STRESSED to the MAXXXX!!!

Do you feel like you need a new set of internal batteries most days?  Are you missing key details?  Are you checking in and out of conversations and lacking focus?  You are probably going too fast and you're going to CRASH!   That is.....if you haven't already.

 A well oiled machine can only run so long and then it needs to be serviced, relubricated, and put back into performance mode.  I hate having to take the time for oil changes on my car, but it's necessary to keep it perfoming at it's peak and to keep the engine from seizing up all together.  It's the same with us!!  Our lives, unfortunately, do not always allow designated down times, and our bodies suffer the consequences when we don't pay attention to our internal "check engine light".   The end result is that our bodies crash and then we are forced to make changes.

Often people first make a connection with me to determine if there is hormonal imbalance going on, but I also share that poor stress management plays in significantly in the "hormone world".  I like to look into both the ovaries and the adrenal glands for poor engine performance. (so to speak) :)

Adrenal Fatigue is running rampant in our society and it's due to the fast paced lifestyles we lead.  The physical manifestations of stress can be very interesting to say the least.  From headaches, to missed menstrual cycles, to crying spells, to lashing out at people, to missing work, and on and on the list goes. 

Here's some of the things that PROLONGED stress can cause:

Tendency to gain weight and unable to lose it, especially around the waist.
High frequency of getting illness or flu.
Tendency to tremble when under pressure
Reduced sex drive
Lightheaded when rising from a laying down position
Unable to remember things
Lack of energy in the mornings and also in the afternoon often between 2-5pm.
Feeling better suddenly for a brief period after a meal.
Cravings for salty, fatty, and high protein food.
Increase in symptoms of PMS for women
Feeling better when stress is relieved, such as on vacation or on days "off" without deadlines
Mild depression
Dry and thin skin
Lack of focus and difficulty staying in conversations without your mind wandering
Nervousness
Palpitations
Unexplained hair loss
Upset stomach
Skin rashes
Headaches
Rapid aging
Feeling Tired but Wired


When we talk "hormones", often the focus in on the ovaries.  The problem with just focusing on the ovaries is that the adrenal glands contribute about 35% of female hormones pre-menopausal and almost 50% post-menopausally.  So what's the big deal with that?  Well, in short, if the adrenals are exhausted so will be the person.  This fatigue will affect almost EVERY area of life if allowed to run off course.  (sleep, infertility, rapid aging, memory, blood sugar issues, osteoporosis, weight, etc. etc.)


So how do you know where you stand with stress?

The best way to measure your level of free key adrenal hormones is through a saliva testing panel.  It is preferred because it measures the amount of free and "usable" hormones circulating through the body.  I just received a report on a male patient this week who has a skyrocketing cortisol at night.  No wonder he can't sleep.  Thankfully he tested and we can offer adaptogens and nutraceuticals to combat this problem.    Another female patient this week is having difficulty and feels like she's on the verge of crying all the time.  I am working with her private physician to develop a treatment plan to restore key hormones, but also addressing the stress hormones as well.   She is simply running on empty.

If you feel stressed to the MAXXXX and you're noticing some suspicious symptoms, please MAKE THE TIME to give me a call.  I will help guide you through the process of testing and help you in getting to the bottom of things. 

To your good health,
Dr. Sonja

Ya! What she said!! Cortisol can be Tested With Our DIY Kits

Belly Fat? Blame Cortisol!

Today you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who isn't stressed out. It's the nature of the crazy, rushed, chaotic world we live in. It seems like the daily to-do list never ends, right? Well, that stress affects your body. Adrenaline and cortisol, the fight-or-flight hormones put out by your adrenal glands, were originally designed to give you the extra oomph you needed to evade death by saber-toothed tiger; in modern life, the stress caused by outrunning big, toothy animals has been replaced with the constant daily hassles you face — like sitting in traffic! However, whether it's a tiger or traffic, your body still responds with a fight-or-flight response, which spikes your hormones and keeps them spiked.
Our modern, deadline-a-day lifestyle overtaxes our adrenal glands, which ends up overproducing cortisol. Perhaps you've heard me describe your hormones as a teeter-totter: When cortisol is constantly pumped out, it can blunt estrogen and progesterone production and bring on those menopause symptoms. Raised cortisol has huge effects on our overall health — cortisol will rev you up and make it nearly impossible to sleep, and it can put you at risk for a heart attack. An overabundance of cortisol also boosts your insulin levels, which can cause you to pack on the pounds, especially around the midsection.
If you have insomnia and weight gain (particularly belly fat), odds are cortisol may be to blame. Here are some potential fixes for your problem.

