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Difference in scores between DEXA and REMS

Posted by marinecouac @marinecouac, 3 days ago

I recently did a DEXA and REMS test , the difference in scores where rather startling... dexa showed much lower scores in both spine and femoral neck, hip.. and no result for bone strength. REMS way better scores and less alarming as bone strength looks good. My endocrinologist does not know anything about REMS technology why?.. difficult to navigate this and stay firm on being own advocate for ones health.. Has anyone got experience with this situation. Data, where to find information. Thanks

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ecarol | @ecarol | 14 hours ago
In reply to @dorsetgirl65 "Thank you for the information given. I appreciate that Dr. Bushes website. I wish I had..." + (show)
@dorsetgirl65

Thank you for the information given. I appreciate that Dr. Bushes website. I wish I had this resource in my area. I learned about the REMS thru this osteoporosis support group. I live on the west coast so am having to travel to Canada to get a REMS. Will have to try and interpret the results myself since no one in my state gives or knows how to read this test. But I do like the fact that I can get one of these REMS in Canada and monitor my osteoporosis without having to wait 2 years to get an updated DEXA scan. Currently waiting to get an appointment with an endocrinologist. Wait times in Oregon can be 3-6 month. I appreciate your commitment to advocating for your health. It’s what I have learned over time. Keep asking questions, keep seeking that Dr. who will work with you. I want information and 1 year to figure out whether to take the Fosomax I was automatically prescribed by my PCP or if I can make positive changes in spine scores through vitamins, impact training and diet.

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I am using ChatGBT the paid version to interpret results and give recommendations I can take back to my doctor. You can ask it to cite it's resources as well so you know where it is pulling information from.

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dorsetgirl65 | @dorsetgirl65 | 9 hours ago
In reply to @pr2 "Hi, I'm in Oregon just south of Portland. I went to Osteostrong in Bend to get..." + (show)
@pr2

Hi, I'm in Oregon just south of Portland. I went to Osteostrong in Bend to get a REMS. You don't have to be a member, just call to schedule. And they're bringing the Bend REMS machine to the Happy Valley Osteostrong location in March for scans (they're scheduling right now, just got the email). I don't know where you are in Oregon but it's possible other Osteostrong locations might have a REMS machine.

I've now had two DEXA scans two months apart (because the first one was so unexpected) and both showed bad osteoporosis numbers in the -2.8 hips to -3.8 spine. But my REMS (done two weeks after the first DEXA) showed only osteopenia in hips and just the beginning of osteoporosis (-2.6) in the spine and good "quality" for all measures. It's very confusing why the REMS is so much better.

I'm in the same situation waiting for the referral to endocrinologists at OHSU to get response (been months now). Good luck.

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Thank you so much for the information. I am in Corvallis. I don’t know why it didn’t come up when I searched Echolight REMS in Oregon. But I put Osteostrong in and got the scheduling info. So appreciate that. I just got declined for my first choice of endocrinologist. Trying to see a rheumatologist or endocrinologist in OR, is near impossible… you have to be really sick to get in. While newly diagnosed with osteoporosis I want to get ahead of this and gather the resources to do so. I even was willing to fly to a Mayo Clinic in Arizona and asked for an appointment and was denied. Either no appointments or wasn’t sick enough. I’ve given my PCP 3 more endocrinologists names to try but am not hopeful. So I’ll get my REMS SCAN and hope the numbers are better so I feel I have time to get into an endocrinologist this year some time to talk meds. Some of the med are difficult and need to be stage with others post or prior for best results plus the side effect. Not sure my PCP has that range. Thanks again for the echolight REMS in OR. At least I have a tool to monitor my osteoporosis without having to get a referral.

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