Best of luck to you. Its what we have to live with.right? I have something different- Tennitus. and its a daily problem that cannot be cured! it does make life alot harder. and I wish you too can cope with, and hold on tight. Its a battle most have no idea what to say or do. But we are strong as we continue our lives right?  I try to have many moments of spiritual reflection.of any kind. think of a lake-& the wind blowing- beautiful moments like this and take away the pain for just a moment. It makes me feel good. I hope you are doing Ok and dont ever give up on yourself. Have a good day!  God Bless you.  Ron

Hey!

So that's not so cool that you already have Osteoporosis, but if Predinisone is the only thing that works, then its well worth it I would say. They believe my Osteoporosis may also be the result of Prednisone overload, but the reason I take it is because of my Asthma.  It's gotten really bad since I have gotten older and so I have had to be on Prednisone more and it weakend my bones, which were already weak from Osteogenesis Imperfecta. Anywho, I hope the fosamax works for you, but if it doesn't ask your doctor about Forteo. It is a relatively new Osteoporosis medication that you take everyday through injection. It works in a different way than all other Osteoporosis meds. I am on it, so if you want more info let me know :)

Brianna

hey! So I saw your comment to Larissalle, and how you are on and off prednisone and I want to warn you to becarefull about that! I have been on and off of Prednisone most of my life because of my asthma. I recently was diagnosed with Osteoporosis and they believe that it was because I was on and off Prednisone, well really jus on it so much. So just make sure you talk to your doctor about how safe it is for your bones and that you make sure your Vit. D and Calcium levels are optimal!

Just thought I would caution you so it doesn't happen to you like it did me!

Brianna

Hi, Cherie, Thanks for your post on my profile.  I just met someone over Thanksgiving who has the polymyalgia rhumea as you do.  I just read that vitamin D has to be treated differently for people with this condition.  I will see if I can find the source that stated this and let you know if you want to follow up on it.  I would also have your doctor(s) contact the experts listed on my profile to get more info about this because the last thing you want is to have your vitamin D not treated correctly.  It was nice to hear from you.  I hope that you eventually find all the answers and get better.  I'll be back in touch.  Also, I see in one of your posts that you're taking neurontin.  Neurontin is known to lower vitamin D, so your doctors need to take this into consideration as well. 

Hi, Cherie, 

I just responded about the vit D issue. About your back, look at a company called Spinal Kinetics in Sunnyvale, CA, in case an artificial disc is an option for you.  They have one of the most innovative spinal disc replacement technologies out there.  They started by selling in Germany and quickly became one of the top sellers as their product was that good.  Their disc mimicks the body's own disc better than anything else on the market.  I know about it as I saw a lecture about it for one of my classes in bio-engineering.  I have never heard anyone who was completely satisfied with back surgery, so be careful, but if you are considering an artificial disc, this is the one to consider.  I don't know if they are selling a lumbar disk, it might only be cervical right now in the US, but check it out.

Larissa

Hi, Cherie,

Thanks for your message. Yes, I read your bio. I think that the back problems are separate, but I will eat my shirt if you don't have a vitamin D deficiency for the rest. One of my symptoms that I didn't mention in my bio was swollen legs. I'm not sure they were not noticeable to others, but it felt like my skin was tightening like a stretched balloon.  This has slowly gone away in the last 4 mo's on vit D and magnesium. *If you do have a deficency,* be sure to ask for a vitamin D specialist. And, if you do see a specialist, ask the following four questions.  If you don't get the answers I give below, ask for another opinion, and keep doing this till you get someone who gives the correct answers: Question (1) I have a vitamin D deficiency. Will taking 400IUs of vitamin D every day help me?  Correct Answer: If you have a deficiency, 400 IU's will help but not much. 100 IU's will raise your level by approximately 1 ng/ml. We need to look at your blood level and make sure you take an appropriate amount to raise your level. 2) What is the correct blood level? Correct Answer: 30-100 ng/ml is considered the normal range, and recent research indicates that 40-60 ng/ml is optimal. 3) Do I also need blood tests to check my magnesium, calcium, phosphorous, and parathyroid hormone?  Correct Answer: It is a good idea to check these, especially when you are vitamin D deficient.  Let's check how much you are getting of these from your diet as well and make any necessary adjustments.  4) who are some of the top researchers in vit D? Correct Answer: MF Holick, R. Vieth, W. Grant.  I hope this helps.  Good luck.  And, it sounds like it's your sense of humor that's been keeping you going, not the drugs. ;-)   

Thank you Larissalle.

I have been check for every thing under the sky.

I am planning to copy your profile and take with me to my Doctor to see if.

Maybe he has missed something..

Thank you again..

I hoping you did read all of my Profile/aboutmy self

I do have several health issues...??

Peace

Cherie

My Dear, please promise me that you will get your vitamin D level checked.  It is being found that vitamin D deficiency causes fibromyalgia, and 50-78% of the US population is vitamin D deficient.  See my profile for more vitamin D info and know that my writeup comes from consulting with 22 doctors for a very painful condition that lasted about 4 years and landed me in bed for almost a year.  Do not listen to your doctor is your vit D level is low or low/normal and he/she says to take 400 IU's as mine did.  This is flat out wrong.  Ask to see a specialist in vitamin D if this happens.  This may not be the answer to all of your problems, but, in my experience, it probably will be for many of them.  I'm about your age.  I can't tell you how many people in the pain clinic I'm going to have come to thank me for telling them about my vitamin D deficiency (and magnesium deficiency) story.  Please, get your vitamin D level checked. 

hey i know what you mean when the dump happens my lap dog took a dump also it was on me.i think it was something she ate but then again maybe not ...females,story of my life,always dumping on me or dumping me off...anyway im glad everything is ok with you and when i get time it will be more jokes coming your way.say hi to your family and take care....mike

Hey Cherie, Just wanted to stop by and say hi and to let you know that I was thinking of you and hoping that things are looking up for you. I just got news today that I go the 12th of this month for them to start the injections in the C4 through C7 area and I am really scared. I have been hurting it seems like more everyday lately. The one thing that bothers me the most is not being able to sleep at night. I can't lay on my left side or my back so I am stuck laying on the right and it gets so sore. I am up and down all night long. My husband says its like I sleep 10 minutes and up 30 every night any more. I hope the injections will help to where we can both get some sleep cause I am always waking him up moving around so much. I also have RLS which is restless leg syndrome and that drives me crazy at night. But I just wanted to wish you well and let you know that I am praying for you...                                                          Kathy