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New Message Board Archives >> 2006 General Board Posts >> big bucks meds
(Message started by: cootie on Mar 1st, 2006, 4:30pm)

Title: big bucks meds
Post by cootie on Mar 1st, 2006, 4:30pm
WTF.......my doc told me I have to start takein a caldium script med for osteopena which is not osterperosis but will be......he said if I don't take the med and it deveopes into osteoperosis I could just bump into somethin and break my hip or my neck if it was let go !? He said it is important to take this med (vitamin D or sumthin mixed in and over the counter stuff will NOT fill in the thinning bone). So he gave me a script to Boniva......good grief.....ya get one pill a month and it cost 89 bucks but 'with' insurence I paid 75 bucks for one freakin pill !!!!! Fosomox ya take once a week is about 50 bucks a pill. How the hell much does it cost to MAKE this crap to cost so much.........rediculous.....totally rediculous !!!!! Who can afford that anyhow !? I was SHOCKED ! I got one free sample......whoppee........supposed to take this forever and pay that much ? Got a apt with the new doc to meet him and discuss if he can handle Brad's ch and my back stuff (mine we like so much is moveing and quitting private practice) and see if he gives out freebee's or has cheaper sudgestions. Either way that is way too much a pill for sumptin so SIMPLE !!!! I am just shocked at how we are bein sucked dry with costs of things in this country. I mean big time faster quicker. Brad's shop is struggling and goin to let people go he just found out today.......small shop and they may not survive yet they have survived alot of bad times till now. Where is it all goin to end Pam  

Title: Re: big bucks meds
Post by cootie on Mar 2nd, 2006, 3:14pm
Boo-hoo-hoo-hoo......nobody likes me to reply to my stupid whine thread ! Sorry it was a bad day.........pain in yer ass's Pam  :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(

Does anybody know of nuther script calcium vitamin D meds to treat osteopena other then the 90 dollar to 50 dollar a pill crap (over the counter won't help) ya take once a week or once a month ? I had no idea this stuff was so much. I am NOT payin that. Wanted to ask the new doc for sumthin affordable but don't wanna look stupid. Rather be a bit informed ? Sorry again for askin dumb stuff.  8)

Brad says HI !!!!!  ;)

Title: Re: big bucks meds
Post by sandie99 on Mar 2nd, 2006, 3:20pm
Pam... [smiley=hug.gif][smiley=hug.gif][smiley=hug.gif]

Title: Re: big bucks meds
Post by cootie on Mar 2nd, 2006, 4:59pm
Ahhhh....thanks for the hug.....I needed that !!! Notsopopular Pam  8)

Title: Re: big bucks meds
Post by LeLimey on Mar 2nd, 2006, 5:05pm
Pam I have a bone disease too and have to take massive amounts of vitaminD and calcium daily. I take calciferol (vitd) and calcichew which are chewable.. they're not too bad, sort of like indigestion tablets.. they just get bloody hard going when you have to take 8 at a time!  ::) (I don't absorb  it so hence the whopping great doses.. that's not normal)
I don't know how much they are in comparison to your ones but they ARE prescription drugs here and aren't thought to be expensive by my doc. I'll ask my pharmacist for you. I hope that helps a bit!
Helen

Title: Re: big bucks meds
Post by tanner on Mar 2nd, 2006, 5:17pm
pam , you will always be at the top of my popularity list!!


my wife linda has the same or a very similar diagnosis and her doc told her to be sure and take glucosamine/chondroitin religiously 1500mgs and 1200mgs three times a day respectivly. for joint pain he prescribed sulindac which is one of the older nsaids.

now its my turn to look stupid cuz i know you have probably already tried this stuff........ but hey for you i'll shave my beard and stach and really look stupid..........


please don't ask me to deliver on that.......tim

Title: Re: big bucks meds
Post by chewy on Mar 2nd, 2006, 5:20pm
You whine all you want girl.

Your claim is staked here.


Quote:
Brad says HI !!!!!


Hey Brad. Quit yer whining.

Title: Re: big bucks meds
Post by BikerBob on Mar 2nd, 2006, 5:55pm
Pam, I don't know anything about osteopenia but you might find some useful info on this website...

http://www.osteopenia3.com/osteopenia-treatments.html

Click on the underlined parts and the links on the left too.

