@izziesue Sadly, there are docs who berate patients. Know what that feels like and it sure isn't good.

I can respect a doctor when they disagree with me or my requests for certain tests as long as they do not belittle me. Our doctors are, after all, the experts and their disdain for certain tests may be well-founded. I think those of us using osteoporosis drugs are trying to find ways to monitor our bone health and bone marker turnover tests seem to be part of that.

Unfortunately, there are few doctors or clinicians who specialize in bone health and are knowledgeable about bone markers. Finding them is like finding a needle in a haystack...maybe even more challenging than that!

If you can find one who will at least listen to you, you lucked out. The endocrinologist whom I saw for the first time was initially skeptical of ordering bone marker turnover tests as a baseline before I start Reclast, but when I made my case, she agreed and ordered the tests. She told me they are usually used after someone has been using certain drugs rather than before they start. That makes no sense to me.

I think we are educating the open-minded clinicians along the way. Perhaps they won't change what they consider to be evidence-based standard of care for monitoring bone health (the Dexa), but will pay closer attention to the use of bone markers. Neither my oncologist nor my primary care doc would order bone marker turnover tests, but this endocrinologist was willing to. I'm glad I found her.

Thank you for mentioning Jason Health Labs which I'll keep as a reference. Ideally, a doctor's order helps with insurance coverage but if that fails and we can afford it, getting these labs on our own is an option to know.

Thank you for your response! Hope you do find an endocrinologist you respect and can work with!

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