ThinBones
09-05-2005, 10:25 AM
I have been on Forteo for around 6 months and I have two reactions to most of the injections which I give only in the abdomen area. The only one that really bothers me is the burning feeling after injection. The needle does not really hurt (or I am used to it) but the burning feeling is not comfortable although it does go away in a couple of minutes. I only have it about half the time. Does anyone else have this experience? I had my second set of blood work a couple of weeks ago and everything is fine so I am glad I can continue to build bone mass!!! Thanks!!!
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spinewhine
09-05-2005, 12:40 PM
I also feel a burn for a few seconds after some of the shots. It usually passes in less than a minute.
taape
09-05-2005, 04:14 PM
I get that burn once in a while. Make sure the alcohol on your skin is dry because that can cause burning. Also, if I inject into pure fat it doesn't burn but if I get into a small muscle or maybe nerve area then it burns.
CrohnieToo
09-06-2005, 09:31 AM
I have been on Forteo for around 6 months .... I had my second set of blood work a couple of weeks ago and everything is fine so I am glad I can continue to build bone mass!!! Thanks!!!
:wave: ThinBones, and others, forgive me for asking yet again, but WHAT blood work are you having done whilst on Forteo that indicates that you are building bone mass? Since most insurances won't pay for a DEXA scan but one every two years, or once a year at best, and even some of the research only recommends every once or two years to see results from the various meds, it can get discouraging. Are we going thru all this hassle or even discomfort with these meds for nothing? Even one year, much less two years, is a heck of a long time to wait to find out if they are worth while or not or if you have wasted a year or two years when you could have been taking/doing something else for the bone loss.
I'd very much like to know WHAT blood work can indicate that we ARE building bone mass whilst taking these various osteoporosis meds. Also, how often are you having this blood work done. It looks like maybe every three months? If you don't know exactly what blood work is being done please ask your doctor for a copy of your latest blood work, or your two blood workups since starting Forteo and let us know what tests were run on those two reports.
:wave: ThinBones, and others, forgive me for asking yet again, but WHAT blood work are you having done whilst on Forteo that indicates that you are building bone mass? Since most insurances won't pay for a DEXA scan but one every two years, or once a year at best, and even some of the research only recommends every once or two years to see results from the various meds, it can get discouraging. Are we going thru all this hassle or even discomfort with these meds for nothing? Even one year, much less two years, is a heck of a long time to wait to find out if they are worth while or not or if you have wasted a year or two years when you could have been taking/doing something else for the bone loss.
I'd very much like to know WHAT blood work can indicate that we ARE building bone mass whilst taking these various osteoporosis meds. Also, how often are you having this blood work done. It looks like maybe every three months? If you don't know exactly what blood work is being done please ask your doctor for a copy of your latest blood work, or your two blood workups since starting Forteo and let us know what tests were run on those two reports.
ThinBones
09-06-2005, 06:48 PM
I don't believe there are any blood tests that can be done to show an increase in bone mass. I know the bloodwork I have already had is just to make sure that my calcium levels are normal, I know they checked albumin and the urine test is also to make sure everything we are excreting (probably to do with bones also) is normal. I am unaware of any test besides the dexa-scan to assure that we are indeed building bone mass. Although that is discouraging, I don't see much choice right now, Fosamax did nothing but give me joint pain. I also remember something from this board that the results may not even show for up to 18 months. I am not a drug friendly person, I take only the minimal but I also know what osteo. does to you as we age. As I have seen the pain-both physical and emotional, I am ready to do what is the best medically right now and hope for the best, and believe me, I sure don't want to find out after 1-2 years that this has done nothing.....but what else is there for now. Hoping we all have good luck!!!!!
spinewhine
09-06-2005, 09:51 PM
:wave: ThinBones, and others, forgive me for asking yet again, but WHAT blood work are you having done whilst on Forteo that indicates that you are building bone mass? Since most insurances won't pay for a DEXA scan but one every two years, or once a year at best, and even some of the research only recommends every once or two years to see results from the various meds, it can get discouraging. Are we going thru all this hassle or even discomfort with these meds for nothing? Even one year, much less two years, is a heck of a long time to wait to find out if they are worth while or not or if you have wasted a year or two years when you could have been taking/doing something else for the bone loss.
I'd very much like to know WHAT blood work can indicate that we ARE building bone mass whilst taking these various osteoporosis meds. Also, how often are you having this blood work done. It looks like maybe every three months? If you don't know exactly what blood work is being done please ask your doctor for a copy of your latest blood work, or your two blood workups since starting Forteo and let us know what tests were run on those two reports.
I just got my prescription for my six months on Forteo blood/urine tests. They are: 1) Complete metabolic panel
2) Bone specific alk. phos.
2) Spot morning urine for calcium and creatinine N-telopeptide (osteomark) (no calcium supplement this morning).
I'd very much like to know WHAT blood work can indicate that we ARE building bone mass whilst taking these various osteoporosis meds. Also, how often are you having this blood work done. It looks like maybe every three months? If you don't know exactly what blood work is being done please ask your doctor for a copy of your latest blood work, or your two blood workups since starting Forteo and let us know what tests were run on those two reports.
I just got my prescription for my six months on Forteo blood/urine tests. They are: 1) Complete metabolic panel
2) Bone specific alk. phos.
2) Spot morning urine for calcium and creatinine N-telopeptide (osteomark) (no calcium supplement this morning).
taape
09-06-2005, 10:46 PM
Due to the turnover of Endocrinologists at the clinic I go to, I haven't been consistently getting the blood work. I was wondering the same thing as you about what should be done and how often.
I had tests before starting the Forteo and a few more after 6 months, and now 2 tests at one year. My recent test was to check the calcium level in the blood, and then the urine test for Creatinine and Peptide? I think one of the urine tests can show whether bone is breaking down and leaving through the urine. I don't think that would show how much bone mass was gained though.
I had a repeat DEXA after 6 months and my insurance paid. Now I'm scheduled for next year although I'm going to call and see if they will pay at 6 month intervals. 1 to 2 years is too long to wait for outcomes. If insurance won't pay so often then I'll pay for it myself as I'm sure my doctor will write the order.
I had tests before starting the Forteo and a few more after 6 months, and now 2 tests at one year. My recent test was to check the calcium level in the blood, and then the urine test for Creatinine and Peptide? I think one of the urine tests can show whether bone is breaking down and leaving through the urine. I don't think that would show how much bone mass was gained though.
I had a repeat DEXA after 6 months and my insurance paid. Now I'm scheduled for next year although I'm going to call and see if they will pay at 6 month intervals. 1 to 2 years is too long to wait for outcomes. If insurance won't pay so often then I'll pay for it myself as I'm sure my doctor will write the order.
CrohnieToo
09-07-2005, 12:18 AM
Thank you. I had thought about paying for my own DEXA as well. I called our local hospital to ask the cost if I paid myself and was told $221 but that I should check with the radiology group to see what the radiologist's cost would be. Our hospital no longer keeps radiologists on staff but rather contracts with an outside radiology group which provides radiology services for the hospital. I called the radiology group and was told that their cost was included in the hospital bill. Who knows which one to believe? I do know that most outpatient services I have received at this hospital I've been billed separately by the physician or physicians group so I suspect that radiology group is the one who didn't know what they were talking about when it came to the DEXA scan billing.