My Echolight experience

Posted by njx58 @njx58, Dec 17, 2024

I went for a REMS Echolight scan today. It's like a sonogram: the technician has a wand, and they put gel on you and rub the wand on it. You are on your back. For your spine, they rub the wand on your stomach, which is why they tell you to fast so that there's nothing in the way. Then the machine processes the analysis and prints out a pretty report showing where you are on the T-score chart, with red/orange/green bands so that you can see what zone you're in. It also provides L1/L2/L3/L4 scores, and assigns a five-year fragility risk.

I'm not sure what to make of the results. In January, my L1-thru-L4 T-scores were -3.2,-2.8,-2.8,-3.4. After eight months of Tymlos, this scan shows -2.3,-2.6,-1.7,-1.7. They said the scores tend to be a little better with Echolight since it assesses quality as well as density. So, I'm hoping I made some progress. I have another DEXA scheduled in January (same doctor, same machine.) We'll see what it says.

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Profile picture for closetmonster93 @closetmonster93

I to recently had my Echolight Rems scan and it was completely different than the Dexa Scan. I want to stick to the facts of what each showed, and then people who are interested, can make a decision that is best for them. I had the Dexa Scan 3 years ago and my scores were very bad. I was at a -3.3. Those scan revealed osteoporosis. At was very alarmed and scared at what I saw. I had the Reclast Infusion in September of last year. I was very sick and allergic to the shot. I had never heard of the Rem Scan until about 2 months ago. I made an appointment to have it done. I found that I was not in osteopenia, or osteoporosis. I was actually in the green zone. There are 3 zones, green, yellow and red. I was in the green for all scans. If this is correct, and it appears to be, I am not suffering from osteoporosis, as I was told 3 years ago. My thoughts on this moving forward, get both done, and have a period of about 6 months apart, and then make a decision about meds. If I had know this, I would not have had the Reclast infusion, but, I know where I am at now, and I will take measures to protect that. I have another scheduled in a year, but I am elated by the results.

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to closetmonster93
Well, I have the same experience as you with REMS, comparing it with DEXA. I made Rems in Rome (2025), in an endocrinologic clinic. The result was -1,4 for vertebra, while DEXA made in Spain year 2024 showed -3,0 and severe risk of fracture. The doctor told that there are often mistakes in DEXA results. I add the picture of the page from K. McCormick book "Great bones" where he explained the causes of DEXA errors. In my case, according REMS I lost density in hip. I can believe it as I broken my knee last year in Dicember and was almost in bed for 2 months.

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Profile picture for closetmonster93 @closetmonster93

I am going with the echo light scan. I believe echo light scan is what is actually there. I’ve also heard that a lot of DEXA scans when their old machines they do not scan properly but for me, I’m going with the Echo Light Rems Scan, and I’m having it done again in December so it’s if it’s the same then I know it to be true.

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Dr.’s of course all say Dexa. But I definitely question Dexa’s based on calibration, machine, positioning, operator., (must use same machine to compare-why) If it’s accurate, it should not matter what machine! It is soooo frustrating! Esp. Since meds are all based on accuracy of Dexa! My Dexa says -3.9 and my Rems -1.0! Big difference. I get another Dexa in July and will report back. I will also get another REMS in October.

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Profile picture for melia7 @melia7

to closetmonster93
Well, I have the same experience as you with REMS, comparing it with DEXA. I made Rems in Rome (2025), in an endocrinologic clinic. The result was -1,4 for vertebra, while DEXA made in Spain year 2024 showed -3,0 and severe risk of fracture. The doctor told that there are often mistakes in DEXA results. I add the picture of the page from K. McCormick book "Great bones" where he explained the causes of DEXA errors. In my case, according REMS I lost density in hip. I can believe it as I broken my knee last year in Dicember and was almost in bed for 2 months.

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@melia7 I did not have any history of osteoporosis in my family, and the doctor that I saw at the time, just ordered a DEXA scan. After the results of it, he did not ask to get another opinion, I unfortunately was given Reclast, of which I suffered a severe reaction to, and come to find out I didn’t need it. I opted to go a different route by getting a rems scan, and I am supposed to have another one in December. I am also familiar with the Prenuvo Scan, that can detect all kinds of issues in your body over the entire body, unfortunately, we do not have something here where I can get that scan I would have to go to another state, however, I’m not opposed to doing something like that because the doctor was very wrong, the scan was very wrong, and I was given a medication that caused a severe reaction that made me sick for a week. I have read the studies on DEXA scans, and I do not trust them. I realize some people trust their doctors and those scans emphatically. I am just not one of them. I have incorporated calcium and Other essential vitamins, so that I am proactively dealing with the issue on a daily basis so that I do not have to deal with osteoporosis or osteopenia. I realize everybody’s journey is different, but for me, I fully support the studies and the information provided by the Echo Light Rems Scan. I will continue to be proactive and search which option is best for me, and monitor it going forward.

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