First Bone density scan next week!

[incuse (imported)]

So the Bone density was today. (Happy Birthday Bobbie!)

I was the ONLY male patient in the waiting area of the womens breast clinic... when I got back, I had to strip and put a gown on. A nice lady, Linda, came in and talked to me about what was going to happen and some questions for me.

She asked the normal history questions and then asked "you're here for testicular cancer?" I hesitated and said yes. She went on to ask if I had chemo or radiation... hadn't had either -- quite an odd case of ball cancer treatment I had.

She did the scan and I felt so guilty during the time that when everything was done I told her that I was sorry -- I had lied to her about cancer. I'm just have hypogonadism; I told her. She said she understood -- I was 28 and didn't have to tell her the story. I've never in my life knowingly lied to a doctor or lab tech... and I felt so bad that I did. Glad I rectified it before I left only to have my lie fester in my own head.

She was very understanding and put me at ease.

I find out my results next week sometime. I'm about 70/80% sure I have the beginning signs of osteoporosis. I have no evidence to that, but it's just a semi-gut feeling.

[mrt (imported)]

She asked the normal history questions and then asked "you're here for testicular cancer?" I hesitated and said yes. I was 28 and didn't have to tell her the story. I've never in my life knowingly lied to a doctor or lab tech... and I felt so bad that I did. Glad I rectified it before I left only to have my lie fester in my own head.

I understand. I had a very creepy nurse interogate me and I said "Look, if its all the same with you let me just discuss this with the doctor" I think some people get Immune to how difficult it is to talk about some of this stuff. When I first started using ED meds (Viagra) I had a great experience where the staff kinda knew I was weirded out by this. When they called to talk about "The drug that starts with a V?" I laughed and thought to myself. These people are keepers.

On the other hand I didn't care at all for the opposite which was a pharmacy guy who was also cracking up when I picked up that drug and saying the "V" word loudly.

[Uncle Flo (imported)]

I had a bone scan a while back. At that time my T levels had been sub-standard for a number of years. The scan showed my bone density to be "remarkably good for a man my age". The table used for my scan was an older one and wouldn't support my weight so the scan was done one limb at a time. That took a long, long time. My doctor was not pleased about the outdated equipment and embarked on a crusade to have it replaced. --FLO--

[OneBallBoi (imported)]

I had a bone scan a while back. At that time my T levels had been sub-standard for a number of years. The scan showed my bone density to be "remarkably good for a man my age". The table used for my scan was an older one and wouldn't support my weight so the scan was done one limb at a time. That took a long, long time. My doctor was not pleased about the outdated equipment and embarked on a crusade to have it replaced. --FLO--

You are one remarkable guy anyways so you should have a good bone scan. We want you to live to be 98.

[coinflipper_21 (imported)]

It’s a serious mistake to think that osteoporosis only affects women after menopause and eunuchs who are not on HRT. While less common in other populations, it is a major health risk for many intact males and women before menopause....

According to my father's orthopedic surgeon, the biggest cause of osteoporosis in anyone in our society, eunuch or not, is the consumption of soda pop. He recommends checking the ingredients list of any soda you consume for phosphorous compounds, and if they contain any, stop drinking them. Phosphorous compounds leech calcium from our bones. He says that no one over the age of 60 should be drinking any sodas that are not phosphorous free.

[nullorchis (imported)]

http://www.health-doc.com/healtharticle ... sodas.html

That was a bit of news to me. Seems its true. Thank goodness I never liked soda pop. I prefer my gin completely soda-free, sometimes Straight UP, sometimes, On-The-Rocks. Funny how Cock-tail terms seems to be sexually oriented.

[Danya (imported)]

Yes, I think having bilateral orchiectomy on your chart is an "automatic" for having bone density scan(s) Your doctor should probably be telling you to take Calcium tabs twice a day from now on. You may find you need a more potent form (Prescription Fosomax etc) but anyway, good luck with the scan.

