Helen C.
04-20-2007, 11:54 PM
After 5 months on Fosamax, I switched to Dr's. Best Strontium in February. Just yesterday, I took a Pyrilinks-D urine test to find out how fast my bones are breaking down. I got the same test while on Fosamax and Fosamax really slowed the bone reabsorbsion down, so I have a good basis of comparison.
I will have my results back in about one week and will post them here. It should be a very useful bit of information for all of us, as to how well Strontium really works. I can't wait to let you all know. Helen
p.s. My doctor says, if it looks like the Strontium is helping me, she's going to go on it too, to fight her own low bone density! Before me, she'd never heard of the stuff.
I will have my results back in about one week and will post them here. It should be a very useful bit of information for all of us, as to how well Strontium really works. I can't wait to let you all know. Helen
p.s. My doctor says, if it looks like the Strontium is helping me, she's going to go on it too, to fight her own low bone density! Before me, she'd never heard of the stuff.
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DesertBloom
04-21-2007, 04:19 PM
Hi Helen: I'm glad you got that test done, let us know how it goes. I've only had an n-telopeptide (NTx) test, so I'm interested in the numbers on yours, and how they compare to the first test you had. Did you have any trouble getting your insurance to pay for the test?
Good Luck...
Good Luck...
suzieuk45
04-21-2007, 05:58 PM
Hi there - I'm in the UK and haven't heard of the urine test you have just taken. I know there is one but when I asked my doctor I was told it wasn't necessary( can't remember exactly what she said) but it seems to me it would be useful to know how fast you are losing bone. I've been waiting for a repeat bone scan for months now as I have been on Fosamax plus supplements (Reosto and terramin clay)for about 15 months now so I want to know if it is doing anything. I have an appointment next week so will have to push for it. It feels like once you have been put on treatment you are just left to get on with it over here.
Good luck with test results
Good luck with test results
DesertBloom
04-21-2007, 07:47 PM
Hi suzieuk45: I know how you feel, it's so frustrating to be put on a med and not know if it's working. In my case my insurance will only pay for a dexa every 24 mos, and I just can't wait that long to know if what I'm doing is working or not. If you look at the cost and inconvenience of taking these things, it seems absurd, to me to not know if what I'm doing is helping. We can't be expected to spend all this money and time on something without knowing what's going on; plus who can waste 2 years of their life on something like that, we need to know how it's working so if it isn't we can change our approach.
Below is an article on various bone marker test that can be done as either a blood or urine test, maybe if you took the article with you to the Dr she would order it. When you try to access the link, you have to be registered first to read it, but it's easy to register and it's free.
I've had the 2 hr urine n-telopeptide (NTx) test, but there are others too you can get like the one Helen mentioned. Some Drs feel that the test isn't all that accurate, because there are many things that can go wrong with the collection and testing, but it still can give you an idea if your treatment is working. Even if you factor in the error rate, it has it's purpose for determining bone loss and bone growth. I'm on forteo, and my tests showed increased bone formation markers, so at least I knew the med was doing something, rather than not knowing a thing, which is usually the case if you have to wait for dexa's. It won't give you a bmd score, but it will tell you if you are getting benefits from your med or not.
If you have any trouble accessing the article let me know and I'll try to explain it. The main thing to remember is that certain meds will lower your score and some will raise it, and you just need to know which meds/tests do that. If you want to read anymore on this just look up bonemarker tests.
http://doctor.medscape.com/viewarticle/463099
Good Luck!!!!:wave:
Below is an article on various bone marker test that can be done as either a blood or urine test, maybe if you took the article with you to the Dr she would order it. When you try to access the link, you have to be registered first to read it, but it's easy to register and it's free.
I've had the 2 hr urine n-telopeptide (NTx) test, but there are others too you can get like the one Helen mentioned. Some Drs feel that the test isn't all that accurate, because there are many things that can go wrong with the collection and testing, but it still can give you an idea if your treatment is working. Even if you factor in the error rate, it has it's purpose for determining bone loss and bone growth. I'm on forteo, and my tests showed increased bone formation markers, so at least I knew the med was doing something, rather than not knowing a thing, which is usually the case if you have to wait for dexa's. It won't give you a bmd score, but it will tell you if you are getting benefits from your med or not.
If you have any trouble accessing the article let me know and I'll try to explain it. The main thing to remember is that certain meds will lower your score and some will raise it, and you just need to know which meds/tests do that. If you want to read anymore on this just look up bonemarker tests.
http://doctor.medscape.com/viewarticle/463099
Good Luck!!!!:wave:
Helen C.
04-22-2007, 12:38 AM
My insurance pays for nothing but catastrophic hospitalization! And it cost me $365 per month just for that. But if I did have insurance that only paid for DEXA tests every 2 years, I'd pay the $300 myself to get a 1 year test. It's alot cheaper than going an extra year using harsh drugs that may not be working.
CrohnieToo
05-07-2007, 02:50 AM
Sheesh! DEXA scans are only $180 in our area! I asked because my insurance will only pay for a DEXA every 24 months and I wasn't about to wait 24 months to see if Forteo was worth the bother. As it was I had the DEXA at 10 months (and had IMPROVEMENT) plus my insurance did pay for it (my Endo pulled some strings evidently). June it will have been a year since that DEXA and August it will be 24 months on Forteo. I see my Endo this week to see what our game plan is.