Jude said "Does anyone know to whom one goes for the bone density testing and how often one ought to go? My primary doctor has never mentioned it, nor my orthopedic doc, nor the physiatrist I see once a year or the neurologist whom I've seen once in four years."
Now that you mention it, I'm the one that asked my GP for a bone density - that's when I was shocked to find out how much I'd lost - and I have a 'mild case' of TM! If I hadn't asked, I doubt anyone would have mentioned it. Then when I mentioned it on the TMIC, it was you folks that told me about your experiences with it - not any doctors!
And as for the neurologist - I was shocked to get a card in the mail today saying I had an appt in Dec with her. My last appt was in April, and they said to come back in July - that they'd mail me an appointment. But they didn't. And I didn't call to ask them to, b/c I'd done that the previous 3 times when they didn't send me an appt like they said they would, and for the last 2 of those, the neurologist acted irritated that Kaiser required her to keep seeing me after I'd started to get better (even though she'd TOLD me to come).
As for telling us what's going on, I've just recently been complaining to the nutrtionist at Kaiser (hoping she'd pass on the suggestion to someone) about Kaiser not giving us some warning when they put us on steroids, about the side effects that involve nutrients - specifically about how it affects bone density, causing a need for extra calcium. And I just found out that steroids also can cause zinc deficiency. Zinc is a major player in the IMMUNE SYSTEM! But worse, you have to be careful w/supplements of zinc, b/c too much in supplements can actually cause a deficiency! It can also affect blood sugar and cholesterol in a negative way!
Well, that's my 2 cents.
Sally
Sally
