Hi Billye,

I forgot to mention that when I was living in the hydrogen sulfide (from the privy pit I didn't know about) I couldn't eat any mustard or anything with vinegar in it.

If I did, the swelling would vastly increase.

Also, at that time I had dips in my fingernails... sort of like valleys that went from side to side.

So if you have those, you might be having some sort of toxin problem that is overwhelming your body.

I'm afraid I don't have any pictures of my fingernails when they were like that. My old camera wasn't very good.

I sure hope I get the equity from my condo, because I'd like to get the camera I saw that shows red better than the one I have now.

I received a phone call from the Endocrinologist today. Seems that everything looks o.k. except my Vit. D level. It's low. Strange because I'm supplementing with Calcium plus D (Equate brand). I'm to take 2 months of a prescription Vit. D then she will start me on Forteo for my bone situation. This will be hard to get past my GP/Rheumatologist because he isn't a fan of Forteo. Not sure why. I asked his nurse about this and she said the drug rep they have now does not keep them supplied with the Forteo. I have private insurance and this drug is on the formulary so it shouldn't be a problem for me. Like Liza Jane, it will be a two year initial treatment with an injection every day. I'm not looking forward to this. I don't do well with sticking myself. I've done it before with Imitrex for migraines and I've also done a few of the Humira. But I have long since given it up to my husband to do for me,..... he seems to relish the thought of sticking a needle into me.

Billye

Yuk. I hate sticking myself too. My husband does it for me-his eyes kind of light up when it is B12 injection time... It took a while, but I can stick my little dog now every day, I just can't stick myself...

Have you thought about seeing if you could get a referral to the Mineral Metabolism Dept. at the med school? My friend is going there, although she has not been put on Forteo as of yet. I don't know if they are going to put her on it or not... My ObGyn wants me to go also.

Cathie

Cathie,
I've been there done that about 8 years ago. I was seen by the head of the dept in a research program. I had all the tests run and was told I didn't need to take Fosamax!!! My regular GP about rolled over. At the time I was borderline osteoporotic. I really don't care to go there again unless I can see that they have made strides in what they did then.

Billye

My combo is 2 calcium sugar free chocolate chews[Kirkland/costco] w/ 500mg calcium carbonate and 200IU of Vit D plus one Calcium {citrate[160mg], D-[100IU]; and magnesium [90mg]}. Not to mention my pre-natal multi vite...which has little bits more. Had to add that last calcium tab to get the magnesium punch in...
BUT I had gone big time very quickly over thate line to osteoporosis due to the estrogen blockers now I take for the cancer f/u therapies [really it's chemo! DUH?]. As long as I keep chomping down all those supplements I guess things will be OK...won't know till my next Dexa scan early next year. Blood work seems to be looking as if there's lots of goodies to be TAKEN up by my body...Whether it is, the dexa will truly tell me so. The waiting is a killer tho...

I really don't think I could stick myself w/shots tho...I tolerate the IV lines going in by holding my breath and closing my eyes...never was a really good trooper about the needle thing EVER..tho I have tried! [I KNOW catheters aren't really needles, BUT......]

Would I be correct in assuming that the Forteo and the B-12 injections are IM rather than IV? IM I have done on animals and that's a LOT easier...as long as you know the zones to do it in/to...

If it comes to injecting myself? I dunno about having the husband do it...would need to take a LOT of considering on that issue...just hope I don't have to...

Billye - HUGS and I truly hope things are going in some direction that's positive....FINALLY? Please take special care - j

Well, I don't know what was going on then. They are testing the heck out of my friend though, who now is Osteoporotic and will probably get worse, since she has Addison's Disease and has to be on Cortisone for the rest of her life.

The doc she sees is the one who gave me the info about his colleague using adhesive to glue fractures back together...

I cannot say for sure, but I believe they have made great progress, not just at the school, but everywhere, in the treatment of Osteoporosis... However, we all have to go with whomever we are comfortable with and if you feel confident in your Endo, go for it!!!

I went through a study program there in the very early '90's. Much has changed since then though. There was not nearly as much available then to treat this with, just as they did not glue fractures back together then...

Cathie

About your post to me and the calcium you take. If I am reading the post right, ....you are taking 1,160 mg. of calcium. Are you sure that is enough? Both the arthopedic doctor and the gp say I need 1,600 mg. of calcium and the added D plus mag.

Got the new bloodwork. and it sums up by saying that the anemia due to chronic disease is getting worse and my sed rate has almost doubled. The rheumie is kicking up my dose of methotrexate to 8 tablets a week. (20 mg. a week from 15 mg. a week)

You know when I went to Mayo in Dec., we considered my disease to be stable. When I got home, the doctor decreased my immunosuppressants because I was stable and he thought we could try doing so. Looks like it was a mistake. I have steadily gotten worse since about the 3rd month of that. So back up we go. My thinking is now.."If it ain't broke, don't fix it!"

I've been in PT for 4 1/2 weeks and as of Friday last week I have been so crippled that it hurts (in the buttock area) to walk. The Physical Therapist thinks my SI joint is all flared up. So, all the painful gains I've made in muscle strengths in the last month will probably go downhill since I am now limited in movement again. And I only have one more week of PT allowed by insurance.

I've been giving the info Mrs. D gave me about the Indomethacin and silent bleeds real thought. I've decided I'm going to quit taking it and the Nexium to see if it brings my RBC, Hemoglobin and Hematocrit back up. Any thoughts on this?

Billye