• Find out about your cortisol levels. A simple blood test is all you need to see if your levels are within normal ranges.
• Load up on DHEA. This supplement helps transform cortisol back to cortisone, helping to reduce the amount of cortisol in your system.
• Balance your sex hormones. Back to the teeter-totter — perhaps an age-related decline of estrogen and progesterone are responsible for your heightened cortisol. If your blood tests show that either of these hormones is low, consider supplementing those hormones to bring your cortisol into balance.
• Book yourself plenty of R&R. Start going to bed at a set time every night. Your body needs eight hours of sleep to fully regenerate; by getting the right amount of sleep, your cortisol levels will start to drop. Also, sleep in total darkness! Research has shown that even a little bit of light is enough to cause an increase in your stress hormones. Additionally, try to lower your cortisol levels organically by reducing the stress levels in your life through relaxation techniques like meditation, deep breathing, and exercise.

I know, I know. In today's cut-throat world, it's really tough to just chill out. But high cortisol levels, as you've seen, are a vicious cycle: high stress = high cortisol = less sleep = higher stress = higher cortisol = no sleep.… Get the picture? Not to mention, it's not just your mental well-being that's suffering — high cortisol ultimately leads to weight gain. Take the steps necessary to address your stress now! You'll look and feel way better for it.

The "Ups"and "Downs" of Hormonal Imbalance.

As I sat down to write this blog, I for some reason,  remember that catchy song that goes, "When you're up your up, and when you're down, you're down, and when you're only half-way way up, you're neither up nor down.  Sorry!  Now you have it stuck in your head too.  The reality though is that emotional ups and downs are not "all in your head."  There is a clear connection to hormonal imbalance. 

As I consult and teach, I always like to cover that pesky little "e" word (emotions) and the link to hormonal imbalance in my presentations.  Why?  Because so many are on the verge.  You know, that place where if someone says, "BOO", you might explode with tears. And have you ever noticed that some days you laugh and some days you cry....for no particular reason?  I've had many women and men throughout the years express concern that they are more emotional and on the verge of tears all the time. In some conditions like PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) and PMS (pre-menstrual syndrome), the roller coaster can really drop to the ground floor of emotions. 

In today's blog, I just want to point out some clear connections to hormones that might help you understand how you might find your way off the "E"-roller coaster. 

If you are DOWN in ESTROGEN this is how you likely will feel:  depressed, mildly anxious, feeling despair at times, and on the verge of crying all the time.

If you are UP in ESTROGEN: agitated, angry, irritable, and short tempered.   "Estrogen Dominance" is common particularly in women aged 30-45 (as a general guide). 

If you are DOWN in PROGESTERONE: anxiety, over reacting, easily alarmed, stressed, feelings of confusion, mood swings, irritable, nervous, jittery, and depressed. 

If you are UP in PROGESTERONE: (rarely happens, but I did consult with a "toxic" patient using too much of her hormones a few years ago.  Thankfully her doctor sent her for testing.) crying, flat mood, excessive tiredness, and more unresponsive to significant things that normally should cause some emotion.

If you are DOWN on TESTOSTERONE: depression, lack of drive and confidence, and demotivation are the "E" warning signs.  (This certainly goes for men too)

If you are UP on TESTOSTERONE: agitation, angry, irritable, feeling throttled inside.


As you see, there can be some crossovers in symptoms with the various hormones.   This is ABSOLUTELY the reason that you need to be tested to determine what is UP or DOWN.  Just like the song...."When you're up, you're up, and when you're down...  Okay, I'll stop! 


In the "REAL WORLD", I have had patients come my way for testing because they've noticed that coping with the normal things of life are particularly hard as they go through the aging process.  And this is not just a "menopause thing"!!!  I have PLENTY of younger women who take small doses of progesterone in a pattern with their menstrual cycle to help "level them out" because they've noticed that they are very emotionally unstable around their monthly menstrual cycle.  That's because of a clear deficiency that can be tested and put back into proper balance to help them maintain better "E"-contol.   Please don't just run out and buy hormone creams over the counter without knowing what is out of balance and without consulting a trained healthcare professional in this area of health and wellness.   You could do some real damage.


