Betty - Interview 31
More about me...
Her diagnosis came about when she paid to have a whole body MRI scan done four years ago. She was referred to a rheumatologist and she was initially put on Fosamax but she suffered with very bad bloating and her treatment was changed to Pamidronate infusions every three months. Betty says that after each infusion she feels a bit rough and has noticed that her skin gets drier.
Betty lives in the outskirts of a big city and it takes her around one hour to get to her...

Betty lives in the outskirts of a big city and it takes her around one hour to get to her...
I had them for two years. I had eight of them in two years and then due to the transport problems in getting to [name] hospital in, no, sorry getting to the hospital in the centre of [city], due to the bombings and everything and also my increasing disability I couldn’t travel on the tube I had to stop treatment because the hospital was right down in the centre of [city] and on the central line. The last time I went there was in July 2006. I then saw the specialist again there. He said, “Oh oh, leave it for a year.” Was twenty second of May 2007 and said then when I saw him that I really couldn’t manage to get down into [city] because my daughter had to come with me that time.
Betty uses many complementary therapies. Acupuncture helps her the most because it helps her to...

Betty uses many complementary therapies. Acupuncture helps her the most because it helps her to...
Say supplements I tend to, I’ve got another very good company in [city] which gives you they’ve got a very, very good catalogue and I was recommended to them by dietician, a natural dietician, not the health service. When I first came here she used them and they’re excellent. They have a wonderful, you can always ring up their service department and they’ll give you any advice as to what things go together and what things not what affect things have. And for things like specialised acidophilus and things like that. They they’re excellent because they have extremely high standards of production and everything so I tend to research rather than go and buy at the local multiple store.
So you phone them to place orders?
I phone them and oh yes, I mean the herbal place you phone before
one of a day and the thing’s here on your doorstep the next day. You have to pay postage but what’s two pounds for postage when it costs me eight pounds for a taxi.
And you have been using complementary medicines for quite a while now?
Oh, for many, many years now yes, yes, yes. I got, oh, must be I suppose around the time when [daughter] was ill which was when she was eighteen so that’s over forty years, thirty, forty years ago when I first started being interested in complementary medicines and yoga. And things like that.
The acupuncture in the best help. Because it makes you relax and again, you have to be very, very careful on the acupuncturist. I’ve got an extremely good lady. She was trained in the East many years ago. She’s a fully qualified doctor in it and she’s been practising over here for twenty years so she’s a very, very qualified person. But I have tried some here locally. One, I was absolutely horrified with. He had to consult his book as to where to put the needles in and yes, he was on the official register because I wouldn’t have gone to one without looking up the official register. And I also tried the centre [name]. They were excellent but they were all young doctors from China recently qualified and for me, the treatment was too strong. It didn’t seem to be adjusted for the Western metabolism. I imagine they trained in the East and they were used to their diet and treating with the diet of the people over there. It might have been better for a younger person but I found it was too strong for me, made me very tense. And the people themselves were lovely. Some of the therapists were absolutely gorgeous. But it just, as I say, it was too strong, a treatment for me.
Before she was diagnosed with osteoporosis Betty's acupuncturist who was also a trainee osteopath...

Before she was diagnosed with osteoporosis Betty's acupuncturist who was also a trainee osteopath...
Betty's level of disability has increased significantly over the last six months but she's not...

Betty's level of disability has increased significantly over the last six months but she's not...
And all this had added to my disability because my knee has now got twisted, this has nothing to do with osteoporosis, sorry my knee has now got twisted and I’m having I’ve just got some new insoles but not from the hospital.
Betty feels rushed during her GP appointment and wishes there was more time for discussion.

Betty feels rushed during her GP appointment and wishes there was more time for discussion.
Betty uses the Dial a Ride scheme to get about or sometimes she takes a taxi.

Betty uses the Dial a Ride scheme to get about or sometimes she takes a taxi.
Betty gets involved in many of the social activities organised in her sheltered accommodation but...

Betty gets involved in many of the social activities organised in her sheltered accommodation but...
Betty avoided dairy products for many years because it seemed to make her pain worse from her...

Betty avoided dairy products for many years because it seemed to make her pain worse from her...
Tablets.