Join now

Already a member? Sign in

Welcome to Inspire!

What - Inspire is a place where you can connect with people who share your health concerns and find information and advice in groups sponsored by organizations you know and trust.

Why - As a member you can use Inspire to let friends and family know how you're doing, contact others who share your health concerns, receive personalized updates and information about participating in surveys and clinical trials, and more.

How - Joining Inspire is completely free and usually takes less than a minute. Join now!

corner corner corner

Be Wary of DEXA Results

Sarasota_Babe
0 Recommendations

Lessons Learned

DEXA results for the hip can be skewed, especially if the BMD includes more than just the hip.

I've been basing health decisions on invalid DEXAs. My Johns Hopkins endocrinologist pointed out that in past scans, my pelvis has been included with the femoral neck, resulting in an inaccurate score for the hip.

The good news is that I exercise; take calcium plus D, etc., eat foods rich in potassium and magnesium; walk in the sunshine, and try to improve my balance daily. I'm no longer on FOSAMAX because of its negative gastro side effects.

I'm also looking forward to the release to the public of Amgen's Denosumab in January.

Explore topics in this discussion:

Exercise Cancer Boniva GERD Osteoporosis Fosamax Reclast

11 replies

huessysignoret

Dear Sarasota Babe -- are the DEXA results skewed to be better or worse than reality? In other words, if your DEXA score says you're okay, might you really be osteoporotic? Or, if your DEXA score says you have osteoporosis, might you actually be okay. Or, are the results all over the map?

And, what is it about Denosumab that you feel makes it a better drug than the bisphosphanates? Is there any news about possible side effects that makes your nervous?

Novagrad

What about the newer machines? Are those results inaccurate too?

Why don't you take Boniva injections or Reclast infusions? I have a lot of GI problems and a feeding tube and I only take the IV forms of medications.

Mimi

drizzit

January... Oh Man I heard October

I know there committee is expected to give its recommendation to the full FDA on August 13th.

Sarasota_Babe

To address your questions:

--I was under the impression that my bones were denser than they really are.

--I was on FOSAMAX for several years. It's impossible to establish cause and effect. But I now have GERD. It's possible that FOSAMAX was contraindicted from the beginning, but doctors never prescribed an endoscopy--just to be sure.

I'm awaiting the results of my Vitamin D and NxT tests.

Most of my DEXAs have been on the Hologic machine. One was on the LUNAR DPXIQ # 2644. I believe readings are based on the tech's expertise. To be continued. . . .

--I know very little about Denosumab. But I'll be researching that drug extensively. I prefer a natural regimen if possible.

osteohiker

I was on Fosamax for ten years. Am now off because my primary care doctor, who diagnosed my osteoporosis and knows a great deal about about it, is uneasy about frozen bone syndrome. My wife's oncologist told me she thinks I would be better off on Reclast because of the neg side effects of Fosamax. The oncologist also thinks Denosumab looks very promising because it seems to mimic the natural bone building process. My wife has been on Zometa for four years and her oncologist thinks it may be a better option for bone met patients not only because it is more natural, but because it is injected under the skin.

rainie

Hi, I've never heard of denosumab and zometa. Please tell me what class of drugs these are. Also, what do you mean by "met" patients.
Thank you

petplant

If you could find a good Integrative doctor, I would recommend that - he/she could coordinate "Western" medicine with Alternative medicine.

Some people have tried different types of energy medicine, but I don't know if that works. One example would be Reiki.

Sarasota_Babe

Here's a link to Denosumab:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denosumab

I know nothing of Zometa. But here's a link:

www.drugs.com/zometa.html

I believe that the similarity is that both drugs are taken by cancer patients.

drizzit

denosumab is not on the market for any condition. As I understand it, it is not a treatment for the cancer itself but is for bone loss associated with cancer and some cancer treatments. It may also prevent joint destruction in RA.

http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/results/denosumab0908

drizzit

denosumab is not on the market for any condition. As I understand it, it is not a treatment for the cancer itself but is for bone loss associated with cancer and some cancer treatments. It may also prevent joint destruction in RA.

http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/results/denosumab0908

Add to the discussion

Don't have an Inspire account? Join now!

Forgot password?

OsteoporosisNOF: Download NOF's new brochure Hormones and Healthy Bones @ http://bit.ly/3Yg7tq

OsteoporosisNOF: NOF's CFC information: CFC #:11043; Osteoporosis Foundation, National

OsteoporosisNOF: NOF announces the launch of their Combined Federal Campaign (CFC). Visit www.nof.org.

OsteoporosisNOF: Need information on osteoporosis? Visit NOF's Web site at www.nof.org or email request@nof.org. NOF can send you free educational materials.

OsteoporosisNOF: Volunteer to start an NOF support group to help yourself and others with osteoporosis in your community. Call (800) 231-4222 to learn more.

Group leaders

You