Testing kits, private consultations, and phone consultations are available by calling my office. I'm excited to share that physicians and healthcare professionals are also coming to the office to have their personal hormone and stress assessments as well.   This affects everyone!!  It's so great to serve in such a growing area of need in health and wellness. 

I feel confident that identifying hormonal imbalance can help YOU!! 417-231-4544 or drsonjaobryan@gmail.com


To your good health,
Dr. Sonja

Combatting Multiple Sclerosis

Every time that I post anything about Multiple Sclerosis I tend to get a lot of web hits, Facebook shares, phone calls, and so on.  Some of you may know that I'm now back in school and today I couldn't help but share some of the highlights of my studies on the topic of cognitive disorders and neurological diseases.  Today's blog will be about MS specifically because when you get into an intense program like this, there is just so much territory to cover.  There are so many suffering from various autoimmune diseases it seems, and I believe there are basic "helps" that many are not aware of.  The program that I am doing is designed to use complementary medicine, integrative medicine, lifestyle modification, and pharmacology as a "whole" package to help patients feel better and overcome the symptoms of their disease.

Let me just share with you some of the highlights of my studies in a concise nutshell to put you on a path to your own research and treatment wishes.  

Background:

MS onset is usually between the ages of 20-40 years old.  

Interestingly, it does tend to have a geographic prevalence, avoiding equatorial regions, and being more prevalent above 40degrees N and 40degrees S latitude.   

Diagnosis of MS is determined by various clinical presentations, but often an optic neuritis (visual disturbance) will be a complaint of patients. MS is classified as an autoimmune disease.  

MS is a chronic, often progressive, disabling disease of the CNS.  

Confirmation is often made by assessing the spinal fluid for specific indicators. 

Hypothesis and Study Insight: 

Some studies support Epstein-Barr virus ("mono") as a contributor to immune system overload.  

Other studies implicate Chlamydia pneumoniae as a factor.  In one study 100% of MS patients tested had C pneumoniae. Interestingly Methotrexate (a med used for autoimmune dz) also inhibits growth of C. pneumoniae. 

Candida has also been found to be overgrowing and looming in the body of patients with MS.  

These three things should be considered in determining the individual's disease process. 

Information Take-aways:

Eskimo populations (as far North as you can get) have a diet known to be high in omega-3 fatty acids, with virtually no incidence of MS.  START TAKING OMEGA-3's!!!! 

Vitamin D has been shown to block the progression of damage.  Evaluate the Vitamin D levels!!!! 

The antibiotic minocycline has been shown to decrease inflammation. 

Alpha-Lipoic-Acid, antioxidants (Vitamin C), and N-acetylcysteine show promising results. 

Vitamin B12 helps with normal myelin function.  It also boosts the immune system. 

Gluten free diets tend to help in autoimmune diseases.  Ditch the gluten from your diet! 

Phosphatidylserine and CoQ10 have been shown to support nerve cell wall integrity. 

Estrogens have an anti-inflammatory effect.  I've covered this before in BLOGS.  In particular ESTRIOL helps to improve MS symptoms.  GET YOUR HORMONE LEVELS CHECKED!! This is a biggie.  When the hormones go down, most everything goes down with them......

Get dental amalgams removed if they contain metals. 

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy shows remarkable improvement in randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled studies.  It essentially halts the autoimmune attack on the nervous system. 

Avoid high temperatures, including hot tubs and saunas.  

Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) is showing positive results in the areas of decreased MS relapse rates and in the progression of MS.  We customize LDN in our laboratory ALL THE TIME.  

Please, please, please share this blog with an MS patient.   I would be happy to advise and recommend some quality nutraceutical products, hormone testing and treatment plans, and vitamins and supplements to help for the long haul.  Remember, you need to follow the advice of a healthcare professional before you make any additions or subtractions to your normal therapy.  

It's a pleasure to be able to share this BLOG because it reaches so many both here in the U.S. and internationally.  If one person benefits, I'm happy.   

Please call me if I can help further.

