79M, hyperparathyroidism, offered alendronate
I'm an almost 79 y. o. guy who, it was found in early 2023 at the VA, has hyperparathyroidism which causes me to lose calcium from bones: probably only 1 of the 4 small parathyroid glands went haywire in my neck (they're behind the thyroid gland) some time in the past. In the past (while living with hyperparathyroidism), I was told I'm in the osteopenia category but this past Fri. a senior VA endocrinologist told me that since a vertebral fracture shows up in radiographic studies and occurred some unknown time in the past, I'm clearly in the osteoporosis category. She offered me alendronate last year and again this past Friday and I told her I'd take it AFTER seeing my dentist for inspection and evaluation of all my teeth: I see him on 13 May. A friend (who's not an MD nor in health care) told me today his late wife had taken alendronate and that this drug has a good deal of controversy swirling around it. Using DDG, I read the AI account of the controversy and am now not so sure I want to take the drug. I read about some alternative drugs. Do all of these alternatives carry the same physical/medical risks or is, maybe, one of them low risk and useful to those having osteoporosis? [My calcium levels are always slightly above the upper limit for normal blood calcium. This past Friday, my calcium level was 10.8 with 10.4 being the upper limit for normal. My vit D level was 38 which the MD said is OK.] While I walk rather fast and far, I wonder if use of light/lighter weights is useful in a case of osteoporosis. Tell me what you know about this aspect. Thanks