Hi Priya, I totally agree with Phyllis about how lucky most of us are when it comes to health treatment in our country compared to yours. But I'm happy that at least you have access to inexpensive medications and Drs, such as they are, in your country.
I only have to look into my backyard to find people here in the US that have no health or prescription coveraged for any type of medical treatment. The numbers of questions we get about this is very discouraging, when someone has to decide about paying the rent or getting one osteo prescription medication filled.
I hope the new health plan is approved here, but I suspect that Brand name drugs won't be covered (just my opinion) which only leaves one option for osteo treatment (generic Fosamax). That's not much of a choice, unless your able to take that medication.
The other problem I've been seeing is the price gouging the drug companies are involved in, in anticipation of the government lowering the price of brand name drugs by 50%, as they are discussing. Some drugs have double or tripled in price in the last few weeks so this 50% reduction, if it's approved, will still be much higher in cost than what the retail cost was several weeks ago by many dollars.
Well that's my rant for now, but thanks Priya for you honest account of the problems you constantly face in your country, but know you aren't alone it's happening here too, at an alarming rate.
Thanks for sharing your story in such wonderful detail.
Dear Pam and Phyllis,
Many thanks for liking my interview! I am so glad you appreciate the situation here where we have followed the western system of "allopathic" treatment as they call it for years, ever since the advent of the British here over 200 years ago. It helped eradicate smallpox and malaria to some extent and brought a boon for bone surgeries, and there was the wonderful gift of the antibiotics. There were people who used to die of strep throat in the days before that. There is still the scourge of tuberculosis.
Though drugs are by and large cheap and affordable by the poor -- but that is not so for the very expensive drugs like those which come for liver infections. One of the greatest problems in medicines here has to do with "spurious" drugs, fake drugs expertly put in nice packing, and which are really ineffective and even dangerous. The other factor is the large number of quacks proliferating in every town and village --people without any degree practising medicine and handing out antibiotics etc. Sometimes they do a lot of good, however, when they hit upon the right disease and the right medicine. In my home town of Mussoorie there is a particular market where quacks flourish by the dozens and people flock to them!! Many of them give out Herbs and say that the formula was handed down to them by their ancestors!! Surprisingly many patients do get relief and that is what contributes to their proliferation!!
As for osteoporosis I was astonished at the ignorance about this subject in men and women both here! They dont know what I am talking about when I tell them about it!!The American women are by far much more enlightened and vocal on the subject and indeed more conscious of medical aid than people here -- who are content in getting "anything they want"!
I do not know what Obama's health plan is since we get no news of it here-- but if it provides for free aid and cheaper medicines then it would be a boon there. But I believe many people disagree with it there and I have little knowledge why.
Thanks so much for your attention and advice as also your continued concern and love, which keeps me going high up and far away in the Himalayan Mountains here! I shall try to bring about a greater awareness in people and ask them to come to this wonderful site and to meet the wonderful folk here -- like yourselves, whose advice could be life saving and more precious than any they would ever get anywhere else in the world.
Thank you again,
Yours,
Priya
Hi Priya, good to hear from you again. The stories about the medical care there with the fake drugs is so disheartening. It's wonderful though, that you are making it your personal mission to educate your friends and family about osteoporosis. Can I ask how you got interested in this topic and where you got most of your information?
Please send any friends you have to our site, we'd love to include them as members and share with them along with you, on the latest information we have.
Keep up the good fight of educating those around you about this disease, I'm sure it will help so many, and give yourself a pat on the back for being so caring about this issue and diligent in the spread of knowledge on this topic.
Post again anytime...
Take Care up there in those gorgeous mountains,
Pam
Dear Pam,
Thanks for your encouragement. As to where I learnt about osteoporosis was when I first had a hamstring stretch in 2007 at the age of 65 in New Delhi ! After the DEXA scans and conufusion I started visiting Google Search on the web, typing the word "osteoporosis" and trying to to read as much as I could possibly do on the subject. It was there that I found the National Osteoporosis Foundation and then OsteoporosisConnecion.com -- both of which sites led me to you! So here I am benefiting from both.
Yes I will go on trying to make people aware of this site and the discussions here, though most Indian women are much too reserved and shy and reticent to speak of their ailments before "strangers!" Most of them speak in the Hindi language which makes them reticent about writing in English. Also when they are told this is a "silent" disease without any symptoms they lose all interest in the subject -- arthritis and rheumatic pain is something they all understand and take medicines for, but osteoporosis? They think I must be out of my mind to discuss an "invisible" disease. Some say philosophically -- death is also an invisible disease, so what can we do about it? In India people have got into the mindset -- since centuries -- of only going to a doctor when something goes wrong -- like pain or fever or a fracture!!
But there was a time when smallpox and malaria were rampant and then they started on vaccinations and preventive medicine, even for Tuberculosis -- so I hope to convince them of the need for preventive medicine -- but here the disease has already begun within them, it isnt even preventive, it is therapeutic. Convincing them is another story. If this is the state of the emancipated Hindu women, you can imagine what will be the state of the Muslim women who are habitually in a "burqa" the long veil that covers from head to toe!!! They will never get Vitamin D for sure!!
