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What they never told me about dexascans
I had my first scan 4 years ago at the same facility where I was starting treatment for prostate cancer. My numbers were -2.4 and -2.5. Two years later a rheumatologist I was seeing for another issue ordered another scan. Not knowing any different I had it done at the facility closest to me. Although my T-scores were down slightly my BMD numbers were improved. When I asked the doctor about the seeming contradiction he shrugged and said you really can't compare tests done on different machines. Nice time to tell me.
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@willowmena Sounds like I will have to beg my doc to "code" it as medically necessary; since he said Medicare only does every two years and therefor, he wasn't scheduling me one. I get (now, after digging on the internet, not from any information I received from doctors) that BMD changes slowly, if at all sometimes on these meds; however, this is a very anxiety producing condition I gotta have some peace of mind other than a CTX bone marker test! I have been religious about supplements the doctor said to take, working my little butt off with exercise (done aerobics with weights most of my life, just cranked it up) and I'm supposed to wait 2 years to see if any of it is doing any good? Sheesh.
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1 Reaction@loplady TBS is software that can be added to the leading DXA devices. All these sites have to do is pay for the software. But the financial incentive is not there unfortunately.
My previous doctor had a DXA machine with TBS in his office. If I wanted a scan less than a year from my previous scan which I did a couple of times, he charged $75 per scan site. So on those two occasions I just had lumbar spine and one hip done for $150. I believe TBS was thrown in.
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1 Reaction@crs1950
Wow, you went from -4.1 to +2.9 in 2 years on Forteo!
I'm 64. Had a Dexa scan of -4 one year ago. Was told I'd be lucky to see an improvement in 5 years to -3. I was on Tymlos and was switched to Prolia.
@jozer I agree the two year thing is ridiculous. Maybe saves insurance money and maybe is fine in some situations but if you are losing or gaining bone beyond the normal rate for whatever reason you need to track it more often. At 10 months on Evenity I had gained 30% in my lumbar region. I paid for that scan. Knowing how I had improved gave me time to have a plan for what to do when I finished Evenity.
@willowmena REMS or Echolight's fragility score is not the same as the TBS add on to a DXA device. At this point I don't think there is enough evidence to show how much if any relationship there is between the two. DXA and TBS are the measures with a track record.
@cmbaczenski how long were you on Tymlos before you were switched to prolia?
@jozer consider switching doctors if that is an option. I had a rheumatologist tell me I did not have osteoporosis based on my DEXA scan which had a -3.2 forearm radius, but an unremarkable spine reading. She said that despite the fact that my spine is so damaged that no DEXA scan could make heads or tails of it. She instead suggested I go on Reclast(and I have implant dental work to boot). I dismissed that rheumatologist and her opinions. My REMS scan confirmed my osteoporosis because it can read your lumbar spine regardless of spinal deterioration or damage. -3.3 most definitely osteoporosis. I’m sticking with Tymlos.
@awfultruth Well aware that it can be added but what I said was that I didn't think this Dexafit had it or they would be advertising it.
@awfultruth that is very important to know and I appreciate your telling me. The dexa scan did not give me a TBS score. The scan was performed in a Hospital clinic. One would think it would be more thorough, but I guess they do the least they can get away with.
@cmbaczenski - I improved from -4.1 to -2.9. My typo. But I was still impressed with how well Forteo worked for me.