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[CLKD]

My gynae won't do hormone blood tests as they alter continually throughout 24 hours.  He 'goes' on symptoms.

[Meeka]

My gynae won't do hormone blood tests as they alter continually throughout 24 hours.  He 'goes' on symptoms.

Yes ive heard that mentioned on here before.   Prof Studd may think although they fluctuate 'some indication is better than nothing'.      When I have taken a higher dose of Oestrogen in the past it has shown in the blood test so maybe it does show a good indication.   I was only taking 1 and a half pumps when the reading was 300 and I am now doing 3 pumps so I hope it has risen to nearer the 800 mark.  Studd says I need that for my bones.   I felt fine on 1 and a half pumps but it wasn't doing much for my bones.  Everyone is different .  I am quite slim so not much body fat .   Body fat can make some oestrogen I believe.

[Meeka]

If the GP won't do it , there is a very good company on line where it can be arranged £89.00 for a HRT test , plus £20.00 to have blood taken from a local private hospital in your area , or via finger **** then it's the £89.00.

If GP refuses maybe cheaper than Prof Studd ?

Thank you for this info.   I was going to use them if the GP had said no.  I believe Prof Studd charges £200 for full bloods.

[Hurdity]

That is really interesting Meeka.

Firstly the fact that you have a medical reason to request the tests because your specialist has said you need certain levels for osteoporosis protection which you are already at risk from - that is a different matter than just seeing how you feel.

Also I am interested in the fact that Prof Studd has stated a particular absolute (very high) level to build your bone as this is way higher than most of us attain and much higher than I imagine the average oestrogen level to be on the doses of oestrogen licensed for osteoporosis protection and I presume again this is because you are already at risk and he wants to make sure you do actually build bone at the right amount?

I haven't time to read about this now but I'd love to find out more about this.

I do hope that your bone density improves under this treatment....

Hurdity x

[Dana]

Thanks for all the replies......It helped me to decide what I was going to say to the GP and a plan if she wasn't willing to help.

It was a young woman GP and she listened while I explained why I was asking for the bloods.

I explained that my gynea likes to have blood tests as he likes to monitor how well I am absorbing the gels and that he likes the level of oestrogen to be around 800-1000 range.  I explained that on my last visit to him a year ago my oestrogen level was around 300 and when the Dexa scan was done it showed that my right hip had moved from osteopenic to osteoporosis range.   I explained that Mr Studd said I needed to get my oestrogen levels up higher to stop the osteoporosis from progressing.   

The GP agreed to do the bloods for oestrogen and testosterone .   I didn't need the other blood tests as I had them around 5 months ago for something else so she just did me a print off of those so I could take them to show prof studd.

When I saw Prof Studd 12 months ago my oestrogen level was 300.....I felt fine and was having no symptoms like flushing or sweats.   Prof Studd said that although the level of 300 was preventing these symptoms it was not enough to protect my bones so he wanted me to up the dose to 3-4 pumps daily.  He also said testosterone for the bones.

Thanks again for the help and suggestions.   

Maybe you've gotten to the point where you need more than just estrogen for your bones. I'm on HRT, but it wasn't doing much for my osteopenia. I didn't need nor want to take more estrogen, so I now take Fosamax once a week and it's made the world of difference. You will have to watch how high your estrogen levels go because the side effects of too much estrogen can be just as bad as too little.

[Meeka]

Thanks for all the replies......It helped me to decide what I was going to say to the GP and a plan if she wasn't willing to help.

It was a young woman GP and she listened while I explained why I was asking for the bloods.

I explained that my gynea likes to have blood tests as he likes to monitor how well I am absorbing the gels and that he likes the level of oestrogen to be around 800-1000 range.  I explained that on my last visit to him a year ago my oestrogen level was around 300 and when the Dexa scan was done it showed that my right hip had moved from osteopenic to osteoporosis range.   I explained that Mr Studd said I needed to get my oestrogen levels up higher to stop the osteoporosis from progressing.   

The GP agreed to do the bloods for oestrogen and testosterone .   I didn't need the other blood tests as I had them around 5 months ago for something else so she just did me a print off of those so I could take them to show prof studd.

When I saw Prof Studd 12 months ago my oestrogen level was 300.....I felt fine and was having no symptoms like flushing or sweats.   Prof Studd said that although the level of 300 was preventing these symptoms it was not enough to protect my bones so he wanted me to up the dose to 3-4 pumps daily.  He also said testosterone for the bones.

Thanks again for the help and suggestions.   

Maybe you've gotten to the point where you need more than just estrogen for your bones. I'm on HRT, but it wasn't doing much for my osteopenia. I didn't need nor want to take more estrogen, so I now take Fosamax once a week and it's made the world of difference. You will have to watch how high your estrogen levels go because the side effects of too much estrogen can be just as bad as too little.

I worry about the stuff I  read about Fosamax

https://www.drugwatch.com/fosamax/

[Dana]

The problems related to fosamax are mainly for those who take it every day, or don't take it as directed. If you start treatment early enough it is only one tablet a week so I can't see how it can be that risky.

I'm proof that it definitely helps. I was diagnosed with osteopenia probably about 8 years ago and I started taking fosamax. I didn't need hrt then, and my bone density improved. About two years later I was scared off it by a naturopath, and for the next four years my density gradually got worse even though I was now using hrt. I've been back on fosamax for the last two years and there has been a big improvement.

My attitude is that if you read enough stuff on the internet you would scare yourself off all medications. Just take hrt as an example. People pull up a lot of "studies" to prove their particular POV.

I watched my father battle osteoporosis, a broken hip and a very painful final six months. I'll take my chances with fosamax.

*edit*   I'll just quickly add that Dr Elizabeth Vliet recommends the use of Fosamax in her book "Screaming to be Heard", so I'll take her opinion over what you read on the internet. My own GP is also very happy to prescribe it. There may come a point where I might be able to stop taking it for a while, if the density has improved enough, but I will be reluctant to stop it long term because it will just decline again, and I don't want that to happen.

[Charlotte ...]

Hi Meeka,
I'm in the same boat as you with osteoporosis, I also started on three pumps of oestrogel, I just had my blood results and mine is sky high after three months, I'll see what Studd says about that. I also want to give HRT a go for a few years, I hope I won't need any osteo drugs until I'm in my 70's, could be wishful thinking but that's the plan.

[CLKD]

Do you mean Professor Studd 

Exercise - 10 mins. brisk walking daily can help stave off osteoporosis.  However …….. we have a tread mill which I look at every day 

[Charlotte ...]

Yes, Prof Studd. I've worked out since my 30's, I was really surprised by the diagnosis, lifestyle wise there isn't much I can change, my Vit D levels were high. Fingers crossed that the HRT will stabilise me, though Dana's post was quiet the eye opener.

[CLKD]

It really is Trial and Error ain't it 

[Charlotte ...]

Hi CLKD, yep 

[babyjane]

My husband was diagnosed with osteoporosis aged 47.  He was changed from Strontium Ranelate to Alendronic Acid (Fosamax) weekly tablet and he is also doing very well. It is one of the older biphosphonates and is generally well tolerated if taken correctly.

[Charlotte ...]

That is young babyjane, did they have any idea of the why and wherefore? Did it run in his family?

[babyjane]

Hello Charlotte, yes.  His mother was terribly disabled with it.  Both his brothers have it and so does our eldest son.  Our other son has been refused a scan on the NHS so my husband's consultant has writted to son's GP otherwise he will pay for it.

My husband was intially refused a scan as he was a 47 year old male so he paid for one privately which showed he was already osteoporotic.  this is why his consultant advised our sons to be scanned once they reached the age of 30.