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DEXA scan

Posted , 4 users are following.

Lizzie_Ellen
Lizzie_Ellen

I asked my Doctor for a DEXA scan and as I seemed to tick all the boxes she sent the necessary forms off for me. When the letter arrived to arrange the appointment I was surprised to see that I had to go to Andover and not Basingstoke Hospital :yikes: I could almost walk to Basingstoke Hospital from where I live! Anyway, not being one to argue (much) I made the appointment for this morning. Its only about 30 minutes away (unless of course you get lost, which we did, but no matter, we were almost an hour early). Its a really small Hospital, no reception, nowhere to check in, no shops, nowhere to buy a newspaper to wile away the hour :roll: I went in on time and when I asked the radiographer why Andover, she said that Basingstoke didn't have a scanner - I was amazed. Apparently they used to send people to the Hampshire Clinic (Private and also within walking distance!) but it proved to be very expensive hence the installation of a scanner in Andover. Anyway, I digress (as usual). It would seem that I am almost the same height as I was at 14 years old (wish I was the same weight :donut: ) which quite surprised me. I was always considered tall in my teens (5ft 7inches in old money) but everyone seems to tower over me now even though I'm still 5'7\" so this generation must just be taller. I get the results in 3 to 4 weeks, but as I didn't have a DEXA at the beginning of my diagnosis I won't have anything to compare it with. Sorry to bore you all, just had a spare 5 minutes with nothing to do :zzz:

Love from Lizzie Ellen xx

0 likes, 12 replies

12 Replies

  • fiftiesgirl
    fiftiesgirl

    Posted

    Hi Lizzie Ellen...... glad you have finally had it done!

    I had mine six months into diagnosis therefore six months into preds :? Think it is a fairly common practice........ so although none of us really know what the baseline is when starting on preds, at least some months in there is a benchmark against which to measure any bone loss in the forthcoming months/years on pred :lol:

    Mine came back above what is considered 'normal' or that is what my rheumy told me anyway....

    The results of the scintigram I had two weeks ago have just come back with some signs of the steroids being in the right hip bone where I am having all the pain..... so going to be interesting to see what this means for me for future DEXA scan results and any bone loss occuring because of the use of pred :roll:

  • mrs_k
    mrs_k

    Posted

    LizzieEllen

    I had my Dexa scan within the six months of starting steroids. Results 97% which for somebody at 69 was great. One year later - still 97%. So this time we are waiting for two years before I have another one.

    So sometimes it seems that different side effects for different people once again.

    Now watch the next one be awful as I have printed it out loud.

    I just wish GPs would read the treatment it states quite clearly a 'bone scan' should be done after six months on long term steroids and that is not just pmr and gca people.

  • MrsO-UK_Surrey
    MrsO-UK_Surrey

    Posted

    Hi all

    I actually asked for a DEXA at the outset of taking steroids as never having had one I thought it would be useful to have a baseline figure. It was refused by both the rheumy and the GP, saying that \"there was a 9 month waiting list anyway\"! Felt like saying \"well at least put me on the list then\"! :roll: I then said to the GP \"How about me paying for a private scan\" to which he replied that he thought that would be a good idea!!! That first scan showed normal bone density.

    Two years into steroids, I asked again and this time the rheumy agreed. This second scan showed osteopenia of the spine (hips still normal) so no doubt in my mind that this was steroid-induced. If you remember I started on 40mgs and wasn't prescribed AA drugs.

    Had the third scan a month ago but no results as yet so, as you can imagine, I've got fingers, toes, ears and everything crossed that the osteopenia hasn't worsened to osteoporosis.

    I'll quote the ranges here in case anyone is interested:

    -1 or above= Normal T Score

    below -1 to -2.5 = Osteopenia

    Lower than -2.5 = Osteoporosis

    I also read:

    For women 5ft tall or shorter the DEXA may UNDERESTIMATE bone density;

    For women 5ft 10ins or taller the DEXA may OVERESTIMATE bone density.

    Lizzie - I'll let you know what mine is if you let me know what your's is! :wink: :lol:

    Love to you allx

    MrsO

  • Lizzie_Ellen
    Lizzie_Ellen

    Posted

    I'd never even heard of DEXA scans until I found this site and I think it was Mrs K who was saying we should ask for one. My Rheumy who seemed keen on everything except DEXAs said it wasn't necessary. Then I stopped taking the AA and demanded the test from my GP (got a bit more 'demanding' recently!). I think it was the cost of sending Basingstoke patients to the private clinic that was the biggest influence :wink: I only waited 2 weeks for my appointment, and yes Mrs O, I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours :lol: And if you're looking in Mrs G, have a wonderful holiday. Hope the hip pain is easing Fiftiesgirl, mine is much improved so am hoping it was a pulled muscle. The minute I phoned the Doc for an appointment, it started improving :?