BB ;)

Title: Re: big bucks meds
Post by Charlie on Mar 2nd, 2006, 7:00pm
Rant away Pam http://www.kolobok.wrg.ru/smiles/he_and_she/to_babruysk.gif?SSImageQuality=Full

Second opinion? Look into it maybe.

Charlie

Title: Re: big bucks meds
Post by Lizzie2 on Mar 2nd, 2006, 7:26pm
:( Sorry I woulda replied but haven't been online near as much this week because I was working day shift and exhausted the rest of the time...

I don't know what to say about the osteopenia - I have it too, but my docs aren't making me take anything.  When I got my bone scan done, I was told maybe I should take calcium/vit D supplements instead of going the fosamax route.  I refuse to take fosamax anyways....

Did he say why it's so urgent for you to start this?  I'd get a second opinion personally...  I mean - what did people do before the bisphosphonates came out...like fosamax?  It's not like they've been around THAT long...  That drug has evil bad side effects, and I know I personally wouldn't want to take it...

But I don't know your situation, so I don't know why they're pushing you so much....

Wish I could help more... :-/

Hugz to you, though!!!!

Lizzie :)

Title: Re: big bucks meds
Post by cootie on Mar 2nd, 2006, 7:46pm
THANKS guys.......all INPUT is great. My doc said I NEED to take that wierd calcium stuff that's rediculously expenisve cuz if I don't and let this go (it's not osteoperosis YET) I could walk past sumthin and bump my ass and break my hip or fall and do that. I fall alot cuz of all the shit I do and get stumbly off and on with the stiff messed up bad back also. He said I have signs of bone weakening in my neck and hip and they want to prevent it gettin real brittle. He knows how ACTIVE I am or try to be. And ridein on the backa the bike I sure would hate to start fractures hittin bumps and chuckholes....and I don't want a dam HUMP on my back either that stuff can cause cuz of tiny fractures over and over and then healing and causeing wierd stuff so ya get that aweful old lady haunch. But.....in these days and times it doesn't seem rite to go blowing 75 bucks a month on one pill ya take forever once a month. I think the fosomox is about 50 bucks a pill but ya gotta take one every week !!! He said the over the counter stuff will NOT do a dam thing to strengthen my weaken'd areas. But I'd like to know if there are other types even if taken daily that are scripts that would work to ask for ? Are we jus payin the BIG BUCKS for the convieinence of takein the pill once a week or a month ? I can do daily if I have to but YEAH that crap has GAWD AWEFUL side effects. Just the over the counter citrical calcium vit D caused SEVERE heartburn and I'd sit down and BARF. How lady like is that............burp.......oops anyone got a towel !!!??? And I am NOT gonna fall for payin for the shit when times are gettin tougher and find out years later the shit is JUNK. Yeah tanner I've tried that stuff ya mentiond and recently heard it does NOT work like it was first thought but sumone got RICH on the craze when it first got popular. Got a script for lyrica to help with that BURNING from nerve damage in my back arms and legs too and it is kinda like neurontin.......ICK.......that stuff made me drunk actin and has bad side effects. I twitched when I took it and had bad spasms. I mean......I jus dunno what to think anymore of all these meds......they can cause extreme problems and sum stuff irriversible. So ya take more stuff to help new ailments ya caused......and so on and so on and so on. I jus am gettin confused here with all this. I have pain meds.....and no bad side effects and no feelin drousey or goofy or nothin but it's not solvein anythin. Comfort over cure Pam

Thanks for lettin me spill my crap here. I do NOT want to become a finacial burden at home with stuff yer told ya gotta take or bust up like a china doll. Who needs to throw money away like that !? Thanks again for listenin !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I needed to "talk" !!!!

Title: Re: big bucks meds
Post by chewy on Mar 2nd, 2006, 7:55pm

Quote:
I do NOT want to become a finacial burden at home with stuff yer told ya gotta take or bust up like a china doll. Who needs to throw money away like that !


It will cost more to put the broken China Doll back together than it will to keep her from breaking.

I didn't even know you were Chinese. Thats explains the lampshade hat!

Title: Re: big bucks meds
Post by Kris_in_SJ on Mar 2nd, 2006, 8:16pm
I vote for the one pill a month - expensive as it is.

Fact is, the most recent research suggests that even high dose Calcium/Vitamin D supplements do nothing to prevent or reverse bone loss.  This came as quite a shock to me and other women I know.

