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        New Message Board Archives >> 2005 General Board Posts >> dense to bone density
        
(Message started by: cootie on Dec 12^th, 2005, 1:05pm)

Title: dense to bone density
Post by cootie on Dec 12^th, 2005, 1:05pm

What's a bone density test like ? Got one scheduled tomarrow.......jus curious. Do they take long ? Doc mentiond it is some what of a spine exray he can look at also since we are tryin to duct anouther MRI cuz I don't think my ins will pay for one or if so I pay 3/4ths. I don't need anouther big bill rite now. Do they show bone and spine conformation well ?? I hate tests......I will prolly break out in anuther rash Pam

PS: he wanted one done to check for that brittle bone disease cuz I have crooked areas and at risk for it cuz of size ect....and my mom had it bad few years ago....they told her she could of fracture'd her spine just bending over. I think I am ok with it tho cuz I exercise and jump off stuff and climb stuff and fall off the stuff I climbed and no BUSTED FRACTURES yet. (cept fallin off the dryer....but that was my foot) Just to be on the safe side he said but will also give him a pic to look at of things ???

Title: Re: dense to bone density
Post by LeLimey on Dec 12^th, 2005, 2:06pm

Cootie its 1999 since I last had one and it might be a different type to the one you have to have. I had to be injected with a radioactive dye and wait for that to go around my body (bit scary when its done from within a lead shield :o ) Then I had to go (lying down) through a machine and stop there while they took loads of different pics.
It didn't hurt, it wasn't a problem (except for being a bit scary) the only tough point was, as a single mother with two small ones, I was told not to come into close physical contact with them for a few hours, they explained all about the half life etc but I don't remember it now to be honest. I do remember it upset me that they hadn't told me about that before so I could explain it to the kids.
I've refused more since as I can't see how it would be beneficial to me to have more and I worry already about the amount of x rays I've had to have for broken bones etc
Hope it helps a bit, let us know how you get on!
love
Helen

Title: Re: dense to bone density
Post by Margi on Dec 12^th, 2005, 3:21pm

Pam,
I had one of these tests done last week - piece of cake. I didn't have to get injected with anything - I just laid on the table and a scanner took pics. Nothing more than an x-ray. In and out of there in 10 minutes.
The only time I've had the dye injected that Helen's describing here was for a CT scan. They must do it differently in the UK?

And, aren't you proud of me for not asking why the hell you were on top of the dryer in the first place that caused you to break your foot? Stay on the ground, woman!! :o

p.s. oh and sorry, no idea on how much this test costs. That kind of stuff is covered here by our provincial health care plans.

Title: Re: dense to bone density
Post by jon019 on Dec 12^th, 2005, 3:30pm

Hi Pam,

Do a Google search on "Dexa Scan". Considered the gold standard of bone density testing. 10-15 minutes and totally painless. 1/10 radiation of normal chest xray.
Pictures spine and hip bones. Results compared to a standard to determine if any bone loss present.

Margi's right-piece of cake. Don't sweat it!

Regards

Jon

Title: Re: dense to bone density
Post by Lizzie2 on Dec 12^th, 2005, 3:41pm

Yeah I had the DEXA scan last summer - most painful part was getting the results! You'll be fine! :)

Title: Re: dense to bone density
Post by cootie on Dec 12^th, 2005, 4:22pm

I almost fainted when I read the word INJECTED !!!!! And for sum odd reason I always thought for bone density they set some sort of VICE on your leg or arm and squeezed real hard and some sort of machine could read how the bone was holding up and how solid it was!!!! Yeah like a mammagrahm of the entire body deal. I was gettin a bit nervous but the secretary told me it was more like a quick exray but that was it. I am rejecting injecting at this time in my mind Pam

Fell off the dryer tryin to reach up to shelves that are up to the ceiling......stepped down onto a big pile of OLD shoes I was tossin out and got tired of tripping over. So.....what do I do......slowly step down feeling my way to the floor with my foot and lost my balance and stepped in the shoes which caused my foot to FOLD IN HALF longways and snap with a nasty spiral break. Guess you could say I stepped on my own foot with that same foot. Don't try that at home !!! It still hurts and swells.....guess it is cause it bled so much inside.....it was black on the bottom of my foot too !! And ya loose alot of circulation when that happens. I could of left ya all WONDERING about the dryer thing and said I enjoy'd the casual cycle !!! ;)

* edit cuz I spelled leg wrong.........lill nervous I suspect.....

Title: Re: dense to bone density
Post by Jasmyn on Dec 12^th, 2005, 4:35pm

on 12/12/05 at 16:22:50, cootie wrote:

I could of left ya all WONDERING about the dryer thing and said I enjoy'd the casual cycle !!! ;)

* edit cuz I spelled leg wrong.........lill nervous I suspect.....

[smiley=crackup.gif]...and here I was thinking just that!

Pam good luck but keep away from the dryer! ;)

Title: Re: dense to bone density
Post by cootie on Dec 12^th, 2005, 4:58pm

There is always the spin cycle on the washer.....and it is a heavy duty washer tooooooo !!! I think that is bone density enuff if I fall off and snap a foot.....guess I need more calcium Pam ;)

Title: Re: dense to bone density
Post by Grandma_Sweet_Boy on Dec 12^th, 2005, 4:59pm

What Margi said! Sounds to me like Helen had an actual bone scan rather than just bone density.

I have a bone density scan done every other year - it's used to determine whether or not they need to add a calcium supplement to my diet. It's hell growing old!

Don't know about where you live, but where I am - they do it as part of a routine checkup and more especially for women.

It takes no time at all though and there's no injection involved if it's just the bone density they're checking.

Good luck -
Carol

Title: Re: dense to bone density
Post by echo on Dec 12^th, 2005, 5:44pm

on 12/12/05 at 13:05:17, cootie wrote:

What's a bone density test like ? Got one scheduled tomarrow.......jus curious.
???

First they whack you on the top of the head with a ball peen hammer and measure the size of the knot. Paying close attention to "innie or outie" swelling.

Next they place your pinkie finger in a door jam and shut the door to ascertain how flat your finger gets before you wet yourself.

Thirdly they have you lay on your back on a metal bed expose your rib cage and use said ball peen hammer to play "Mary had a little lamb" on your ribs. They use this to see how "in turn" you are.

Hope this helps. Keep us in the loop.

Title: Re: dense to bone density
Post by Grandma_Sweet_Boy on Dec 12^th, 2005, 5:49pm

Echo - ya need to find yourself a new lab technician. The one you have is just way too rough! ;;D

Title: Re: dense to bone density
Post by Barry_T_Coles on Dec 12^th, 2005, 8:16pm

Cootie if it’s the same as what my wife gets done every year there is nothing to it, as Margi says in & out in 10 minutes.

My wife Nina has osteoporosis and has to take calcium supplements that are stabilising the condition.

Here’s a link The ABC's of a Bone Density Test

http://www.hon.ch/News/HSN/509134.html?bones

Kind regards
Barry

Title: Re: dense to bone density
Post by cootie on Dec 12^th, 2005, 11:47pm

Thanks guys and thanks for the link Barry.......I had enuff pokes from the dentist the past few weeks so was not lookin forward to gettin anything stuck, smashed or clubbed. But I mite wish to do those things to others when I have to finish up my Xmas shopping tomarrow. Can I borrow your hammer echo Pam