Guest guest Posted September 24, 2009 Report Share Posted September 24, 2009 Hello Steph: Do you know anything about a drug called Relast? According to the website: " Reclast is the only FDA-approved, once-a-year treatment for postmenopausal osteoporosis. One annual dose, along with daily calcium and vitamin D, helps to increase bone density, protecting and strengthening your bones. " My feeling is that any drug that stays in your system for 1 year can't be good, but I may be biased. Of course, on the website, there is no mention of magnesium. Nor do they talk about how magnesium defiency is more common than a calcium deficiency, or how taking more calcium on top of a magnesium deficiency will often create/make osteoporosis worse. But be that as it may... My mother has been taking Iodoral with a balanced Cal/Mag supplement along with 2,000iu of D daily. For the last few months, she has also been using a food grade Diatomaceous Earth to increase silica. So far her bone density has not gotten worse, but it has not gotten better either. Her doctor has suggested Reclast. Any other ideas? Thanks in advance, Tim PS A big thanks for your response about Armour that you posted last night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 24, 2009 Report Share Posted September 24, 2009 Tim, regarding your mother taking Reclast for osteoporosis. This is a bisphosphonate drug, like Fosamax and Boniva which is so cutely advertised by Sally Field on TV. I don't know how they have managed to reduce the dosage of Reclast to once a year, but it has to be even worse than the others because of the way they work. Normal bone is constantly being replaced with new bone by having little PacMen guys called osteoclasts pour over the bones to find and dig out old, weakening bone particles. Then other little PacMen called osteoblasts follow and fill up the holes with new, strong bone particles, thus we continually repair and maintain all bones. This works when the body is properly balanced with bone nutrients, vitamin D3, Magnesium, calcium, silica, etc. If the body is not balanced with nutrients and hormones, or the diet is too high in protein which causes calcium to leave bones, then bones become weak and develop holes and are labeled " porous " ... or osteo-porosis. The osteoclast PacMen continue to dig out the old bone, but the osteoblast PacMen don't have the proper material to fill in with new bone. What the drug companies have done is create a chemical (bisphosphonate) that works by interrupting the old bone removal process by the osteoclast PacMen. So the old, weak bone is not removed, and then Big Pharma can claim that this drug " stops bone loss " , which is true, it stops the loss of old, weak bone. The problem with this is... after a few years (they stop testing after 4 years so they don't have to disclose this problem) the old, weak bone that their drug has left intact begins to disintegrate and break. A disease called " jawbone necrosis " develops from not repairing old bone. Thigh bones break while walking, and hips and many other bones deteriorate due to this drug's prevention of natural bone maintenance. There are many horror stories by people who have been damaged by these drugs and it is unconscionable that the drug companies continue to produce them, and lie about their efficacy and safety to doctors who are too busy to even google the known side effects. Don't give them to your mother. Do some homework of your own on google, or check for bone health, and find out what she is missing in her diet, or is taking too much of. I like her idea of taking diatomaceous earth... hadn't even thought of that for bone maintenance but it's a great idea. Diatombs are little critters that live in sea water and build themselves a protective shell out of the minerals of the sea. When they die, their shells remain and are simply tiny particles of sea minerals. A great way to get your minerals! But don't take the kind they use for pool filters, that's contaminated with chemicals that would be far worse than Reclast! One more thing. Get a paperback book called " What Your Doctor Won't Tell You About Menopause " by Dr. Lee. He will explain all about these bone killer drugs and about his discovery that the culprit is often loss of progesterone, not estrogen, in menopausal women. When she stops making eggs, she stops making progesterone. Doctors think that she doesn't need progesterone because she won't have anymore periods, but they fail to tell you (or even know) that your BONES need progesterone to complete the maintenance program, above. And get your mother to take 5000iu of vitamin D3, not just the maintenace dose she is taking. Get the book. I've been through this entire nightmare... and there is an answer. Good luck, Marji Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 24, 2009 Report Share Posted September 24, 2009 Hi Tim, I'm not Steph, but a DEXA scan last year showed I had osteopenia, so I did a lot of research on how to improve bone density. Turns out my DHEA and testosterone were in the GUTTER. These are very, very important for bone formation and since supplementing them my bone density has increased. I also take daily: cal/mag (more mag than cal), 8000 iu Vit D, Vit K2-7 and Jarrow's activated silica, but I think the hormones were likely the most instrumental. (Progesterone is also VERY important for bone health, but mine is fine as I've been using progesterone cream for a long time.) Many doctors are totally ignorant of a woman's needs for testosterone and DHEA. All they seem to think about is estrogen, if they think at all besides prescibing some bone drugs... HTH, Kathleen > > Hello Steph: > > Do you know anything about a drug called Relast? According to the website: " Reclast is the only FDA-approved, once-a-year treatment for postmenopausal osteoporosis. One annual dose, along with daily calcium and vitamin D, helps to increase bone density, protecting and strengthening your bones. " My feeling is that any drug that stays in your system for 1 year can't be good, but I may be biased. > > Of course, on the website, there is no mention of magnesium. Nor do they talk about how magnesium defiency is more common than a calcium deficiency, or how taking more calcium on top of a magnesium deficiency will often create/make osteoporosis worse. But be that as it may... > > My mother has been taking Iodoral with a balanced Cal/Mag supplement along with 2,000iu of D daily. For the last few months, she has also been using a food grade Diatomaceous Earth to increase silica. So far her bone density has not gotten worse, but it has not gotten better either. Her doctor has suggested Reclast. > > Any other ideas? > > Thanks in advance, > > Tim > > PS A big thanks for your response about Armour that you posted last night. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 24, 2009 Report Share Posted September 24, 2009 Thank you Marji - that was very helpful. And makes a lot of sense. I will pass it on. I have read about Dr. Lee and various theories on Estrogen Dominance and how it affects women and men. Estrogen (too much) appears to be the problem, not the solution. Hormones are the next area to check out. She is looking at a natural hormone preparation. I still have to ask, though, what is throwing the hormones off balance? Natural products are great, but what is the root cause? Without that, we are still using bandaids, natural or not. I can't imagine that our Creator would design a woman's body to need hormone supplementation after menopause. Aren't the adrenals supposed to kick in and pick up the slack? I spent some time on the drug company's site and others. There are many " official " glowing reports of this drug. And yet, not one(!) mentions magnesium. There is no mention of it ANYWHERE. But they really push taking even MORE calcium. Really crazy to me. Can't they see they are making it worse? Or is that the plan? Most MDs seem to buy into the same party line. They are all seem like parrots after awhile... Sorry, I am probably preaching to the choir... Best of health, Tim > > Tim, regarding your mother taking Reclast for osteoporosis. This is a bisphosphonate drug, like Fosamax and Boniva which is so cutely advertised by Sally Field on TV. I don't know how they have managed to reduce the dosage of Reclast to once a year, but it has to be even worse than the others because of the way they work. > > Normal bone is constantly being replaced with new bone by having little PacMen guys called osteoclasts pour over the bones to find and dig out old, weakening bone particles. Then other little PacMen called osteoblasts follow and fill up the holes with new, strong bone particles, thus we continually repair and maintain all bones. This works when the body is properly balanced with bone nutrients, vitamin D3, Magnesium, calcium, silica, etc. > > If the body is not balanced with nutrients and hormones, or the diet is too high in protein which causes calcium to leave bones, then bones become weak and develop holes and are labeled " porous " ... or osteo-porosis. The osteoclast PacMen continue to dig out the old bone, but the osteoblast PacMen don't have the proper material to fill in with new bone. > > What the drug companies have done is create a chemical (bisphosphonate) that works by interrupting the old bone removal process by the osteoclast PacMen. So the old, weak bone is not removed, and then Big Pharma can claim that this drug " stops bone loss " , which is true, it stops the loss of old, weak bone. > > The problem with this is... after a few years (they stop testing after 4 years so they don't have to disclose this problem) the old, weak bone that their drug has left intact begins to disintegrate and break. A disease called " jawbone necrosis " develops from not repairing old bone. Thigh bones break while walking, and hips and many other bones deteriorate due to this drug's prevention of natural bone maintenance. > > There are many horror stories by people who have been damaged by these drugs and it is unconscionable that the drug companies continue to produce them, and lie about their efficacy and safety to doctors who are too busy to even google the known side effects. > > Don't give them to your mother. Do some homework of your own on google, or check for bone health, and find out what she is missing in her diet, or is taking too much of. I like her idea of taking diatomaceous earth... hadn't even thought of that for bone maintenance but it's a great idea. Diatombs are little critters that live in sea water and build themselves a protective shell out of the minerals of the sea. When they die, their shells remain and are simply tiny particles of sea minerals. A great way to get your minerals! But don't take the kind they use for pool filters, that's contaminated with chemicals that would be far worse than Reclast! > > One more thing. Get a paperback book called " What Your Doctor Won't Tell You About Menopause " by Dr. Lee. He will explain all about these bone killer drugs and about his discovery that the culprit is often loss of progesterone, not estrogen, in menopausal women. When she stops making eggs, she stops making progesterone. Doctors think that she doesn't need progesterone because she won't have anymore periods, but they fail to tell you (or even know) that your BONES