Re: Osteoporosis
Friends of ours who were to have gone on a trip with us and several others couples have had to cancel due to the wife's very ill mother. Why would you care? Her mother had been taking Boniva to prevent Osteoporosis. This is excerpted from my friend's email to me.
"To make a really, really long story short, circumstances have changed with my mom that requires us to stay home. About 3 weeks ago, we were playing golf and she was commenting on the fact that she was having difficulty gripping the club due to her right index finger being numb. We thought it was just a pinched nerve."
"In the meantime, the numbness progressed and after two visits to the emergency room and then admission to the hospital here we are. She is still in the hospital after 12 days with numbness throughout her entire body. It seems that she is having a negative reaction to the drug Boniva. This is the osteoporosis drug that Sally Fields promotes on TV as the once a month pill. My mom did not have osteoporosis, but the doctor gave it to her for prevention. Well, instead of it increasing her calcium, phosphates, and Vitamin D in her body, it completely depleted her body of all those nutrients. It has left her numb from head to toe. At this point she is still in the hospital trying to stabilize. She is now able to talk, move her mouth, eat soft foods, and close her eyes. I have been with her for the last 12 days.
The doctors indicate that she will make a full recovery, but it will take 6-12 months. Once her system stabilizes, she will then have to go into a rehab facility to learn how to walk again. We are continuing with our plans to sell her home and move her closer. We are going under the assumption that she will recover.
We are so sorry that we have to cancel our trip, but I know you will all understand. We are all in that time of life, where our parents need our extra care. Our goal is to get her well and back on the golf course. She is 81 and in great shape otherwise."
Just a thought to consider when taking a new drug.
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