What we are dealing with here is the veil of ignorance amongst Indian women -- and I am talking about the relatively educated women. For the villagers, you cant even discuss these matters and a computer is a non-entity for them. They may not see one for several years to come!! Did you know that even now 75% of the people live in villages? It is only the fortunate few like myself who were reared and brought up in cities and western schools, so I have much to be thankful for -- and I must add that to my New Year's resolutions!!
With Best wishes and thanks,
Yours,
Priya
Dear Pam,
People who have read your interview of me -- or who had had the interview translated to them -- have come to me and told me of their comments. Sadly they do not have computers and are not computer savvy -- which is the case with many homes in Inda, however they have left their comments with me.
Everyone I have talked to lauds your special abilities and your special interest in humanity all over the world, and they speak highly of you and osteoporosisconnection.com!!
Is there any way I can post these comments on their behalf over here?
Best wishes and thanks,
Yours,
Priya
Dear Pam,
I must thank you for the very illuminating interview with nathji -who
I call Mr. Mehta here. It clearly tells us that we have to be aware
of this silent disease. I still have very little knowledge about it --
as do millions of Indian women, who havent even heart the name and may
be never will. Now I know where to turn if I ever need advice on the
bones -- to come to your site where you will be there to answer our
questions and to spread greater awareness in this part of the world on
a subject of such great importance. Most Indians have a fracture and
then think they must haave fallen due to dizziness or weakness -- it
would never occure to anyone that the bone could simply give way
because it had become hollow!!And that is what happens!! Please go on
enmlightening us with more such interviews!!
Your admirer in India
Ujwalanath
Mussoorie
UK, India
Dear Ujwalanath, thanks so much for your comments and to Priya for posting them. I'm not sure if I'm addressing Priya correctly anymore, but since this is what I've called him for some time, I hope it's ok.
Yes fractures can occur from a fragility fracture which is a non-traumatic fall from a standing height, so do be careful. I wish there were some way to get computers to you dear people, since here in the US they are a disposable commodity.
Calcium, vitamin D and exercise will help to stregthen your bones if you aren't on medication or choose not to take any, so try to incorporate these things in your daily life, if you can. Possibly you are already doing so. There are some things you can watch for even though osteoporosis is a silent disease, and that is loss of height or a rounding of the upper back usually considered poor posture. If you can get a heel scan or DXA that will tell you what your t-score is which just lets you know how much bone you've lost.
Thanks for your wonderfully kind words and come back to our site anytime you can, even if that's through Priya kindness and help.
Take Care...
Dear Pam,
It was a wonderful interview and was my first experience reading about
such a dangerous disease which comes on silently without any symptoms
almost like a ghost! I am beginning to learn so much about it from
nathji who has a computer and internet connection, and he tells us
what he learns from you -- and he says he has learnt a lot. You will
not find a single doctor or anyone else like you who is so
self-scarificing that being in such ysical pain yourself you are
helping so many people and yur knowledge is even better than that of
many doctors -- who seldom to the net for ne knowledge as you do!!
Many, many thanks -- go on writing more and we shall all have it
explained to us in the Hindi language and get our thoughts translated
into English and placed on this wonderful site meant to help so many
people all over the world! This site is like heaven and people like
you are Angels on the site to help mankind! I am 36 years old and dont
have any disease but now I have beenmade aware to fight the invisible
enemy for which I must thank you.
Thank you,
Yours,
Manoj Narsikar
Hi Manoj, welcome to our community and thanks so much for your kind reply. Do you have access to a library where you can read about these things? If so that may help to explain this problem better.
For us in the US osteoporosis is a relatively new concept in medicine and it's treatments started with estrogen and calcitonin prior to the bisphosphonates which came out in the mid 1990's. My grandmother had osteoporosis so I knew some about it when I was younger, but it wasn't something that many discussed or treated.
I think most of us are still torn on which treatment is safe and we each have to find the right solution for ourselves. All treatments come with baggage in the form of side effects, so finding what's right for you is the best thing.
Thanks again for the lovely comments and good luck.
Dear Pam,
Both I and my sister were diagnosed with osteoporosis after Mr. Mehta,
nathji, had got us examined by a DEXA scan when we were in New Delhi
in 2007. I took Risophos tablets weekly, which Mr. Mehta says is the
same thing as ACtonel. I dont think I experienced anything bad -- only
the stomach trouble. But I was frequently depressed and also had
repeated infections and pain in the legs. I got a DEXA scan done after
two years and the osteoporosis was changed to osteopenia, an
improvement. Thereafter I stopped taking it and am feeling fine and
living in Nagpur in Central India where modern medical aid iseasily
available and there is even an ultra-modern hospital made in
collaboration with Harvard in the US. I will try to get to a computer
whenever I can and read your articles. you are such a kind and helpful
person and the people of the world are all proud of you! I am 60 years
old.