    Love from Lizzie xxx

  • Mrs_G
    Mrs_G

    Posted

    Hi

    Thank you Lizzie Yes just been to finish sorting the horses out and off tomorrow and looked at the Rhodes weather forecast and it says sun sun sun !!

    I had one Dexa scan with each bout of PMR Both within 6 months of taking steroids Have to go to Southampton for mine I have a very small degree of ospeopena in one hip where I had a very bad fall right on the hip about 25 years ago So dont know if thats a connection Now I seem to be on 5mg for a while I dont know if I will get another one Im sure Dr said something about tham not doing them when people were on under 7.5

    Hope your hip improves I do feel so much better on the 5mg and wont be having bloods or seeing Dr till mid Oct so will be staying with it Would never take AA again Obviously if I had osteoporosis I would have to have something

    Take care everyone

    Mrs G

  • nannypat
    nannypat

    Posted

    Hi everyone, I've been reading all your comments about dexa scans with great interest. I had a dexa scan about 8 months after starting on pred. I didnt ask for the scan..my rheumy did. He wanted me to have it done before he saw me for the first time. My doctor told me it would be routine because I was only 53 at the time (just over 2 years ago). Imagine my horror when I was told that I had osteoporosis of the spine (my t score was -5.4).

    I had been taking calci chew but obviously it wasnt working. My rheumy then put me on Forsteo injections for the last 2 years..I've just finished that course. I've now been put on Fosavance, I suppose for the foreseeable future. So I would advise anyone who is starting on steroids for the first time (or even on them for a while) to go to their docs and demand a dexa scan.

    Regards to all,

    Pat

  • MrsO-UK_Surrey
    MrsO-UK_Surrey

    Posted

    Hello Nannypat

    That's very good advice about having a DEXA scan and thank goodness your rheumy suggested one for you. Hopefully you will now have had a DEXA which shows an improvement following your Forteo treatment.

    I was interested in your comment about calcichew seemingly not working as a nurse on the osteoporosis helpline told me recently that the calcium supplements \"didn't really do much good\" which really surprised me.

    I am also very interested to hear that you are now taking Fosavance after being on Forteo injections for a couple of years. My aunt is 6 months into her Forteo treatment and has been wondering what she will be prescribed at the end of it. She hasn't been on steroids but has had osteoporosis for years following a total hysterectomy in the days just prior to hormone replacement therapy becoming the norm after such surgery. She has just had another DEXA and is due to see the consultant again in a couple of weeks.

    My best wishes, Pat.

    MrsO

  • Lizzie_Ellen
    Lizzie_Ellen

    Posted

    :magic: :magic: :magic: :magic: :magic: :magic: :magic:

    Wow! Dexa scan result has just dropped on the door mat. Worse than opening a tax demand :lol: Anyway, as you can guess from the opening line [b:7760378217]'there is no reduction in bone density'[/b:7760378217] The fact that everything aches just now, legs are killing me, hip hurts like fury and I didn't sleep last night, I am a happy :bunny: Was so afraid I would have to go back on those awful AA tablets. Well that was worth the effort. Hope everyone is enjoying the same beautiful weather as we are in Basingstoke. Might have to eat in the garden today.

    Love from happy Lizzie xxx

  • mrs_k
    mrs_k

    Posted

    LizzieEllen

    Good News and on a sunny but windy day up here in the North.

  • MrsO-UK_Surrey
    MrsO-UK_Surrey

    Posted

    Lizzie

    Magic, indeed :magic:

    Now you will sleep well tonight. :cheers:

    MrsO

  • nannypat
    nannypat

    Posted

    Hi everyone, its been a very long time since I posted, but I just thought I'd update you all about my last DEXA scan..My rheumy wanted me to have a followup but with all the cuts to public spending, I had to travel to Dublin (from Wexford) for my last one. rolleyes However even though my T score is still pretty low, because of the Forsteo injections, my bone density seems to have improved by about 13%!!!

    I have also (I hope I'm not jinxing myself by saying this) been off pred for the last month!!! Still a bit achey but nothing like the pain I had been in over the last 4 years!! biggrin I had been on 1mg for 6 months, then 1 every other day for another 6, I thought I 'd take the plunge and see what happens. So far so good biggrin

  • MrsO-UK_Surrey
    MrsO-UK_Surrey

    Posted

    Hi nannypat

    It's so good to hear from you again especially with such wonderful news.

    I'm so glad the Forteo injections have proved successful for you - my aunt has just come off them after two years following a spinal fracture and her bone density has also improved.

    Welcome to Club Zero - well that's what we call it over on our other forum (link on another thread here) when any of us get to the dizzy heights of Nil Prednisolone. I was on 1mg for almost a year before getting to zero and I feel sure that gives a chance for our adrenal glands to get fully up to speed again with producing the body's natural steroid (cortisol). biggrin

    A belated happy New Year to you and your's - keep well! :O

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