Bone density tests symptoms and conditions

I searched the web trying to find answers. I tried to access the Mirena website only to find it "under construction" for at least 2 months. I did more investigating to find out that in April 2009 the FDA issued Bayer a warning letter. It stated that Bayer neglected to list the risk factors in its literature. The Mirena website is up and running now, but it still doesn't have all the side effects listed.
I am 35 years old and never had a child. I was formerly on the Depo-Provera shot for 10 years. I was instructed by my doctor to change my birth control after several bone density tests revealed I was borderline osteopenia. I tried the patch, but I could never get it to stay on for an entire week. The Nuvaring was next and it simply wouldn't stay in place. I went thru a whole list of different birth control pills with no avail because of constant bacterial/yeast infections and vaginal dryness. I even tried estrogen cream. My doctor then suggested the Mirena.
The Mirena insertion process wasn't too bad with some cramping during the procedure. The cramping lasted for 1 1/2 days afterward. By the second day, my sex drive skyrocketed.
The 1st week on Mirena is what I call my "testosterone" madness. I was extremely antsy,edgey, and ready to fight. The 2nd week the hormones settled down and my mood was calmer. I noticed excessive hair loss and breast swelling/tenderness. Also, I had spotting for 2-3 months following insertion. It seemed that right before my cycle it would feel itchy like I was getting a yeast infection but the symptoms would disappear after my period.
It was fairly smooth sailing until the 5th-6th month. I started to develop constant low back pain, constipation, mild acne, cystic acne, eye twitches, heart flutters, severe cramping, constant bloating, itchy skin, and wrist tendinitis. Plus, every time I would sit down I could feel the pressure of the Mirena push against my bladder. I still was going to stick with it UNTIL I developed an itchy rash. The rash was small red bumps on my back and stomach with flesh-colored "goosebumps" on my arms and neck. The rash was present for 2 weeks. I went to the doctor and got medication for the rash. I felt like it was going away when the rash reappeared. I had a rash for a total of 4 weeks! This time the rash started at my neck and went to my ankles. I thought it was a coincidence the first time, but I knew the Mirena was the cause the second time it appeared. I tracked my cycles and the rash occurred at the same time during my cycle.
I went to my doctor and told him my thoughts. He politely gave me all my options before I chose to have the Mirena removed. The removal process was quick with a slight twinge cramp.
It has been 4-5 weeks since the removal of the Mirena. I am now free of cramping, excessive hair loss, eye twitches, heart flutters, breast swelling/tenderness, cystic acne, itchy skin, and rash. I still have some occasional low back pain, bloating, constipation, and mild acne. I had NO acne before the Mirena. Plus, the wrist tendinitis is getting better everyday.
Wish me luck ladies! I have to start from square one again. I hope that my experience with Mirena will help you.

I have been taking Fosamax for 1 year. A few months after beginning this medication I have been experiencing lower back pain which I never had before. A few times I skipped a dose and seemed to feel better, but the doctor insisted that I needed it because of the results of a bone density scan which showed I had osteopenia. So I am presently still taking it and now with the back pain I am now having abdominal pain and just recently noticed blood in my urine. I may now have kidney stones. I am seriously considering throwing the rest of the Fosamax I have in the garbage.

53 year old female who has taken "F" for almost 2 years - the past two months was the generic version. Have noticed a gradual onset of joint pain and heart palpitations, but am not one to see a doc unless I feel like I'm dying... So I wrote it off to aging. (-:
A friend recently mentioned that she had heard that Fosamax causes bones to be brittle, which caused me to wake up, look around and see what people are saying and what new articles or research are out there. Yeah, sure - there are lawsuits. Not a surprise in our litigious society. More importantly, however, are the comments from real people. Thanks to you who've posted your experiences!
I stopped the drug several weeks ago and seem to have an increase in joint paint. But I'm not going back to Fosamax! Also interesting to me is that around the same time I stopped the drug, I experienced an uncharacteristic downward shift in my mood/mental state. Not sure if there's a correlation to the drug or not...
It is reassuring to see some comments from people who indicate they feel better after weeks/months of being Fosamax free. I am a "gym rat" and very fit/weight appropriate. Weight training and nutrition will be my treatment of choose for osteopenia for now. With time, I am confident that the symptoms I'm experiencing will subside. And any future ailments for which I am prescribed a drug will be very carefully researched by me beforehand.
Be careful out there and stay informed!

Well.....I've had two good bone density tests (the proper test)...the last i had was in 2002, and showed an actual increase of density of 7.5% in one hip, and 4% somewhere else....I was THEN put on Fosamax by my dr. because I am "white, thin, hysterectomy and smoke...." and said he wanted to keep my bones healthy. Hence, I've been on this since. I'm now wondering.....I had alopecia (hair loss) 2 years ago, just patchy, it's back in fine, no recurrence. I'm seeing a chiropractor now, as I feel constantly "pretzeled" My head feels like it weighs 100lbs on a wobbly neck, my fingers are often sore, one of my knees is dodgy, ....we have no athritis, osteoporosis in my family, I cannot remember a female breaking a bone! I just don't feel great all vague feelings. I exercise every evening 20mins on a glider, I'm 105lbs, I eat a sensible diet, I do everything at 100mph, so not sedentary! I go for my Bone density the end of this month, and I have a feeling this is the end of my Fosamax!