What they never told me about dexascans

@donnabutcher I think our lifestyle over the last 60 odd years is going to result in a lot more men having osteoporosis. It's my understanding that soda is bad for the bones. Also PPI's like Prilosec. That being said it's doubtful men will ever be screened on a regular basis unless they're already being treated for something else.

@maine Precisely this. What if you move? Change docs? It’s maddening.

@jozer
I am on Medicare and my plan pays for a yearly DEXA scan; I wonder why yours does not?

Pam

@pam52 I don't know; will be asking about that at my appointment in July (where I am sure we will discuss scheduling my second Reclast infusion). I do need to contact Medicare; I know they only do every 2 years unless (I believe) you are being actively treated for osteo (which I am). Personally, for my mental health, I need to know what my BMD numbers are. Spent the entire year worrying and wondering about how the Reclast infusion is helping/not; (CTX numbers indicate it is working, according to the doc, but what are my T-scores?). If DEXA gold standard and we are being treated with powerful medication perhaps for years/forever I really need to know.

@jozer Bones change slowly and DEXA results are not precise. A difference in DEXA from just one year to the next is likely to be less than the "least significant change" error margin of the machine.

3% to 6% of BMD change you see between DEXA scan can just be the precision variation. You can see this in slide #43. Note that this is % of the density measurement, not of a T-score.
https://cme.nof.org/sites/default/files/DXA%20Basics-%20Morgan_Jankowski.pdf
I would still rather have yearly DEXA measurements because even just averaged together then I would get a better idea what my situation really is. But seeing a 2% decrease, or 2% increase in your BMD between 12 months is apparently not something that we can take action on because it may be just DEXA error.

@jozer I'm on Fosamax, which I assume is considered active treatment, and none of my doctors have indicated that Medicare covers a Dexa more frequently than every two years.

Not sure how you can get one every year - other than private pay - had one in 4/2024, results sent me to an endo, did Fosamax for about a year; had another Dexa in 4/2025, Reclast infusion 7/2025 (took a couple months to work up the courage to get the infusion!), 4/2026 appointment and found out Dexa is every 2 years; so I will not know T scores until 2027. I may have been borderline between private employee health insurance (through hubby) and Medicare start. I would be very willing to pay for something (DEXA, REMS, whatever for my peace of mind) and my doc did give me a referral (necessary in my area) but my Dexa center can't give me a straight answer...$400 to $1200, depending on discounts, etc. I would like to go somewhere else but again, I would need a referral for medical DEXA. Very disheartening (especially after doing Reclast, which I was told was a great, powerful, improve your bone health dramatically drug) after anxiously waiting a year for what I thought would be my yearly DEXA. Oh well; doc says it isn't really necessary because the treatment protocol would not change, and very doubtful my T scores would improve so much that I would not need another infusion. Unfortunately, I was told that it was possible I would only need one infusion (possible, not probable) and I naively thought a DEXA would be required to show that. So another year of waiting and worrying. You'd think there would be a better way!

There probably is a better way just like there probably is a cure for cancer.

I have also heard this!

@jozer the difference could be original Medicare and Medicare Advantage plans.