Yours,
Mangla Tekade,
Nagpur
Welcome Mangla... So good to hear you've had improvements and not too many side effects from Risophos. Priya has been a great friend to you and all the others spreading his wisdom and knowledge and that is wonderful.
I hope you continue to improve and I look forward to hearing from you again.
Take Care and thanks again for your words of encouragement.
Dear Pam,
I am 72 years old and Mr. Mehta has always called me his sister and
treated me as such. There was a time when he asked you of my elevated
calcium -- and you gave such wonderful advice that it stopped all my
worries. The Calicum levels were touching 11 but are now back to 10.
Your help and advice at that time can never be forgotten. Subsequently
Mr. Mehta had got a DEX scan done for me and it showed I had very bad
osteoporosis!! That was the cause of the high calcium. I am living in
Nagpur -- and I went to a doctor there who said I should take
injections of 600,000 IU of Vitamin D! He also said I should take
injections of steroids for strength. I havent taken them as yet. He
did not advise any Actonel etc, or biophosphonates! I dont know why,
he is a famous orthopedist in Nagpur!!
What is important is how you are ready at any time of the day or night
to help anyone in the world!! Wow!! What a gift you are to humanity.
Mr. Mehta ad compared you to a candle that lives in fire itself while
giving light to others! We were so sorry to know you had such pain in
the back and leg and still sat for such long hours on the computer
answering everyone!! There are very very few people like you in the
world-- I would come to osteoporosis and have it explained to me by
others if only to be able to meet you there!
Thank you so much for everything you have done for Nathji and for
everyone!
Yours,
Sudha Tekade,
Nagpur
Maharashtra
Hi Sudha, oh so you are the sister Priya refers to in such a loving way. I remember when he first came to this community asking about hypercalcemia, which I had for a time, but know very little about. I'm glad your calcium levels have improved but hope you will keep an eye on them since they shouldn't get too high.
It sounds like you are doing better as well and I'm so glad for that! I wish you all could have computers so we could talk more.
Thanks for joining us and the best of luck to you too!!
Dear Pam,
I am a 29 year old Homeopathic lady doctor with a full fledged degree in
the subject from a recognised college in the country. Although I dont
have osteoporosis I found your interview with Nathji of great
importance to all of us, men or women. We in homeopathy call this
disease "brittle bones" and have our own medicines for it -- like
Calcarea Phos 30, which is safe. Many people benefit from Homepathic
medicines and many done -- but they dont have the unpleasant side
effects of biophosphonates!! I am sure your interview will be an
eye-opener to Indian women -- who need to be made aware of this
disease. I had treated an elderly lady with rhematic pains but I am
sure she had osteoporosis, although she was not ware of it. We in
homepathy go on symptoms and for a symptomless disease its hard to
diagnose anything. I know homepathy helped her aches and pains and
even sponyliosis.
your article should be made available all over the world to awaken
women to this risk. People in India listen more to advice from the US
than from Indian doctors! You are better informed than any doctor here
even with his or her degree!!
Thank you so much for being such a help to people all over the world.
We cannot even imagine the existence of such helpful sites in the
world. I know of many homeopathic sites where they charge money to
give advice!! What a great gift OsteoporosiCommection and you are to
the people of the world. I wish more people had computers here -- but
few people here can afford computers and fewer still can afford the
internet connection!! Women rarely speak of their illnesses in writing
and that is the greatest drawback-- they will disclose them in private
and before the doctors, but it would be difficult to bring them out to
write and "discuss" about their illnesses. American women are much
better informed in medical science than Indian women ever will be for
centuries! Please go on guiding women everywhere as well as men, like
Nathji!!
Yours,
Dr. Nisha Khosla
Simla
H.P., India
Hi Dr. Nisha Khosla, you have such an interesting job, I'd love to hear more about it. What is Calcarea Phos 30? Homeopathy is a very popular form of treatment here as well, and many are turning to it since they don't want to deal with the side effects of drugs. You must get a lot of satisfaction knowing you are helping those with natural products. Did you also say you can treat Spondylolisthisis with homeopathy? That would be very interesting to hear about. In the US, most have to have surgery to fix that unless it's a mild form of it and can be treated with exercise.
Thanks for your lovely review of my posts. It's the people who come here that keep all of us patient experts going since they are the impetus for our work. If we can help in some small way it makes it all worth the time, and we get much more in return from you all than you'll ever know.
And again thanks to Priya (Mr. Mehta) for bringing you all to us here at the osteoporosisconnection.com you are what makes this a valuable community, without the members we'd be just another Internet site.
Take Care...
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HI Priya, just wanted to tell you that i enjoyed reading your interview with Pam. I always learn something new when i read a post of yours. Thank you for sharing the day to day things you with living in a country where medical care isn't as available as it is here. You always make me stop and think about the things i take for granted. take care. phyllis