I'm sorry I may have missed it and I know that one doc said no fossamax but are you on it now? My mom is for osteo and that is why I was wondering. I have osteo but am not on it but I think its because of my age and though can't reverse osteo I can make the bone stronger. I'm sorry again for all your struggles. I'm going to go reply on the bed post cause I had this issue well still do. Many feel better wishes.

Gee Billye, I am so sorry about all of this. I am glad you have someone you feel comfortable in working with. I am going to talk to my Endocrinologist today about this when I go. I don't know about you, but my tolerance for going to the doctor these days is slipping at the rate my copays are rising...

I was told that this is "the" place to go for this evaluation, so don't know what to think. On my orders for bone density, one place said something about senile Osteoporosis, whatever that is...

I didn't have a bone problem either, until after I took the Prednisone. I had always been a big milk drinker, but for some reason, I let that slide after I hit 30 or so. I think it had to do with the pie, but I am not sure...

Cathie

Cathie,
I don't think it was the doctor's fault that the osteo progressed. It's just something that happens with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Dr. Sakhaee is well known in the medical community and he was very kind. If I remember correctly he is pretty crippled himself.

Here is the definition of senile osteoporosis: Senile Osteoporosis: Senile osteoporosis (type II osteoporosis) probably results from an age-related calcium deficiency or a vitamin D deficiency and an imbalance between the rate of bone breakdown and new bone formation. Senile means only that the condition occurs in older people. It usually affects people older than 70 and is twice as common in women as in men. Women often have both senile and postmenopausal osteoporosis

This is the website it came from http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec05/ch060/ch060a.html

I think that if you have an appt with Dr. Sakhaee, it would be good to keep it. All I'm saying is that I have a plan and I'm going to work with it for the time being. It may be that the endocrinologist I'm currently being seen by will refer me to him also. We'll see. Thanks for all your help.

Billye

Thanks Billye. I did visit the Endocrinologist today. They seem to feel that the workup at the school is very thorough and a good place to be for this. The Nurse Practitioner said that in private practice, they would not have time to spend a half day with a patient. That is not to say that other Endos would not, just that they can't.

All I know is he is planning a 24h urine test, a 4 hour urine test, a 2 hour urine test, blood work I can't remember (seems like Vit. D. and then some), a bone density. He just said a lot of testing and that he felt he could help. He was extremely kind and I could tell very knowledgeable. It sounds like an exhausting day though.

I hope you won't have to go into the school. I know you probably don't feel much like even getting into the car. Should you end up having to go though, I imagine that your doctor could get you in considerably faster as he said he is booked until Feb.

Please post what the Endocrinologist is planning to do for you and if possible, the type of testing. I know there are others who will be interested in knowing about this, besides myself...

Cathie

Cathie,
I'm still waiting for the call from the endocrinologist. This is the 3rd day. I think we will be finding a new endocrinologist. Either that or I will get my rheumie to call. If I haven't heard by Monday, I'll try calling again. We did start the Forteo last night. So I'm now committed to two years of this medication unless side effects start popping up. I'm anxious to hear if Liza Jane has had any healing in the short period she's been on it. I'm using the calcium/vit. d ratio that the drug insert calls for. But I'd sure like to know why so many breaks. That is still unanswered. I'm anxious to know what you find out also. Let's keep this thread active.

Billye

It really irritates me when the docs don't call back. I don't think you should have to wait through the weekend. I would try to at least call tomorrow. Its up to you but why be on edge all weekend. Take care

Daniella,
You are so right. I will call tomorrow. Thanks for pushing me over the edge. I called, then faxed an urgent message with a copy of the ct scan results and have heard nothing. I will call again tomorrow and see what is going on. This is just ridiculous. I know this is rural Texas but I have had no follow up at all from the Endocrinologist. Texas is so backwards medically!!!!

Billye

awww..come on billye...you know dern well we can get snake oil pretty darn cheap.

you gotta figure that one of the dr's is from up north and they can't understand each other's accents.

we need to find a case of firecrackers to set under their arses.

i hope you hear back from them in the morning. you know the races are this weekend.

Sorry Billye, you say your doctors did everything and nothing was preventable. I was astonounded when my bone guy's nurse told me that giving vitamin 20,000 Units every 2 weeks prevents osteoporosis in patients on prednisone.

I've just googled on the phrase.Is Steroid-Induced Osteoporosis Preventable?

It seems that the main mechanism for osteoporosis with prednisone is that absorption of calcium frm the gut is inhibited, so calcium leaches out of bone. Increasing absorption by loading with vitamin D and calcium is key. Nobody told me that when I was on prdnisone. They just put me on fosamax.

The question would be then, given how low your Vitamin D level was last month, how did the doctors let it get low, when there are a million articles on how important it is to keep it up in patients on prednisone. Mine was never checked either.

I'm quite fed up with medicine.

Liza Jane,
I haven't been on a regular prednisone routine. I have had some steroids in injections for some of the nerve blocks but that was before I went to Mayo.

I don't take them regularly because they severely activate my tremor. Putting on lipstick is a real comedy. I took them for only about one month.
And that was prior to Mayo.

Cathie has been taking prednisone regularly. And I know they really screwed up with your sinus spray. But we have to look elsewhere for the cause of my problem. The rheumie looked at me Monday and said "Are you SURE you haven't been taking prednisone?" I haven't taken nasal spray or anything. And my vitamin D was borderline. This is all a mystery because I'd been supplementing with 1600 mg of Calcium which had D in it. (Citrical)

I reallllly need another trip to Mayo, but there is just no way.

Billye