To your good health,

Dr. Sonja

Saliva Testing-How to test for hormonal imbalance

Estrogens, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA-S and cortisol are routinely measured in saliva. Steroid hormones in the bloodstream are mostly (95-99%) bound to carrier proteins, and in this form are unavailable to target tissues. Only the unbound fraction freely diffuses into tissues, including the salivary gland. Hormone levels in saliva therefore represent the quantity of the hormone that is currently available to target tissues and actively exerting specific effects on the body.



http://youtu.be/KURpZSXA7u8


Often I'm asked how to go about testing for hormonal imbalance.  It's so simple and affordable and such a life changer for those struggling to make it through their days.  And if you can't make it through your days, how will you ever make it through your years?  Simply click on the link above to find out more about the testing kit that I can provide conveniently by shipping it to your home address. The same kit is used for both women and men and a simple call to our staff can help you determine which testing panel is best for you and your symptoms.  417-231-4544

So is Hormonal Imbalance Affecting You? 

Infertility
Loss of pregnancy
Erectile Dysfunction
Irritability
Anxiety
Night sweats
Incontinence
Fibroids
Sexual dysfunction
Insomnia
Fatigue
Difficulty losing weight or gaining unexplained weight
PMS
Vaginal Dryness
Yeast Infections
Continual infections and immunity issues
Palpitations
Migraines
Memory concerns
Lack of focus
Loss of stamina
Loss of muscle mass




It's exciting to have helped so many  and extra exciting to see so many getting the help that they need in these areas.  Don't put this off another day.  Your "normal" is not acceptable when it affects your body, your health, and your longevity.  Don't allow another dismissal of your symptoms with your provider with an "it's just the way it's going to be" mentality. Give me a call and I can help you get started towards a "NEW and IMPROVED YOU"!!  Yay!!!

To your good hormone health,
Dr. Sonja

Hormone Imbalance In the News....Again!! Jillian Michaels

TUESDAY: YOUR METABOLISM 101

Finding the Estrogen/Progesterone Balance

The terms "estrogen" and "progesterone" are thrown around a lot when women's bodies are under discussion — however, these two steroid hormones are important influences on the metabolism of both sexes. While you may think "muscle-bound meathead" when you hear the word "steroid," all it signifies is that your body uses cholesterol to make these hormones. Men and women both produce estrogen and progesterone normally, but our environment also imposes a tremendous amount of estrogen on our bodies. Man-made estrogens in hormone replacement therapy, pesticides, and food additives can all have a profound effect on the body's overall hormone balance. What you need to do is to find a balance between progesterone and estrogen by focusing on what you're eating and avoiding toxins. For a long time people believed that women's hormone problems stemmed from declining levels of estrogen, especially during premenstrual syndrome, after giving birth, and during perimenopause and menopause. But increasingly, women in Western cultures tend to have too much estrogen rather than too little. For the past 50 years, doctors have noticed that the onset of puberty among girls — characterized by the development of breasts and pubic hair and the beginning of menstruation — has been occurring at earlier ages. In addition, rates of breast cancer have jumped 40 percent in the past 35 years. Studies have linked excessive exposure to estrogen to early puberty and breast cancer. And many signs — including decreasing sperm counts and increasing prostate cancer rates — indicate that men are also struggling with the effects of excessive exposure to estrogen.
How can we fix the problem? An estrogen and progesterone imbalance can be corrected by addressing the endocrine disruptors that are affecting you — not so easy given our society's seeming addiction to toxic chemicals. Our bodies are slammed with synthetic estrogens, from the ingredients in our cosmetics and the cleaners under our sinks to the preservatives in our foods and the chemicals in the plastics that wrap them. Other factors that can add to unhealthy levels of estrogen are stress, a lack of quality fats and protein, and too many refined grains and sugars. Remove as many exogenous estrogens — those that originate outside the body — from your diet and your environment as possible, and eat whole foods, especially healthful fats; do your best to minimize stress as well, and you'll help your body build the right hormones.

JILLIAN'S TIP OF THE DAY

It's Not Just a Woman's Problem

Remember, hormone imbalances affect men too. When estrogen is at a normal level, it can protect a man's brain, heart, and bones and help him maintain a healthy libido. Also, when estrogen in men is in balance with testosterone, it has little negative impact on metabolism. But when estrogen is out of balance with other hormones, men can lose their muscle-building, fat-burning advantage. That's when they tend to develop man boobs (affectionately known as "moobs") and love handles, features typically seen in women.

