Symptoms of osteoporosis

Yes I will share the lab tests once I have a moment to sit down and organize them in writing and purpose.
Also, just listened to “what do you do after an osteoporosis diagnosis with Margie Bissinger podcast - highly recommend. She mentioned 4 important lab tests to get. Check it out.

Yes I will share the lab tests once I have a moment to sit down and organize them in writing and purpose.
Also, just listened to “what do you do after an osteoporosis diagnosis with Margie Bissinger podcast - highly recommend. She mentioned 4 important lab tests to get. Check it out.

I dug out one of McCormick's early e-mails to me. Here is the list of labs he requested:

24-hour urine calcium
CTX
P1NP
Homocysteine
hsCRP
Vitamin D
SPEP (serum protein electrophoresis)
Phosphorus
(the following are included in a Celiac Antibodies Profile at Labcorp):
- Anti-tissue transglutaminase lgA
- Total lgA
- Anti-gliadin antibodies lgA & lgG

I'm a male, so there may be additional tests specific for females.

I dug out one of McCormick's early e-mails to me. Here is the list of labs he requested:

24-hour urine calcium
CTX
P1NP
Homocysteine
hsCRP
Vitamin D
SPEP (serum protein electrophoresis)
Phosphorus
(the following are included in a Celiac Antibodies Profile at Labcorp):
- Anti-tissue transglutaminase lgA
- Total lgA
- Anti-gliadin antibodies lgA & lgG

I'm a male, so there may be additional tests specific for females.

@shexy Here is an article on lab tests, including info on what throws bone markers off: I didn't know that fractures can raise BTM's
"Fracture leads to an increase in BTMs which is evident even 6 months after the event [22]; bone formation markers may remain raised even at 52 weeks [23], while resorption markers generally return baseline by then [24]."

My endo doesn't do bone markers, saying they don't tell the whole story and are affected by many things (for me, kidney disease). That leaves me feeling like I am flying a plane in the dark with no instrument panel (except DEXA).

My doctor does albumin, not SPEP. SPEP is to test for multiple myeloma. Other tests might include thyroid levels and test for Cushing's ( high cortisol so similar to use of steroids I guess).

Some doctors won't do homocysteine. I take folate and sometimes liposomal glutathione to keep it down w/out testing because my doctor won't order it.

I would think celiac testing would be a stretch for older patients: my kid has celiac and we sure did know there was something wrong. Maybe it is silent for some? You can be gluten sensitive without having celiac, which is an autoimmune disorder. My doctor doesn't order these but I avoid gluten and dairy anyway to reduce inflammation. McCormick aims to reduce inflammation which he writes about as a factor in bone loss.

My blood calcium has always been at the high end of normal at 10.3 but Reclast has lowered it to 9.4. I am going to ask for a urine calcium test at some point.

My neighbor was diagnosed with celiac when she was in her 60's. I have had the SPEP test for something other than myeloma. (My gamma globulin was flagged as being too low.) And according to the rheumatologist I saw last week, C-reactive protein is a good indicator of inflammation which I don't have so now being referred elsewhere.

@shexy Here is an article on lab tests, including info on what throws bone markers off: I didn't know that fractures can raise BTM's
"Fracture leads to an increase in BTMs which is evident even 6 months after the event [22]; bone formation markers may remain raised even at 52 weeks [23], while resorption markers generally return baseline by then [24]."

My endo doesn't do bone markers, saying they don't tell the whole story and are affected by many things (for me, kidney disease). That leaves me feeling like I am flying a plane in the dark with no instrument panel (except DEXA).

My doctor does albumin, not SPEP. SPEP is to test for multiple myeloma. Other tests might include thyroid levels and test for Cushing's ( high cortisol so similar to use of steroids I guess).

Some doctors won't do homocysteine. I take folate and sometimes liposomal glutathione to keep it down w/out testing because my doctor won't order it.

I would think celiac testing would be a stretch for older patients: my kid has celiac and we sure did know there was something wrong. Maybe it is silent for some? You can be gluten sensitive without having celiac, which is an autoimmune disorder. My doctor doesn't order these but I avoid gluten and dairy anyway to reduce inflammation. McCormick aims to reduce inflammation which he writes about as a factor in bone loss.

My blood calcium has always been at the high end of normal at 10.3 but Reclast has lowered it to 9.4. I am going to ask for a urine calcium test at some point.

I believe he would have to be licensed in PA to prescribe tests.

"In Pennsylvania, only licensed healthcare practitioners are legally permitted to order laboratory tests. This includes physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and other healthcare professionals who have the authority to diagnose and treat patients.
As for DCs, their scope of practice primarily focuses on chiropractic care and manipulation of the musculoskeletal system. While they may have limited lab ordering rights related to their area of expertise, the extent of their authority to order laboratory tests may be more restricted compared to medical doctors."

@windyshores, Any chance you could share how to find the article on what throws bone markers off. My P1NP was 310 and my CTX was 1414 six months after my foot fracture. My endo wants me to take Evista to lower CTX. Now that I see that these high numbers could just be from the fracture, I'm not sure if I should take the Evista. Thanks