I can also tell you that strength training - like lifting weights is excellent at building bone strength.  If you can't afford a gym, just try lifting a couple 1 lb. cans of vegetables several times a day - about ten reps each time.  You could also try tying them to your ankles to do leg lifts.  Not trying to be funny, though it would probably look funny!

Do whatever you have to do to avoid broken bones!

Kris

Title: Another vote for the...
Post by Richr8 on Mar 2nd, 2006, 8:59pm
...strenght training.  It's generally accepted that strength training will strenghten bone and minimize or eliminate bone loss.

Rich

Title: Re: big bucks meds
Post by Dragnlance on Mar 2nd, 2006, 10:13pm
Rant away Pam, and do not worry that you are unpopular. That will not happen because of this. Family is here to help, even if it is only to listen.

Rich is correct, in that strength training can slow bone loss.

Title: Re: big bucks meds
Post by cootie on Mar 2nd, 2006, 10:26pm
I work out every day......well at least 5 days a week I mean......I bought a weight bench years ago with everything ! (I wanna try and keep peices parts where they belong but sure hate to blow it and they 'break off' tho cuz of bone loss). I watch my diet too and am very active. So.....that blows that theory. But......I have severe injuries to my neck and back so am wondering if 'those' areas are what are showing the loss ? Had a bone density not long ago test. Had some spectacular horse wrecks when raceing and really messed up a hip years ago and half my butt is still numb and 'dented' which caused the back problem too. The test showed bone loss in my neck and hip starting. (osteopena) So that's my breaking story Pam

Yeah I am hearing the over the counter stuff don't work or do squat.......heard that about glucosomene too. All that money people spend on heath stuff that don't really work is jus so WRONG ! Legal ripoffs !!!!! I've bored ya's all long enuff.  8)

Title: Re: big bucks meds
Post by Melissa on Mar 2nd, 2006, 10:35pm
I didn't know osteoperosis was caused by damaged bones?  I thought it was more genetic?

Title: Re: big bucks meds
Post by cootie on Mar 2nd, 2006, 10:48pm
My bone density test showed the first stages called osteopena (just shows some bone getting weaker or not as dense) in my neck and my hip.....both areas were the sites of some of my more serious injuries. So I jus wonder'd if the injured areas were where it was weaker and if there could be any connection. (forgot to ask) There's three stages of osteoperosis doc said......first one is ya DON'T have it.....second is the start of some loss of bone strength called osteopena......third stage is ya got it which would be osteoperosis and brittle enuff to break easy. He wants me to prevent the worse stage but I gotta take that high dollar pill. They say I am small framed and that makes ya more prone. Snap crackle Pam

Title: Re: big bucks meds
Post by Melissa on Mar 2nd, 2006, 10:56pm
well that just sucks. :(   My grandma has osteoperosis, so I know what that can do to you, but didn't know about the stages beforehand.

Grandma takes Fossimax...is that something you could take?

Title: Re: big bucks meds
Post by Lizzie2 on Mar 2nd, 2006, 11:09pm
Steroids also cause osteoporosis.

My osteopenia is from taking prednisone and other steroid tapers.

Neither of my grandmothers have osteoporosis, and I don't think my mom has had a bone density test yet.

I don't like to think about this stuff at age 25!

Title: Re: big bucks meds
Post by cootie on Mar 2nd, 2006, 11:36pm
The fosomox is the one that's bout 50 bucks or more a pill and ya take one a week. So a montly script would be 4 pills at HOW MUCH ??? I suppose if yer insurence pays almost all of it 'who cares' but with alot of that new stuff it's not always on the list of meds insurence co's are willing to pay much of. So either way fosomox would still prolly cost "me" at least 150 a month and I have decent ins.....it just doesn't pay alot on sum meds for sum reason. Ambien runs me 75 bucks a script.........the generic brand too I mite add !! The INSANITY of it all Pam  :-/

Lets not leave out side effects either......can't lay down witin an hour of takein the calcium stuff or it will eat your esophogus ?

You are pretty young lizzie to have that stuff goin on.....I never took steroid stuff either tho. Never even smoked till a few years back and then it was only social......not doin that either now. Guess I have spent alot of time goin downhill in a silent manor.  

Title: Re: big bucks meds
Post by sandie99 on Mar 3rd, 2006, 4:02am
Pam,

vent away here anytime. Here's some more  [smiley=hug.gif]s... :)

I started to think about osteoporosis now... How much calcium a day is the recommended amout there in the US? Back here in Finland it's 800mg.

Sanna



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