Au Naturale is the way to go! - Splenda Exposed

(NaturalNews) Do you put Splenda in your coffee? Or use it in your baked goods, instead of regular sugar or other natural alternatives? You may think you are making a better choice, but in fact, you are doing more harm than good. Many foods labeled as "healthier for you," low calories, no/low fat, are typically worse for you than the real thing. Ingredients that are chemically altered and processed are not better for you. Although long-term studies performed on Splenda and their effects on humans have not been performed, willingly ingesting possibly carcinogenic materials is unsafe.

The many problems with Splenda

Splenda, also known as sucralose, is a combination of maltodextrin and dextrose and is 600 times sweeter than regular sugar. Splenda is a synthetic compound discovered in 1976 by scientists in Britain seeking a new pesticide formation and is similar in chemical composition to DDT. Splenda is found in countless products and advertised as a "safe" alternative to sugar. "The inventors of Splenda admit around fifteen percent (15 percent) of sucralose is absorbed by the body, but they cannot guarantee us (out of this 15 percent) what amount of chlorine stays in the body and what percent flushes out" (Brahmini, 2012). Chlorine is considered a carcinogen. Possible side effects of Splenda include: "gastrointestinal problems (bloating, gas, diarrhea, nausea), skin irritations (rash, hives, redness, itching, swelling), wheezing, cough, runny nose, chest pains, palpitations, anxiety, anger, moods swings, depression, and itchy eyes." (Brahmini, 2012)

A 12-week study performed by Duke University on rats determined that Splenda caused pH imbalances in the body, disrupted absorption in the intestinal tract, depletion of good bacteria, swollen livers, kidney calcification and promoted weight gain (Gerson, 2008). No long-term studies have been performed regarding the dangerous effects of Splenda on humans, yet this product continues to be put on the shelves of our grocery stores, advertised and bought by "health conscious" consumers, trying to make healthier decisions.

Au naturale

Our society needs to get away from the common perception that sugar substitutes are safer, healthier options; they are NOT! Agave is an example of a natural sweetener that is not chemically processed. Sugar in the raw form and Stevia are some other examples of natural, healthy sweeteners. Organic honey can also be used to sweeten many things naturally. Just because a product is on the shelf, does not mean it is safe. The Food and Drug Administration has approved many unsafe products for human consumption. NutraSweet is a known neurotoxin that has been proven to cause tumors and had been previously banned in Europe; yet was previously deemed safe for human consumption, like Splenda has been today. The truth is, the long-term consequences of ingesting man-made chemical substitutes are unknown, but it is better to be safe than sorry, and avoid products containing such ingredients at all costs.

Always read labels and question anything that has a long name that you cannot pronounce; more than likely it is a chemical you should steer clear of.

Not just CELEBRITY medicine. This Is What We Can Do For You!

Why Bioidentical Hormones Are Best

When I hit my 40s, I had three years of frustrating, unexplained weight gain that no one seemed to understand. “It can’t be menopause,” I thought, “I’m only 40! But it sure seems like my thighs are growing.” Come to think of it, once I hit my 40s I wasn’t very interested in sex either. When did that happen? I had always loved it!What did happen when I hit 40? A one-two punch: The changing toxic planet took its toll along with my declining hormones — a lethal combination if you are trying to stay thin. Declines in levels of hormones start early now, often in the mid- to late 30s, with some lucky people making it to their 40s intact. But eventually we all get there. Did I make that connection? No! I suffered through another ten years before I understood; and during three of those years life would be a living hell due to dramatic symptoms of declining hormones. My life now is much different: I’m at a healthy, happy weight. I enjoy a robust sex life. I sleep eight hours nightly. And while I avoid chemicals in my home and eat organic food, none of this good feeling would be possible without natural bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT).
Why bioidenticals? All methods of hormone replacement aren’t created equal — and the most conventional treatments may put you at greater risk for serious health issues down the line. Bioidenticals, which are crafted in the lab from material derived from yam or soy to be as identical as possible to the hormones your own body produces, are often considered the gold standard of treatment explains why it’s the gold standard. Here’s why:

• Synthetic hormone replacement treatment (standard in the US) may be linked to a cancer risk. Studies showed that women who had received estrogen replacement in the form of Premarin, an estrogen that’s derived from a pregnant horse’s urine (and that is not identical to the estrogen a female body produces), had an increased risk of breast cancer., the study participants were given doses of Premarin, an estrogen that’s derived from a pregnant horse’s urine — and that is not identical to the estrogen a female body produces. Bioidentical estrogen has not been shown to have the same risks as the horse-derived estrogens.
• Bioidentical hormones can promote weight loss. While standard hormone replacement treatment may actually cause you to gain weight, especially around your abdomen, using bioidenticals may actually help you lose weight.

