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Has anyone had a rems bone scan or tbs bone scan?
Osteoporosis & Bone Health | Last Active: 4 days ago | Replies (82)Comment receiving replies
We are wise to question, but should remain open-minded. I have had two REMs a year apart, and like others here, my lumbar score is significantly better on the REMs, and my femurs are better on the DXA. The second REMs showed no change in the lumbar (yay) and slight decline in hips, but perhaps not statistically significant. I choose to find reassurance, but realize there just is not enough information yet for doctors to share in that conclusion. I get it, and I am always cautious in the way I present this information to my PCP or endocrinologist. I find that if I come with questions and not preconceived answers, they respond with curiosity rather than defiance. If I state early on that I am open to medication but not yet ready, I find they listen better to my concerns. I make it clear that I take full responsibility for my choice to wait a little longer, and that I value their opinion. I do believe that most doctors want us to be healthy and are worried about fractures. I agree that they just don’t have time to stay current on all of the many pieces involved.
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@glojo
I agree with open-minded; but not with automatic compliance. I was on thyroid meds for years until it was decided that I had been misdiagnosed and then taken off of the drug slowly over the span of a year. My thyroid is functioning normally. I was misdiagnosed with COPD (non smoker) during the COVID pandemic and put on an inhaler giving me side effects that made it more difficult to breathe and actually lost my voice. I convinced my GP to give me a referral to UCLA where it was determined I did not have COPD, just severely scarred up lungs from most likely untreated childhood asthma. I am now on the appropriate maintenance inhaler.
When diagnosed with osteoporosis I was given the choice of Tymlos or Prolia. I went with Tymlos; unfortunately I developed hypercalcemia and had to discontinue the treatment after five months. Tymlos is an amazing drug for folks who tolerate it. Now I need to find another path.
I state these instances solely to illustrate that I have over my life time been very open-minded and compliant when a physician prescribed meds. I now go into research mode first. There are constantly new developments and there is no way health care professionals and keep up on all of it with their expansive caseloads.
I believe all of the doctors that treated me over the years had only the best of intentions. It is in no way personal nor a dig at the medical community writ large.
I just know that in the end it is up to me to make informed decisions and hopefully find physicians who will work with me.