Another Newbie - Osteoporosis Message Board

Nan-NMW · 02-02-2005, 07:24 PM

I just joined this board tonight. I am very happy to find all of the input here. My doctor called me with the "results" of my Dexa scan. He did not give me the actual numbers, just said "he was very worried about my bones and I should start taking Forteo". I was already prepared to fight the Fosomax I thought he would be pushing. Just another example of how condescending doctors can be. I am going to get two of the books mentioned here tomorrow. I am also going to call doctor's office to see if they will give me the actual readings. I know one of the potential problems with the Forteo is it caused bone cancer in some of the rats in the studies and even the doctor mentioned that in the phone conversation. I hesitate to mention that here, but we all need to be aware of the dangers and if you do a Google search you will see that problem mentioned. I know, I know, they will say they gave the rats higher doses etc.

Of course, when the doctor skipped right past the Fosomax and came up with Forteo, which I had never heard of, he scared me silly. It sure seems extreme and the problem of traveling with it sounds troublesome and inconvenient.

I guess I don't have a question right now, I just am glad to have the "company" of reading all of your posts.

taape · 02-02-2005, 08:35 PM

Yes, the Forteo has the black box warning, you have to weigh the benefits and the risks. I would find out what the numbers were so you can decide if that's the treatment you want. You have a right to obtain a copy of the test results not just a summary from your doctor. I was shocked when I got a copy of my tests and looked at the numbers as well as the scan pictures.

Oldbones · 02-03-2005, 01:34 AM

Welcome Nan.....
I think that all of us here on the board who take Forteo knows the pros and cons of this drug. We've all done a lot of research. Your doctor was doing exactly what he was suppose to do by mentioning the black box warning. When the FDA requires a black box warning on a drug, the doctor has an obligation to tell the patient.

You should do what you feel is right for you. It's a hard decision to make. Mine wasn't so hard because I had three fractures. I just wish I had known that my bones were bad before they started breaking. Maybe then I could have started on something earlier and alleviated a lot of pain. I saw my rheumatologist yesterday and he said I have one more year to go of Forteo therapy. So far....no more fractures!

Keep us informed here on the board and let us know what you decide. We care.....

Oldbones

taape · 02-03-2005, 08:57 PM

Old Bones,
How is your doctor checking you for fractures? Is it by a reguoar xray? I have heard that someone can have hairline fractures that don't show up on xray films.

Oldbones · 02-04-2005, 02:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taape

Old Bones,
How is your doctor checking you for fractures? Is it by a reguoar xray? I have heard that someone can have hairline fractures that don't show up on xray films.

taape.....
You are absolutely right. Many times hairline fractures aren't picked up by regular x-ray. My right foot had been hurting a lot for a couple of weeks but I didn't have it x-rayed. Then one day I was driving and touched the brake lightly and felt a sharp pain that shot through my foot. I did have it x-rayed after that, and it showed up at that point in a regular x-ray. I was having pain in my left foot for a week or so and figured I should have it x-rayed too "just in case". The x-ray tech and radiologist saw nothing in that x-ray but about two weeks later, it was highly visible on x-ray. The first x-ray I had of my hip did not show a fracture but when the MRI was ordered, it definitely showed the fractured hip. Not long after that, it was picked up on a regular x-ray and no one could have missed it at that point. I think that a fracture is more visible on an x-ray when it has started to grow back together.....especially if it is a hairline fracture. My hip fracture was global meanng all the way around and through the bone. It's odd that it didn't show up on the first x-ray.

I've had so many x-rays, I feel like I'm glowing. I have to have all my fractured areas x-rayed again on Valentine's Day to make sure they are still healing okay.

Oldbones