I asked my PCP in Jan for a DEXA scan to get an all clear to proceed with rotator cuff surgery (it has bone anchors). Come to find out that I have osteoporosis @ just 60 yrs old. My PCP just ordered generic Fossamax, and did not bother to explain the numbers/report. I made an appt to get report, get information, and ask for a non oral tx. She did not appreciate my questions. (She is no longer my PCP.)

Referred me to my rheumatologist who told me that my osteoporosis was "very bad" and that the meds the PCP prescribed were inadequate for my case. That office just spent 2 months battling the ins company to get approval for Evenity injections. On the advice of my good RN friend, I asked my rheum why this was so severe when I am relatively young. He ordered a single lab test (PTH) - which shows that value is well beyond the normal range. Told not to start Evenity tx. @#$%@#$%!!! Had to go back to my brand new PCP to get the endocrinologist referral that my rheum wanted (two week delay for that appt, turns out that I get to see a new temp APRN who told me to buy better insurance if I had a problem with the delays my HMO has. Lord have mercy!). Then it looks to be a minimal of another 2 months to get into the endocrinologist. The cause is most likely a non-CA tumor on my parathyroid. But could be related to my Lymphoma DX - although it is rare. Looking at the big picture, this could explain why I continue to feel fatigue, have GI issues, pain, sleep disturbances - and overall just feel off. I am about 18 months out from my CA dx and whipple surgery to remove the obstruction. My last Lymphoma check in March was "good". My last Breast CA check in April was "good". It showed more masses but nothing that they thought warranted another biopsy - likely non CA like the rest.

The reason for this long message is: Drs are so often only looking for the obvious things specific to their area of expertise that they completely discount everything else.

PLEASE be consistent in reporting your symptoms, ask questions, self-advocate and be relentless. "It is your life - and you only get one." says the "girl" that is one fall away from a hip replacement or other life altering accident that could literally break me (in a bunch of pieces).

Hugs to you all!

Dearest Sue10,

You are singing to the choir... :-). I am a nurse (2nd career LPN) that only worked in LTC with geriatrics for about 3 years and took care of my Dad for his last 5 years). I am not stupid or over the top emotional but I am done being nice and compliant (ie- smile and just be thrilled with whatever I am told). I read labs, and all the reports/notes. I research to the best of my ability. Yes, Dr Google does come into play. It is hard to be patient and effective when you are allotted maybe 10 minutes of a Dr's time and have to be mindful of your words/tone and learn how to kiss butt too. I have to say that when I am miserable which was for many, many, months and/or frustrated, my fuse and ability to deal with things is short/diminished. I don't yell (okay - I did raise my voice to my 1st hospital GI - the man was telling me to eat and drink a normal diet when HE did the EGD that shows I had a 100% obstruction.) You can't fix someone /the expert, that is telling you your stomach was "normal" (noted in his official report in addition to the bile duct obstruction, a hiatal hernia and gastritis was found. Sorry, those aren't normal. I thought later, I should have eaten what he suggested and then made him stay so I could vomit on him. Sad but true. Such are my hindsight musings). He was his GI group's expert in my type of problem? Lord help his other patients. I was upset when my hospitalist stopped in. I saw him speaking to the GI later and my hospital SW. I was so ill at the time, it did not occur to me to ask for a different Dr. LOL Live and Learn.

Also, my Medical Oncologist orders my DEXA Scans, I do not need to go to PCP or GYN.

My dexa scan was done one week after I started the letrozole. I my self thought why take the scan after starting it and not before. I too also think things should be done differently with these tests but they are in the medical field for this stuff so who am I to say. Not only that some insurances don't pay for these scans until your a certain age any way or at all.

mine was done before I was prescribed any meds I have osteopenia I am on Letrozole now.