CynAnn, you might want to consider taking a small handheld tape recorder w/you when you go to your mom's doctor appointments w/her and ask if he/she minds your recording your conversations or at least his instructions so that nothing is forgotten or remembered wrong. (You can buy one for about $25 at K-Mart, Radio Shack, etc.)I had one doctor who carried one in his breast pocket and whipped it out at the end of our visit and dictated his notes whilst we were there. A couple of times that worked out especially well as we were able to correct one or two things he was dictating incorrectly.
I forget if you mentioned which type of doctor is treating your mom's osteoporosis and/or if he/she is an Endocrinologist. I've had two Endos now (new one is closer to me, the other was an hour drive one way) who put me on scripted high dose of vitamin D once a week. I can't take a calcium supplement as it constipates me badly, even at just 500 IU a day. All of the clinical trials testing the efficacy of the various osteoporosis drugs from Fosamax to Forteo have involved also taking calcium and vitamin D during the trial as well as the trial drug or placebo. Even tho I can't take a calcium supplement and was taking only the high dose of vitamin D and Forteo in just 10 months of Forteo therapy I gained bone density almost back to my 1996 DEXA results which is when I was first Dx'd w/osteoporosis. And we are reading more and more about vitamin D deficiency in the general population. It is something you might want to discuss w/your mom's doctor. Maybe it would help in your mom's situation. (I did not test vitamin D deficient but both endos still recommended and scripted it).
By the way, I did have one infusion of Aredia before I started the Forteo. I was started at a 2 hour drip rate. I experienced VERY MILD tingling at the lips and wrists, so mild I almost didn't even mention it to the infusion nurse. Still, the drip was slowed to a 4 hour drip rate and I had absolutely no problems. But then when Forteo became available I opted for the Forteo instead and fortunately have done wonderfully on it. I'm sorry your mom had problems with it. Just shows to go you, what works for one doesn't necessarily work out well for another. Good luck and God bless to your mom and to you.
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