I’m sorry to hear that!
Thank you! Yes, this is all very frustrating. My rheumy did not suggest prescribing the delayed release version because it is not available in the UK, not on NHS at least and pharmacies do not stock it, so even if prescribed privately it would need to be imported e.g. from USA, which would be very expensive and possibly not reliable. I am coming to an understanding that there is no safe and reliably effective medication for osteoporosis in the UK or maybe in the world, so we just have to assess risks and benefits and take the plunge one way or another. I initially saw my rheumatologist privately and he then transferred me to his NHS caseload. I would recommend finding one who also works for NHS in your area. I then ended up having all the tests and treatments on the NHS, just paid for the initial consult.
Thanks for this, Gala. I’ve spent some time trying to find a good rheumatologist specialising in osteoporosis/mbd who works both in the NHS and private sector. It’s been really difficult, so I’ve opted for someone who was highly recommended, who does NHS work but not that local to me, but I do also still have an NHS appoinment for later this year. It might work out more expensive but at least I should get good expertise and hopefully correctly diagnosed and treated. It’s unfortunate that the medicine you want is not available in the UK. Concerning too that you feel pretty negative about what is available. I’m new to all this but I hope you find a solution that works for you.