NY 1009
08-30-2006, 12:00 PM
I just had my bone density test last week and was waiting to hear back from gyno who referred me to have the test.
instead, I recieved two letters in the mail. One from my family dr stating to call his office to set up appt to discuss my test, and another letter from my gyno stating that I have osteo in my spine and hip and that it's way below normal and to call them to make appt for treatment.
I also see an endocronologist for low blood sugar and have an appt with her in two weeks for follow up on medication that she put me on.
question: Who is the best type of doctor to treat osteoporosis?
who specializes in this field and has the best knowledge of it?
Linda
instead, I recieved two letters in the mail. One from my family dr stating to call his office to set up appt to discuss my test, and another letter from my gyno stating that I have osteo in my spine and hip and that it's way below normal and to call them to make appt for treatment.
I also see an endocronologist for low blood sugar and have an appt with her in two weeks for follow up on medication that she put me on.
question: Who is the best type of doctor to treat osteoporosis?
who specializes in this field and has the best knowledge of it?
Linda
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taape
08-30-2006, 11:03 PM
I would suggest seeing a specialist as most primary care doctors in my experience don't know enough about this. They just hand you a prescription and send you on your way. I have been seeing an endocrinologist and am considering switching to another type of specialist but not sure what type. I hope someone else posts their ideas.
DesertBloom
08-31-2006, 03:18 PM
Lintek,Taape: You mentioned about seeing a specialist? I switched from an Endo to a Mineral/Metabolism Osteoporosis Research Dr. with an MPH and PhD in the field. If you have a Dr. like this in your area, I'm told they have access to the latest research because they spend 80% of their time in the lab. This limits their time seeing patients, but I seem to manage with the Dr. only being in the office one day a week.
Good Luck...
Pam
Good Luck...
Pam
NY 1009
08-31-2006, 05:15 PM
Thank you both for your suggestions.
Did your endocronologists automatically test you for hyperparathyroid disease when you went for your initial visit? or do they just hand you a script?
Linda
Did your endocronologists automatically test you for hyperparathyroid disease when you went for your initial visit? or do they just hand you a script?
Linda
taape
08-31-2006, 10:58 PM
Pam_1,
Thanks for the suggestion for a specialist. How did you find this doctor? Is he in practice for himself or with a Univeristy research group? I don't know if there are any in my area but I will check it out.
Thanks for the suggestion for a specialist. How did you find this doctor? Is he in practice for himself or with a Univeristy research group? I don't know if there are any in my area but I will check it out.
DesertBloom
09-01-2006, 03:50 PM
Hi Taape: My Dr. is not in private practice, she only works at the Univ. which is Loma Linda Univ. Medical Center, in Loma Linda CA. My Endo set up the appointment for me, because he felt that my T score was low for my age, and wanted to know if there were any new treatments available that he didn't know about. I had him set up the appt for me, because if I were to try and do it, it would take months for me to be seen.
I've been to this Univ. before for other problems/surgeries and "some" of the departments won't even take you unless your referring physician sets it up, it just depends on what dept. your trying to get into. If you have a local or semi local Univ Medical Center I would try that. Of course you also need to know if they have a Mineral Metabolism/Osteo... dept. The only down side, as I mentioned before, is they only see patients 1 day a week, but that could be unique to this Univ. and maybe not others. However, you get the benefit of having a Dr. that spends 90% of their time in the research lab which helps. My Dr. also has an MPH an PhD in Mineral Metabolism which I know I couldn't find in my small town. Loma Linda is about 50 minutes away from me.
I've only seen this Dr. twice, so I'm still in limbo, somewhat, but I really like her and think she is extremely intelligent. I'll have to see what happens as I get further into the treatment. But for now I'm on Forteo with a one month respite, due to a slightly elevated blood serum ionized calcium level which she is looking into thoroughly.
Good Luck to you, and I hope you find what you need in your area...
Pam
I've been to this Univ. before for other problems/surgeries and "some" of the departments won't even take you unless your referring physician sets it up, it just depends on what dept. your trying to get into. If you have a local or semi local Univ Medical Center I would try that. Of course you also need to know if they have a Mineral Metabolism/Osteo... dept. The only down side, as I mentioned before, is they only see patients 1 day a week, but that could be unique to this Univ. and maybe not others. However, you get the benefit of having a Dr. that spends 90% of their time in the research lab which helps. My Dr. also has an MPH an PhD in Mineral Metabolism which I know I couldn't find in my small town. Loma Linda is about 50 minutes away from me.
I've only seen this Dr. twice, so I'm still in limbo, somewhat, but I really like her and think she is extremely intelligent. I'll have to see what happens as I get further into the treatment. But for now I'm on Forteo with a one month respite, due to a slightly elevated blood serum ionized calcium level which she is looking into thoroughly.
Good Luck to you, and I hope you find what you need in your area...
Pam
taape
09-02-2006, 12:57 AM
Pam 1,
Thanks for getting back to me. I found a place called the Foundation for Osteoporosis Research & Education located in the SF Bay Area. They gave me the name of their research specialist who has a practice in Berkeley and I was able to make an appointment for late September. I'm not exactly sure what type of specialist the doctor is but it's also part of a women's center. I'm happy to at least have a scheduled app't, I've got to get a second opinion before I run out of Forteo.
I hope your calcium levels issues resolve so you can use the Forteo again.
Thanks for getting back to me. I found a place called the Foundation for Osteoporosis Research & Education located in the SF Bay Area. They gave me the name of their research specialist who has a practice in Berkeley and I was able to make an appointment for late September. I'm not exactly sure what type of specialist the doctor is but it's also part of a women's center. I'm happy to at least have a scheduled app't, I've got to get a second opinion before I run out of Forteo.
I hope your calcium levels issues resolve so you can use the Forteo again.
DesertBloom
09-02-2006, 06:31 PM
Taape: I'm glad you were able to find a specialist so soon in your area. Good luck with the appt. and I hope you get some solutions to your post Forteo treatment.
It will be interesting to find out what the treatment is after using Forteo. I had heard, but am not sure how accurate this is, that if you tolerated the biophosphonates well, they may return patients to that. I personally hope that isn't the answer, because I don't particularly like the side effects, and I didn't get much help from them either. Only a .2 increase in my t-score after 16 months of treatment.
Pam
P.S. I hope this doesn't post twice, there were troubles with the server earlier.
It will be interesting to find out what the treatment is after using Forteo. I had heard, but am not sure how accurate this is, that if you tolerated the biophosphonates well, they may return patients to that. I personally hope that isn't the answer, because I don't particularly like the side effects, and I didn't get much help from them either. Only a .2 increase in my t-score after 16 months of treatment.
Pam
P.S. I hope this doesn't post twice, there were troubles with the server earlier.