Comments on: The Forteo Mystery: What You Should Know About This Puzzling Drug

By: Beachladyblues

Beachladyblues — Tue, 08 May 2012 23:27:44 +0000

Here goes… My 19 yo son was Dx with IJO at age 12 after he fell and Fx a hip. On Fosamax since. Dexa scans climbed slightly the dropped. After 4 surgeries in hope to delay replacement (due to AVN) he now needs the replacement. Plus Scan results are at a new time low. MD insisted on Someta (No way). So I took him to Boston childrens hospital for info followed today by an appt with the local childrens hospital’s bone health team. It was suggested today to consider Forteo. There are posts here on both sides of the fence. IJO had so far left my son with a life time of issues with his hip,back and feet. Plus now he is in pain. As a parent its a difficult position to decide for your child. Unrelated.. my son also has Aspergers syndrome (autism).

By: Beth

Beth — Tue, 08 May 2012 17:15:55 +0000

I recently learned that I have low blood calcium and was diagnosed at 40 with osteoporosis. Though premenopausal, they put me on Fosamax from 1997- 2005, which did nothing. My doctor, an early tester of Forteo has ignored my other illnesses and focused on the osteoporosis ( 2-point bone density scan), told me yesterday, when I expressed concerns about the drug, that I will die without Forteo. I do not think that he has done any testing to explain what is wrong with my parathyroid, nor is he interested in having me try anything but Forteo, which is sitting in my refrigerator like a lurking monster. In 2007, I had a tumor that was related to over-exposure to radiation removed along with half my thyroid, but this doctor hasn’t touched my neck. I am 55, with a BMI of 20.4 and little fat to inject the Forteo into. This situation has me extremely concerned.

By: Larry

Larry — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 15:18:51 +0000

In 1997, I had back surgery with a spinal fusion. During this operation, my surgeon found that my bones were soft and were of a person in their 80′s. I was sent to an endocrinologist and he determined I had osteoporosis. I am a male and was only 47 years old. I was given Fosamax and then Actonel but my stomach could not tolerate them. I tried dietary changes but apparently those did not work because in 2004, I sustained a compression fracture in the vertebra above my fusion from coughing during a bad cold. From this my endocrinologist put me on Forteo which I took for 24 months. Upon completion of Forteo my bone density started to rise. It apparently kick started my body. I then was put on Zometa for a year and one half. Then went to Reclast, since I would only have to get a yearly infusion. I have had three of those yearly infusions and at my last Dexa scan my bone density is where I no longer have to take any drugs and can just use diet now. After reading the posts on this site, I have been recalling some joint pains the last several years and have been told these are just some bone spurs which older people get. I will continue to monitor and will follow directions in the Save Our Bones Program.

By: rhonda australia

rhonda australia — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 03:08:46 +0000

Dear Johanita, no I don’t beleive that the Dexa-scan machines would be rigged,however I don’t know who produces them or who subsidises the cost of these machines?but, I do beleive that you don’t always get the same results from each scan machine and, that different machines,makes,and models ect, can produce difference outcomes. Every person has some story as to pathology test result ending up when thoroughly investigated and re-done to be less than perfect showing up as, not as bad as first thought, or more severe than expected, or even “no problem at all everything all ok” so there can be large discrepences in all pathology and testing. For me, I would want multipul testing on all different scans before I would be prepared to make a full and contious decision about my health. ( of which I have done with other health issues and with excellent results,and without medical assistants and against the advice of my MD)

“To each his own” Rhonda

By: Victoria

Victoria — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 12:00:09 +0000

Getting myself to the gym and eating properly will not reverse my osteoporosis to the degree that I need it to, and a host of others who this won’t work for either. I am 25 and have osteoporosis and I’ll look like the Hulk before my bones get better. Be careful what you suggest to people, because you are not a doctor and they will believe it.

Also, no one should be shocked that the medical industry is a business just like everything else.

By: Ishtar

Ishtar — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 07:42:52 +0000

Shouldn’t it be the doctor’s job to monitor closely if perscribing a medication? It seems as if we should be more and more the experts, but then pay the doctor.

By: Dorothy Openshaw

Dorothy Openshaw — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 22:23:22 +0000

I was on the Forteo for four months approximately and it did me no good at all that I could tell. I became very fatigued and finally went to the doctor and found that my calcium level was extremely high. I then got kidney stones and had to deal with that pain. I would not recommend this treatment to anyone. I feel lucky I didn’t end up with bone cancer.

By: chana

chana — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 16:13:29 +0000

LIGHT approach???

By: Velma Sturm

Velma Sturm — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 05:04:40 +0000

Vivian: Hi. Thank you for your serious and light approach to a very interesting topic

By: Marjorie Holman

Marjorie Holman — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 03:57:01 +0000

I have been allergic to practically every med I ever took for the last 60 years! I moved to Dallas in 2007 and found a new Dr. I told him of my allergies. Then he promply told me to attend a class where I would be taught to give myself a shot of Forteo every day for 18 months! Needless to say, I did not attend the class and I changed doctors!! I am now 88 and other than painful arthritis in my left hip, I am in excellent health. I am considering prolozone therapy, however. Do you have an opinion about that treatment? Thanks, Margie ^o^