need progesterone to complete the maintenance program, above. > > And get your mother to take 5000iu of vitamin D3, not just the maintenace dose she is taking. Get the book. I've been through this entire nightmare... and there is an answer. Good luck, > > Marji > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 24, 2009 Report Share Posted September 24, 2009 Thanks, Kathleen. I think increasing the Vit D would probably be helpful. Actually her doctor did suggest that, but she thought it would be too much. My mom's cal/mag supplement is Mezotrace with Vit D. It has a higher ratio of Mag to Cal and lots of trace minerals. I take it too. Either that or some Pascalite clay mixed in water. Hormones are next. Tim > > > > Hello Steph: > > > > Do you know anything about a drug called Relast? According to the website: " Reclast is the only FDA-approved, once-a-year treatment for postmenopausal osteoporosis. One annual dose, along with daily calcium and vitamin D, helps to increase bone density, protecting and strengthening your bones. " My feeling is that any drug that stays in your system for 1 year can't be good, but I may be biased. > > > > Of course, on the website, there is no mention of magnesium. Nor do they talk about how magnesium defiency is more common than a calcium deficiency, or how taking more calcium on top of a magnesium deficiency will often create/make osteoporosis worse. But be that as it may... > > > > My mother has been taking Iodoral with a balanced Cal/Mag supplement along with 2,000iu of D daily. For the last few months, she has also been using a food grade Diatomaceous Earth to increase silica. So far her bone density has not gotten worse, but it has not gotten better either. Her doctor has suggested Reclast. > > > > Any other ideas? > > > > Thanks in advance, > > > > Tim > > > > PS A big thanks for your response about Armour that you posted last night. > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 24, 2009 Report Share Posted September 24, 2009 Thanks for this excellent, excellent post, Marji! I would like to print out and give to the doc who wanted me to take Fosfomax. I said no thank you and did my own research about how to build bones. Kathleen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 24, 2009 Report Share Posted September 24, 2009 Hi Tim, The extra Vitamin won't hurt her at all. If she is worried, it is very easy to test for it and actually a good idea. Since her doc wanted her to take more, I'm sure he would test her for it. I can't maintain optimal levels unless I take 8,000 iu a day, but I avoid the sun. About your other posts and hormones, unfortunately, we all do lose hormones as we age. It is " natural. " There is likely nothing " wrong " with your mother. Everyone's DHEA starts to go south around age 40 and by our elder years, it's pretty dreary. If you have adrenal fatigue, it can get pretty dreary much faster. DHEA is a woman's main source of testosterone, so if your DHEA is low, likely so is testosterone, although for me, supplement DHEA wasn't enough and I have to take testosterone on top of it (topcially). When a woman stops menstruating, the main source of progesterone is gone. The adrenals can make some, but it's most often not enough. Many, many women supplement with progesterone cream. At least women in the know as most doctors will just give post-menopausal woman estrogen (and horse estrogen at that), which is really bad. Unopposed estrogen can cause breast cancer and a bunch of other nasty problems, including thyroid issues. Anyhoo, I think someone suggested some books to read that are really good. If you go to www.lef.org, they have great information on hormone restoration for both men and women. Kathleen > > Thanks, Kathleen. I think increasing the Vit D would probably be helpful. Actually her doctor did suggest that, but she thought it would be too much. > > My mom's cal/mag supplement is Mezotrace with Vit D. It has a higher ratio of Mag to Cal and lots of trace minerals. I take it too. Either that or some Pascalite clay mixed in water. > > Hormones are next. > > Tim > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 24, 2009 Report Share Posted September 24, 2009 you can look also at vit k2 it takes the calcium from the veins and place it in the bones. > > > > Thanks, Kathleen. I think increasing the Vit D would probably be helpful. Actually her doctor did suggest that, but she thought it would be too much. > > > > My mom's cal/mag supplement is Mezotrace with Vit D. It has a higher ratio of Mag to Cal and lots of trace minerals. I take it too. Either that or some Pascalite clay mixed in water. > > > > Hormones are next. > > > > Tim > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 24, 2009 Report Share Posted September 24, 2009 Hi Tim, Suzanne Somers has some good info in her books on aging about hormones. Also, Dr. Thierry Hertoghe(sp) book on hormones is very good. And Dr. Brownstein's book on Hormones is excellent. Once people hit 30 - 35 our hormones start to lesson and the aging process begins. Reclast and all the other drugs like it are horrible. Totally unethical for a dr. to recommend it. Breaking bones is not my idea of health care! Nonie > > Thanks, Kathleen. I think increasing the Vit D would probably be helpful. Actually her doctor did suggest that, but she thought it would be too much.> > My mom's cal/mag supplement is Mezotrace with Vit D. It has a higher ratio of Mag to Cal and lots of trace minerals. I take it too. Either that or some Pascalite clay mixed in water.> > Hormones are next.> > Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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