Hi mbeth: Have you ever had a bone marker test? These test can tell you if you are losing or gaining bone. Usually the Drs like to have a baseline test first, so you have something to compare to, but you can still have the test anyway, without the baseline (score before taking any meds). The lab will give the Dr a reference range that represents normal for your age and menopausal status, which you can compare to with the repeat tests you may have down the road.

I have a 2 or 24 hour urine NTx (n-telopeptide) several times a year. It's a simple urine test which will show the amount of collagen excreted in your urine.

If you decide to have this, I recommend reading an article that explains the type of scores you would want to see while taking Strontium. With bone markers you get different results depending on what you are taking i.e. if you are taking an antiresorptives (fosamax, actonel, Serms, Calcitonin, Hrt etc) you would want your score to go down from baseline, and if taking Forteo you would expect the score to go up meaning you are building new bone. Unfortunately, the article I'm referring to is talking about the effects of Strontium Ranelate, and I don't know if you will be able to get a Dr to agree that SR is the same as Strontium Citrate. In any event, I would definitely give it a shot. Just tell the Dr you want a bone marker test, and see what the reaction is. There are many different types of bone marker tests-some for bone resorption and some for bone formation. Below is a list of both types, but the only one I've had is the NTx (full name: 2 or 24 hour urine n-telopeptide). I believe the 24 hour test is more accurate, but that's just my opinion. The 2 hour test is a collection of your second void of the day after you discard the first void. The problem with this is you need to hold your bladder for 2 hours before collecting the second void, and if you can't do that, then you have to collect all of your urine after you discard the first. Because of this I prefer the 24 hr, plus my Dr runs other tests with it like *creatinine clearance* and *calcium* totals, so 3 tests can be done with one sample. There are other test that can be included, but that's up to your Dr.

http://courses.washington.edu/bonephys/opmark.html

Below is the article I referred to above explaining how bone markers work with various meds. SR increases bone formation markers and decreases bone resorption markers. This may sound very confusing, but after you read both links I'm sure you'll understand. In the Medscape article it mentions the CTx test, but that test isn't used much anymore and NTx is used instead.

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/549140_9

Good Luck, and most insurance cos pay for this test because of the lag time between how they pay on dxa's. No one wants to wait 2 years to know if a supplement or drug is working, so these tests are used for that and many other things. You may want to print both pages just in case your Dr isn't familiar with them. Since these test are used frequently, to check on bone formation/resorption, most Drs are well aware of them, plus they are used for other med probs other than osteoporosis. Sorry I don't know any Drs in Long Island, but do you have any University Med Centers nearby? If so that's were the specialists are. :wave: