Forteo?

The latest update from the endocrinologist -the specialist here in the Lower Mainland that handles all patients on Forteo has agreed to handle me…I still have to think about it.

My last bone scan at St Paul’s hospital showed a T score around -1.5. Lion’s Gate Hospital got their own machine finally and so the results cannot be compared. However the first scan from LGH showed a bone density of +3. Come on- no one can take that seriously. The lumbar spine had pretty collapsed on itself so it showed up as a nice piece of bone. They put me on Fosamax after the scan (2006) and I had a repeat done this Feb 09. It shows a 10% loss of bone mass in the lumbar spine. That’s the reason they want to put me on Forteo. However, the L spine is not even osteopenic. The hip and forearm are normal for my age…so how about the 3 back surgeries that took bone out of the lumbar area- wouldn’t you think that would show a bone loss. I had bilateral laminectomies at two levels. Microdiscectomies at three. 

It just seems logical that there would be less bone…Less is more in this case.

Modified Reformer Workout with Cardio

Any questions or comments try clicking on the “play” line and add them there or go to Viddler.com/darmorrow/videos/6/

Take care.
Darlene

Introduction to The Spine Video

The Spine Video Blog Click Here

Pain Control, Pilates Reformer and Recovery

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Unilateral Work and Scoliosis

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Lowering Pain Medication

I have reduced the M Eslong in an attempt to get the constipation under control. I am taking 45mg twice a day. I was taking 60mg. I am finding some relief, albeit, very slowly with the constipation. I am playing around with the combination of fiber 3 times a day, lactulose 3 Tbsp, 2 x 240 mg stool softener, 2 Tbsp of the FruitLax. I find that I am so filled with fiber and water I don’t have much appetite.

It’s also becoming more difficult to manage the back pain on the reduced dosage of morphine. I am now in pain pretty much all the time. It’s very frustrating. I think that I will not be able to continue with the decrease. I had hoped that the increase was a temporary measure while surgical pain healed but this is not surgical pain. And it’s very easy to make it worse.

The last surgery was Oct 17 and I feel that the surgical pain should be over and done with. Right now I am dealing with pain from the secondary scoliosis.

I see a surgeon on Friday about the impacted bowel and hopefully he will have something positive to tell me. I do not feel that this a surgical issue.

Purpose of Viddler

So why video blog anyway?

http://www.viddler.com/darmorrow/videos/3/

Recorded video

Second bout of magnesium citrate. Is the bowel segmentally affected by the L1/L2 laminectomy? The neurosurgeon says no but what will the surgeon have to say. I’ll find out next Friday. I feel like I’m on a doctor merry go round. I was always afraid of falling off that when I was a kid. Not much has changed. 🙂

http://www.viddler.com/explore/darmorrow/videos/2/

Good News but more Magnesium Citrate :-(

Had a second x-ray. Really started cramping and my doc wants me to see a surgeon. YUK! Went to see her again because nothing from the surgeon – I could sit her forever in pain waiting. Because of the cramping now she was able to give me meds that have helped tremendously.

The second x-ray totally ruled out a blockage which is fantastic. Still wants me to see a surgeon. Could be twisting in the lower colon from the surgery I had in 1994…

Ordered a second purge and clear fluids though to clean out the colon. Still too much stuff hanging in there. Have to contact the neurosurgeon now to make sure it’s not the result of complications for the Laminectomy…

Feeling Awful

Boy oh boy. Don’t know what I did but I had a really bad night last night. Lots of pain and just couldn’t get comfortable. I got up at 6AM and then ended up going back to bed at 10AM. Now I feel like I have the flu. I got on the elliptical this morning before I was really even awake and after 5 minutes I got off. I could feel pain in my right lower back. I’m hoping this is the flu – you know – hit you in the weak spot and all that. The longer I’m up the more nauseated I’m getting so here’s hoping.

Anyway, the reason I wanted to write the post is because I think that the Bikram’s Yoga has something to do with how I feel. I could be wrong but I’m thinking that maybe the heat is not a good thing because the muscles get artificially warmed up and you go further in a stretch then you would normally. Your body would usually tell you to stop. I don’t know if that is correct or not but even feeling sick can come from the nerves in the neck.

So I am out of the Bikram’s as of now. If I have to chose what to do, it’s going to be the elliptical and the Pilates. And plain, simple stretches. Geez. This is a tough way to learn a lesson.