Quick question for Forteo users

[CrohnieToo]

Taape, keep in mind the infusable bisphosphonate, Aredia (pamidronate) and, I think another is zolendronate or something similar in spelling. I had one pamidronate infusion before I started the Forteo and I plan on going back to the pamidronate infusion when my 2 years on Forteo are up. The recommendation last I knew for pamidronate was an infusion every 3, 4 or 6 months. My drip was started at 2 hour rate but due to some very mild tingling of the lips and wrists it was slowed to a 4 hour drip. Piece of cake, just take a good book along unless the infusion clinic offers TV and you like TV. No GI disturbance whatsover and I have Crohn's disease which is why I will not go near Actonel or Fosamax or any other oral bisphosphonate.

[Spin444]

Chrohnie and others, I'm just curious - how many breaks have you had? Did any of your parents or grandparents die from osteoperosis? How do you perceive that this "disease" of osteoperosis will affect you?

[CrohnieToo]

I have been blessed with no breaks or fractures. None of my parents or grandparents had osteoporosis to the degree of causing any health problems or deaths. My own outlook has been to research what I can do to reduce my risk of fractures, etc. and doing what I can in that regard (taking Forteo daily, can't do calcium supplementation) and getting on with life. I'm not going to live my life in some padded cage worrying about a fracture.

[taape]

Chronie Too,
I'll keep the infusions in mind. Did you have any side effects from it? How about a DEXA scan showing if it helped any? Were these done at a Univeristy hospital or is it quite available pretty much everywhere?

Spin444,
I don't have any fractures in fact I've never broken a bone before. No females in my family have either. At first I thought that I was super fragile and was afraid to walk around and do stuff but now I'm just careful not to fall.

[spinewhine]

Originally Posted by meca

Thanks for the response taape and Spinewhine. It really helps to know or others' experiences with this. Spinewhine, has the treatment helped you? Are you going to take it the full two years?? What about after that. Taape, have you had a DEXA since you started on Forteo, and what are your plans for after you're done with the full course?

I have not had a follow-up DEXA. My doctor did not recommend it. He said that while bone forms with Forteo, it doesn't "mineralize" enough to show up on the DEXA for about 18 months. He is monitoring me with blood tests that he says show activity in the osteoblasts - the cells that cause bone to grow. So, that's all I know. The plan is for me to take Forteo for another year and then "lock in" whatever gains I get with Fosamax. I've never taken that drug, so I hope I can tolerate it. Others here have not been able to take it. Also, I've read some disturbing things on these threads about side effects, so I'm nervous about that. I guess I'll take things one step at a time.