Biopsy

I can't tell you a lot about the biopsy except I'm told the dentist is worse! 

If you can't take AA for any reason there are other drugs that will improve your bone density - have you had a dexascan? Is your bone density at a level that is causing concern? If so - tell your GP you want to be put onto one of the other substances approved for patients who cannot take bisphosphonates. If you can't cope with AA then you probably won't do well on the other members of the same family and the best option then is denosumab (Prolia).

A lady on this forum has been on it, an injection every 6 months, for a couple of years, her bone density is now normal. I'm sure she'll tell you more.

I have had a biopsy a little over 3 weeks ago. They shave a  small area over the ear. It was done under local anaesthetic which is the worst part of it. The biopsy itself was not to bad. I felt like someone was squeezing my head rather hard  but mine was not straight forward as I been told.   Mine took a little over 40 min. They gave me some more anaesthetic every time it was starting to hurt. Tied of the ateries and took the sample. It only took two stiches which I had to go to my gp practice a week later to have them taken out. Felt ok afterwards.  Could not put my sunglasses on tho nore sleep on that side for some time. As it is rather sensitive to touch. 

Yes, I was completely unable to take any of the biphosphonates - which I was offered right at the start at diagnosis - due to horrendous side effects.  I did switch to strontium ranelate and was quite happy with that, but then had to stop that following a DVT.

I had a routine DEXA scan 3 years ago and discovered that I had spinal osteoporosis and denusomab was suggested.  I accepted this after some thought and a follow-up DEXA after 2 years showed that the osteoporosis had completely reversed and I was no longer considered to have the condition.

Initially I was afraid of possible side effects - when these happen daily or weekly, there is always the option to discontinue the medication, but with an injection every six months that easy option doesn't apply!  However, I have never had any noticeable side effects from the start and I have been very happy with my decision. 

From my story: After some months without a real diagnose, I was sent to the medicine department of a main hospital. I had some new blood work, and then they told me that I had better have a biopsy in a temple. The problem was that I had two trips coming up. They put me in after the first one and the biopsy showed that I had what they had expected. I was told I had pmr but they didn´t tell me I also had GCA, so I heard about that later.

I was put on 20 mg Prednisone and I didn´t get very much information about pmr. Just that it would probably take ½ - 1 year to be free from pmr. The next day I flew to the USA to participate in a class reunion after 50 years from graduation as an exchange student in a small town in Minnesota. My wife covered my white bandaid in the temple with skin-coloured surgical tape, so it shouldn´t show so much, especially not on the class picture. After about a week, while travelling in California by rented car, my wife used the scissors of a Swiss army knife to cut the strings that they had sewn at the biopsy. She dipped the scissors in gin from a miniature bottle we had got on the Atlantic flight – to sterilize it. Due to the cortisone, I felt great and on the national day of the USA, 4th of July, we walked downtown without problems. The brochure said the motel was in midtown, near downtown. I think we had to walk 20 blocks and then back – but I felt great even if my wife got tired despite being in better condition than I.am 

The biopsy was done under a local anaesthetic and the cut was less than one inch at the hariline at a temple. After 20-30 minutes it was finioshed and there was nothing to it. After several years I had another biopsy and then they used a "thread" that dissolved so I didn´t have to take any stitches. Also this time without any troubles whatsoever. It is really nothing to worry about!

In another forum, I am member of Club Zero, and I know those who visit that forum are cheered up by seeing many of those who post and are in remission - several of them also on this forum.