Forteo vs. Tymlos: Which did you choose?

General note about traveling with Forteo. I found a “system” on Amazon called an “Insulin Cooling Bottle Medicine Cooler”. It basically consists of a double-walled metal thermos with a “bio-gel” freezer bottle that drops inside it. It comes with a thermometer to place inside the cooler, but since it only shows the current temp, I am using a high-low-current thermometer that I have. That way I can see not only what the current temp is (Forteo needs to be kept between 36-46 degrees Fahrenheit), but what the highest and lowest temps have reached while the Forteo is in the thermos. I tested the system, checking the temps every 8 hours, and it maintained the safe temps for more than 36 hours. I’ll be using this on an upcoming trip instead of the soft-side cooler with freezer blocks I have used in the past (that only worked “OK”).

I have lost about 20 pounds in the last year but still have leftover belly fat. I worry that my Tylos injections might be just going into the fat areas and not absorbed into my bloodsstream. Are there alternate injection sites than the abdomen?

@jl1940, Good evening. Congratulations on losing 20 pounds. I am also using Tymlos for bone building and osteoporosis. I was asked to come into the specialist's office to learn how to administer the medication and have had no trouble for 4 months. This is a statement on drugs.com ("Administer TYMLOS as a subcutaneous injection into the periumbilical region of the abdomen. Rotate the site of the injection every day and administer at approximately the same time every day. Do not administer intravenously or intramuscularly.")

One reference said that you want to inject where there are no nerves or it will be an ouch! You don't want to inject into a muscle because that could be painful also. So, I also have enough body fat there to last a few more months. I also kind of thought you might be able to feel the medication enter your body. So, I paid attention when I got my flu shot. I didn't feel anything.

Injections should be given in the lower stomach area (abdomen). Avoid the 2-inch area around your belly button (navel). For each injection, change (rotate) your injection site around your abdomen. Talk to your healthcare provider about how to change (rotate) your injection site for each injection. Do not use the same injection area for each injection. Do not inject into areas where the skin is tender, bruised, red, scaly, or hard. Avoid areas with scars or stretch marks.

I learned a couple of hints just watching the video again. On the site video, they explain the test for proving that there is medicene in the pen. That may be helpful for you to do. Ssssh..... I haven't been doing that either and will remember next time. You are also supposed to press on the green top of the pen....I have been turning it. Oops. Actually the counter goes to zero so it is probably o.k. Let me know how your journey goes. I am building my knowledge base and would love to add your comments to be shared for everyone.

A quick call to your health care provider or placing a question on your chart on the portal may yield additional information.

May you have happiness tomorrow. Chris

Ditto. Took fosamex for more than ten years with no apparent side effects. Until I broke a femur after tripping on a broken sidewalk and falling. I was on a girls trip out of state. I thought that was a fluke until they used the wrong sized rod... The break never repaired because the rod was too small and knocking on the bone keeping it from healing. 51 weeks later I had the rod removed and a bigger one installed. I was almost finished rehabbing when my left leg started giving out. In my follow up with Dr he discovered a fracture in left leg... now another rod this week. I exercise, took fosamex, take calcium, D3 and magnesium, eat well, don’t smoke, don’t drink, 1 cup decaf a day and still have this happen. So genetics is a real factor. Now the doctor wants me to take Forteo or TYMLOS. They are both almost cost prohibitive for me. I can’t get into a endocrinologist for 5 months!!! Where can I get help on the cost of the drugs?

Forteo has a $4 co-pay if you register on their site and provide that number to your pharmacist.

Thank you!

I had a similar experience....I tripped on a rug and broke my femur about a year ago and had a rod put in. I have always had pain where the break is but the doctor says it is healing. I have a screw sticking out into my muscle and he says that is what is causing the pain but it is designed that way also the injured leg is over 1/2 inch shorter so I have to have a lift in my shoe. The last time I was back to him he said he wants to do a hip replacement in the same leg and I am resisting it. Before I broke my leg I was running through the sprinklers with my grandkids and the x-rays show just moderate arthritis in my hip. I think they are trying to cover up something. My question to you is why you haven't sued them?

Well which person should I have sued? I do have a suit against the outdoor shopping area where the walk was broken.But Tennessee has a very stringent test for how bad the sidewalk has to be broken and or what level of negligence occurred to allow the sidewalk to be in disrepair. Now, they will try to get out of it because of the second break. All I know is it’s been over a year, I was fine when I walked to the restaurant, had never fallen in my adult life and they’re still fighting just paying my medical bills ...let alone all the pain and suffering from the broken femur, cracked hip and pelvis and the IM Nailing exchange surgery. I was an independent 3-5 mile a day walker and now I am lucky to go to the store alone! It’s such an ugly business of blaming the victim! In fact the manager of the mall inadvertently told the intern my attorney sent
( he thought it was his insurance company rep) to take pictures, that my two friends and I were drinking in the bar in the corner for three hours and we were drunk. I don’t drink, we had been in town less than 2 hours and I had 3 conversations with the office staff at our resort just 30 minutes prior to the fall....Fully sober! Thanks for letting me vent!

I do kind of know what you are going through...one minute I am walking downtown and playing with my grandkids and now I feel 90 years old and walk with a limp and a cane. I guess I'm just frustrated! So in a way thank you for letting me vent!

The loss of one’s independence is so underrated. Like you, I ran with my grandson and did everything that he was involved in and now my husband goes and I sit at home. Every summer when school was out we did big adventures and fun things because I was grandma and I didn’t have to work anymore. I pray that this gets resolved with some of my mobility back intact, not to mention my sanity. Wishing you all the best, I know how you feel.