Hormonal health is the key to losing weight; you can’t do it any other way. Think about talking to a doctor who specializes in BHRT. You can find one in your area by using my medical resource guide or you can order a hormone-panel test. Once you are able to find a balance, you’ll be able to lose weight, you’ll start to look better and feel happier, and you’ll be well on your way to getting Sexy Forever

Bare Bones Information! Literally!!

Are you wondering why you are now seeing signs in the Dentist office asking if you have ever used osteoporosis medications such as Fosamax, Boniva, or Reclast?  The answer is bone disintegration!!  GASP!!!! Even more alarming in addition to this though is the risk of heart disease and cancer brought on by this class of medications.  This is what's going on and I want you to be "in the know" as I so often say.  


Use of most popular osteoporosis medications are associated with brittle bones, osteonecrosis, heart damage and cancer.
It was shown that any individual who had ever used these meds (even if stopped years prior) had a 300% increased risk of abnormal heart arrhythmia and a 575% increased risk of sustained arrhythmia.

Esophageal Cancer
In a letter in the New England Journal of Medicine, U.S. Food and Drug Administration official Diane Wysowski said that they are receiving increasing numbers of reports of esophageal cancer associated with the use of Fosamax. There is typically two years between the start of the drug treatment and the development of cancer.  Now just think about this.  The directions on the package have always been.  Take with a full glass of water, 30 minutes before meals, and stay sitting up.  This would give us a clue that it has erosion capabilities to the esophageal lining.  We won't even go there on what it might do lower in the GI tract.  Eeesh!!  

Osteonecrosis
(New study shows that 1 in 25 patients experience jaw disintegration)
Bisphosphonates such as Fosamax, Acetenol, Reclast and Boniva are widely used to treat osteoporosis. 

The brittle bones caused by bisphosphonates use is not limited to the jaw. There are numerous reports of patients suffering atypical large bone fractures with little or no trauma, including bilateral femur fractures, which are not seen in patients without a history of bis- phosphonate use. Bone brittleness and fracture risk increases with increasing dura- tion of bisphosphonate use even if bone den- sity continually improves.


1 out 25 patients taking Fosamax suffered from osteonecrosis of the jaw
Healthy bone has turnover where old bone is removed (resorption) and new bone is formed to replace the old removed bone. The bisphosphonates significantly suppress resorption, but also significantly suppress new bone formation. Studies show that the use of bisphosphonates are associated with a 60-90% reduction in new bone formation. Thus, the diminished bone loss is beneficial for a few years, but overtime, the lack of new bone results in excessively calcified old bone that is excessively brittle. This old excessively calcified bone looks denser on X-ray and Dexa scan but it is, in reality, very brittle and inflexible. Use of these medications for more than a few years is associated with inability to repair and heal even micro-cracks that occur with normal daily activities and is associated with osteonecrosis (disintegration of the ex- cessively brittle bone). This can occur anywhere but the jaw appears to be particularly susceptible and can result in tooth loss or even jaw disintegration with relatively minor procedures such as tooth extraction. 


Heart Arrhythmia and Muscle Pain
There are a number of studies that demonstrate that the use of bisphosphonates is associated with an increased risk of heart arrhythmias. This includes a large study of 1700 women published in Archives of Internal Medicine that demonstrated that current and past users of bisphosphenate medication such as Fosamax, Actenol, Reclast and Boniva had significant increased risk of potentially fatal heart arrhythmias. It was shown that any individual who had ever used these meds (even if stopped years prior) had a 300% increased risk of abnormal heart arrhythmia and a 575% increased risk of sustained arrhythmia. In addition, the risk was higher if the mediations were used by those who also had diabetes mellitus or were currently taking statin medicationfro high cholesterol. There are also increasing reports of muscle and joint pain due to bisphosphonate use.

If you or a loved one are using this class of medications, I would suggest that you call your doctor.  This is a biggie!

To your good health,
Dr. Sonja