Many men have the same situation and if the staff or doctors are really that easily freaking out check out a new clinic....

MrT, I am not sure if this is your intention but you seem to be saying Foxamax is a more potent form of calcium. It is not calcium at all but rather a bisphosphonate. It helps slow bone loss and stimulates an increase in bone mass. I am now taking its generic equivalent in addition to calcium supplements and vitamin D. When my vitamin D level was checked in December, it was way below the bottom end of what is considered healthy. One of the hazards of living in a far northern location with little winter sun.

My doctor did not consider the twice daily 600 mg calcium pills sufficient. So he instructed me to get another 300 mg of calcium from natural sources, such as milk.

If I can believe several books I read when I learned of my osteoporosis, once you have it increasing your calcium intake will do nothing to improve the condition. You just may prevent it from getting worse. Vitamin D helps in calcium absorption but adding this is still not sufficient to increase bone density once it has been lost.

Taking a drug like Fosamax is the only way you can reverse bone density lost to osteoporosis. There are others in the same bisphosphonate class that work in a similar way.

I was first diagnosed with osteoporosis in December of 2007. The likely cause was the high prednisone treatments I have needed for asthma over the last ten years. Prednisone is known to contribute to bone density loss. This December, I will get a second bon

e scan to see how a year of treatment has worked.

I pop nearly a handful of pills each day already. It seems a cheapo fosamax pill once a week wont be too bothersome on me. Wish more of my pills were once a week.

I'll tell you in the next few weeks whether or not I even need fosamax. Maybe I can get that once a year treatment Ive been hearing about on TV if I need to.

If I go on fosamax, I can definately expect to get some looks from the rite aid folks when I pick that prescription up. It doesn't help that it shows on the front of th

e box that it's for use by women with osteoporosis.

Hi Incuse,

Under my insurance plan, Fosamax was not at all cheap. We used to have a maximum absolute dollar copay (maybe $25) that held for any drug, no matter how expensive. We are not so lucky anymore at my office. Fosamax was less than what my doctor first had me on, Actonel, but still high priced. Early this year, a generic Fosamax was introduced that is much less expensive. Its name is Alendronate. My caring pharmacist let me know the generic was out and it has saved me a lot of money.

Take care,

Danya

[OneBallBoi (imported)]

Generic Fosamax at Wal*Mart Stores, cash price, no insurance is $24.00 for 12 pills of 3 months, approx.

[coinflipper_21 (imported)]

http://www.health-doc.com/healtharticle ... sodas.html

That was a bit of news to me. Seems its true. Thank goodness I never liked soda pop. I prefer my gin completely soda-free, sometimes Straight UP, sometimes, On-The-Rocks. Funny how Cock-tail terms seems to be sexually oriented.

I had never been a coffee drinker, preferring to get my daily caffeene fix from Diet Pepsi. When the doctor told me that I suddenly decided that I can like the taste of coffee and started drinking it about eight months ago, at the age of 64. Guess that I don't have to worry about it stunting my growth.

When I used to be able to drink alcohol I enjoyed gin. I think that it's vastly underrated in this country.

[incuse (imported)]

I got my results today.

I DO NOT HAVE OSTEOPOROSIS!



For anyone who understands it. Here are my numbers:

Region BMD g/cm sq | T-Score | Z-score

AP Lumbar 1.173 | 0.7 | 0.7

Left Hip (tot) 1.083 | 0.4 | 0.4

Left Femoral Neck 1.026 | 0.7 | 0.8

Right Hip (tot) 1.094 | 0.4 | 0.4

Right Femoral Neck 1.105 | 1.3 | 1.4

sorry, I couldn't make these numbers any easier on the eyes

The sheet says I need a T-score below 1 to be "normal". So the right Femoral Neck bothers me. I need to figure out where that is and what I can do to improve that area.

Also... apparently I have "surgical hypogonasism, testicular cancer, and backpain". I know I have the first, but the last two? someone made those up... WTF BACKPAIN !?