Wellness

[June Lands]

On 12/5/2014 lizzys said:

Osteoporosis is considered a silent killer because you don't always have symptoms. Knowledge is power so having the test is important to know how strong your bones are. To say the OP should not have the test just because she does not want to take pharmaceuticals doesn't make any sense!!! There is way more to bone strength and bone building than pharma drugs. Please keep us posted on your results. Wishing you the best!

Excellent!!

[June Lands]

On 12/6/2014 lennox25 said:

What is the purpose of the OP's post ?????????

lennox25, I was not trying to prove anything... just a statement. Does every post have to PROVE SOMETHING? Hope you have a great weekend

[tends2dogs]

On 12/5/2014 AnnaBella said:

On 12/5/2014 tends2dogs said:

Just because someone chooses not to take the recommended drugs for osteoporosis, doesn't mean they shouldn't have a bone scan. I had one this year at my yearly exam. I go to a preventive where they don't prescribe Fosamax, etc. I had the scan done to compare to the one I had 5 years ago. It was also done to see if the supplements they have prescribed for me are working. They are.

AnnaBella, go get your bone scan. It will tell you if you need to be more proactive. Do I recall that you had hip or knee replacement recently? This may be a test you shouldn't pass up.

Thnk-you. I have never had joint replacement thank God. I have arthritis in my back....especially my neck. Going to start some PT to see if that will help with my pain

AnnaBella,

All the best with your PT. Hope it gives you improved quality of life.....pain isn't fun!

[Sweetbay magnolia]

Thanks again, happy housewife. Bone on bone is awful. I have a friend who let it go too long and ended up with a broken femur, as well as the hip needing help. I abhor inactivity but I will accept a leisurely pace until I can have this done. Hopefully in the next month or two (I love the holidays, but everything comes to a standstill - like me right now!).

Happy Holidays.

[151949]

On 12/6/2014 Sweetbay magnolia said:

Thanks again, happy housewife. Bone on bone is awful. I have a friend who let it go too long and ended up with a broken femur, as well as the hip needing help. I abhor inactivity but I will accept a leisurely pace until I can have this done. Hopefully in the next month or two (I love the holidays, but everything comes to a standstill - like me right now!).

Happy Holidays.

When i was to have my back surgery my boss literally begged me not to have it done over the Christmas holidays - so when I told my surgeon I had to wait til after the holidays he said he was leaving Jan 1 for the Congo with doctors without borders for 3 months so I ended up having to wait 5 months for my surgery. What a bummer - but I really wanted that particular surgeon.

[circles]

I am scheduled for my mammo and a dexa scan up coming Wednesday....

[pistolino]

On 12/5/2014 AnnaBella said:

On 12/4/2014 pistolino said:

If you don't intend to take the medications they push for bone loss, I wouldn't even bother with the test. I Just because insurance covers it doesn't mean you have to have it, especially if you don't intend to follow the recommended treatment.

The drugs they recommend are not the cure all by any means. There is nothing to prove that either. To think this is foolish, and to not have a test just because you are not going to take their recommended treatment makes no sense.

Having the test is good just to know where you stand. Not everyone follows protocol used for every medical condition. That is called freedom of choice. The Patient has this choice in every medical matter and protocol. I pay for my insurance and have the right to any test that is covered.

FYI, I'm no fan of the drugs prescribed for osteoporosis.

What I'm saying is it makes no sense at all to have a test when you know already you aren't going to do what they recommend. Knowing "where you stand" means what? If you have osteoporosis you'll sit and worry about breaking bones? Really, that's the only thing you'll learn--whether or not you have it. In your case it's an UNnecessary test because you will refuse treatment, so why have it?

[pistolino]

On 12/5/2014 GoodStuff said:

On 12/4/2014 pistolino said:

If you don't intend to take the medications they push for bone loss, I wouldn't even bother with the test. It's a waste of your time and insurance money. Just because insurance covers it doesn't mean you have to have it, especially if you don't intend to follow the recommended treatment.

Personally, I think if you're at "a certain age" and have risk factors for bone loss, it would be worthwhile to have a scan just so you know your status. If you have bone loss you could increase your calcium intake, increase walking or other weight-bearing exercise, take extra precautions in your home to prevent falls, etc. And if your bones were bad enough, you might even reconsider taking some medications. It's good to know where you stand and to be able to consider options.

You can increase calcium or do any alternative "treatment" without having the test. As I just said, knowing where you stand means nothing and all you're doing is having a needless test because you don't intend to follow the recommendation we already know you'll get if you have osteoporosis.

It's similar to the smoker wanting to have yearly pulmonary function tests and not intending to quit smoking--what's the point?

[pistolino]

On 12/5/2014 HappyDaze said:

On 12/4/2014 pistolino said:

If you don't intend to take the medications they push for bone loss, I wouldn't even bother with the test. It's a waste of your time and insurance money. Just because insurance covers it doesn't mean you have to have it, especially if you don't intend to follow the recommended treatment.

Good point. Why get something done just because? Seems silly and a waste of money (even if it isn't your money).

This reminds me of the auto workers who had excellent insurance coverage (especially for prescriptions) where I live and were constantly at the doctor's office and hospital having tests and being prescribed things "just because it's covered". When their copay for a brand name prescription went to $15 and an office visit the same amount (GASP!) they called it a travesty and started cutting down on the meds and visits they had.

This is part of waste in the system. Waste is not only fraud or incompetence. It's having things done that don't need to be done. You waste your insurance company's dollars, your time, the technician's time and whoever interprets the test's time.

This is why most insurance now has a large deductible--patients think twice and then a third time before they go and pay $1200 for an MRI for a knee that gives them some trouble now and then.

I have a $2500 deductible and believe me, I consider every visit and test very carefully before I have them because pretty much it's coming out of MY pocket.

People act like nobody's paying when insurance covers it. High health care usage equals high premiums, so yes it's coming out of the patient's pocket anyway, along with every other person covered by that insurance.

[Sweetbay magnolia]

Pistolino - I get it. I screamed at my husband a few months ago for going to the doc for every little ache and pain. Now I may need major surgery and I hope we get the coverage we need. Really? You strained your hamstring playing a game of pick up ball? Learn to warm up and stretch! Take some ibuprofen!!!