Topic: Naturopathic action plan for bones

Aug 8, 2012 09:08 PM Lee7 wrote:

Hi LtotheK,

I really need to get a good game plan also. I am on Arimidex and my bone scan showed osteopenia. I think my hips were the worst.  My onc gave me a script for Boniva, but I didn't get it filled.  Im trying to do what I can for my bones without adding any drugs.

I take 2000 mg Vit D3.  I also take a 500mg Calcium/Magnesium pill.

I've been going to Yoga class 2x a week, and I try to get some walking/stair climbing in everyday.  No specific weight lifting but I do lug around stuff at work....does that count?

I do eat lots of calcium rich foods, greek yogurt is my favorite.

I'm curious about the coffee....I drink atleast 2 cups in the a.m. to wake up and another at work.  Does it deplete calcium?

Hope others post too, I need to have a good bone scan next time!

Aug 9, 2012 12:03 AM HLB wrote:

I hope coffee is ok because I am NOT QUITTING!

Aug 9, 2012 05:29 PM, edited Aug 9, 2012 05:31 PM by Lee7

My Vit D supplement:

I'm not sure what to attribute this to:  I just may not need much Vit D to keep my levels up or the actual Vit D I buy is a good one.  My first test had me below normal, 27.  I started with 4000 IU of Vit D and then got checked 3 months later. I was up in the 60's.  It rose so quickly, and my onc had said only take 1000 IU so I backed it down to 2000 IU.  Another test 3 months later, still in the 60s.  Next test 6months, I'm in the 60's range. It appears to be staying at a good level.  Anyways...The Vit D3 I buy is the brand "Nature Made" and it is a solid white tablet not a gel pill type. Its pretty inexpensive and I can find it at Walmart.    It worked for me so I'm sticking with that brand.  :) 

Sep 3, 2012 09:04 PM Lee7 wrote:

I found that the gel type pills had the soybean oil in them. The solid tablet pill did not. That's why I went with the tablet. I don't know how significant avoiding soy is for ER+ but since I am ER+, I'm trying to avoid soy when I can.

My onc let me start Arimidex the same time as rads. I felt better starting it then since I didn't have chemo.

Sep 5, 2012 06:46 PM, edited Sep 5, 2012 06:48 PM by peggy_j

I hate to be Debbie Downer but I heard coffee isn't a friend to our bones. Neither are carbonated sodas. But leafy greens are. So let's all switch from our daily joe to kale smoothies. (ha!)  FWIW, I transitioned down to half-reg and half-decaf and it's not so bad.

In terms of exercise, I heard that two hours of walking a week is a good goal for bone health. Is this the amount others have heard, too?

Thanks for starting this thread, LtotheK! (BTW, what weight-lifting exercises are you doing? I've been going to the gym for years and many of the arm machines have back supports. Would something like that help?)

Sep 7, 2012 04:04 AM Heidihill wrote:

Thanks for the link, Omaz! Yoga gave at least 8 times better results in bone density than doing nothing -- for only 10 minutes a day. Impressive. Some of the poses don't look that easy though. The modified poses in the DVD would be interesting to see.

Sep 10, 2012 09:23 PM peggy_j wrote:

Omaz, thanks for posting this.  Our local parks and rec department offers a class called "pilates for bone health." That was news to me, so thanks for this info. I'm curious to know how the different exercises compare. i.e. is yoga better than walking or free weights or... ? We talk about the importance of "weight-baring" exercise, but does anyone know what this means? i.e. anything with our body weight is enough (vs. swimming, for example)

BTW, can we really reverse bone loss? I thought they best we could hope for was to stop the loss. 

Sep 16, 2012 10:12 AM exbrnxgrl wrote:

No coffee? Never! Two cups each morning and I'm good. I do eat lots of calcium rich foods and kale is a favorite ingredient in my juice. I am stage IV and although I will do many things to enhance my health I aim to enjoy all of life's pleasures, even a great cup of coffee.
Caryn

Oct 9, 2012 07:21 PM LtotheK wrote:

Hey gang, I'm slow on the uptake--been super-busy.

Updates: I do free weight exercises, and a plan my gym trainer put together for me.  I am ginger with the arms, but I do lift and squat and do weight bearing 3x a week.

I am going to check out this yoga DVD, looks interesting.

Regarding coffee, I've seen a lot of reports that a cup in the morning is not enough mgs of caffeine to be a problem.  Regardless, I won't cut that out.  I live for my morning coffee, and green tea gives me heartburn (turns out folks can be sensitive to anti-oxidants!)

Oct 12, 2012 04:25 AM, edited Oct 13, 2012 08:15 AM by Momine

So, I had my dexa. My spine was 84% six months ago, now it is 83. My hip has gained a little bone mass, but was in good shape to begin with. So, I guess I have to up the exercise. 

Ooops! Misread, the hip lost too. :( 

Dec 3, 2012 01:44 AM adagio wrote:

Which drugs are bad for the bones? I am taking AC/T for 8 rounds and I do have osteoporosis - my oncologist didn't seem too concerned. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Dec 4, 2012 01:15 AM adagio wrote:

Thanks for the reassurance Momine.

Dec 5, 2012 11:07 AM Omaz wrote:

I got my 'yoga vs osteoporosis ' DVD and am doing my yoga now!  I sent them my DEXA scan info and filled out some forms to join up.  Then they sent me the disk.

Dec 5, 2012 11:55 AM chatter99 wrote:

What is the best Vitamin c formulation and how much should you take? Is this why some get vitamIn c injections? Are they worthwhile?

Dec 7, 2012 08:29 PM suegr8 wrote:

May I slide in here, please?  MO has result of my dexa & says I am osteopenic.  Have to go with Tamoxifen, not Arimidex now.

Interesting to follow all the info.

cheers