to prevent osteoporosis itself. They no longer want women to take them indefinitely, and no longer consider bone density measurements the sole defining factor in deciding if a woman needs to be treated

[starfire]

and no longer consider bone density measurements the sole defining factor in deciding if a woman needs to be treated

I thought that must be the case. I had a BD test a week or so ago and I am practically on the borderline between osteopenia and osteoporosis. Nothing was said about medication so I knew the "Powers That Be" had changed their minds at least about how soon to start taking the meds. I was glad because I don't want to take them anyway.

Now if they would just let up about the cholesterol drugs. HaHa

Love, Shirley

[Zizzle]

Bisphosphonates - that's another class of drugs no doctor will EVER convince me to take. My list of HELL-NO drugs is growing every day!

[Deb]

My PCP wanted me to start on these with a diagnosis of osteopenia (which I'm thinking is bogus anyways) a few years ago. I resisted and asked her if she would take them. She said she put her mother on them. I'm thinking......that's not the same thing! As I've mentioned in previous posts, I'm in a bone density study at Mayo and my levels have not gotten worse and have possibly improved.

[Sheila]

My elderly mother who had CC was given Fosamax while in her 80's. She had a very bad reaction to the drug, was extremely sick for weeks. She tested well on her bone density tests until she was in her 80's. I wouldn't ever take this drug.
Sheila W