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Carlene,

Thanks for writing back! It is not boring at all. I think it's wonderful that you can spend so much time with your daughter and grandsons. Does that make up a little for being farther away from your friends? I know what you mean about too much alone time. Especially since you spent so many years of your life raising a family and running a business. Are there any opportunities in Tehachapi for volunteering? Have you visited the Tehachapi Library? I found this story that they need volunteers from just a couple weeks ago:

http://www.tehachapinews.com/home/ViewPost/109600

What kind of business did you used to run?

Regarding the Zometa, the tough thing is that drugs interact with everyone differently. Sometimes you just have to find the information you can and then try.

In this page about Zometa side effects:

http://cancer.emedtv.com/zometa/zometa-side-effects.html

here's what it says:

"As with any medicine, side effects are possible with Zometa® (zoledronic acid); however, not everyone who takes the medication will experience side effects. In fact, most people tolerate it quite well. If side effects do occur, in most cases, they are minor and either require no treatment or can easily be treated by you or your healthcare provider."

Here are the most common side effects they list:

•Nausea -- in up to 46 of people
•Fever -- up to 44.2 percent
•Fatigue -- up to 39 percent
•Anemia -- up to 33 percent
•Vomiting -- up to 32 percent
•Constipation -- up to 31 percent
•Diarrhea -- up to 24 percent
•Muscle pain -- up to 23 percent
•Cough -- up to 22 percent
•Joint pain -- up to 21 percent.

Many of those side effects could be treated with another medicine, if you and your doctor felt that the Zometa might really help you.

An even smaller population of people (8 to 20 percent) had these side effects:

•Headaches
•Dizziness
•Abdominal pain (stomach pain)
•Weight loss (see Zometa and Weight Loss)
•Back pain
•Unusual sensations, such as tingling or burning
•Arm or leg pain
•Loss of appetite
•Bladder infection (urinary tract infection or UTI)
•Hair loss
•Yeast infection
•Chills
•Low blood pressure (hypotension)
•Upper respiratory tract infection (such as the common cold)
•Mouth sores
•Sore throat.

And though the following side effects are infrequent, they could be serious:

•Low blood levels of calcium (hypocalcemia), phosphate (hypophosphatemia), and magnesium (hypomagnesemia)
•Decreased urination (which may be a sign of kidney damage)
•Severe bone, muscle, or joint pain
•Jaw or tooth problems
•Signs of an allergic reaction, including unexplained rash, hives, itching, unexplained swelling, wheezing, or difficulty breathing.

And it ends by saying this:

"You may experience some or none of the Zometa side effects listed in this article. Unfortunately, there is no way for your healthcare provider to know beforehand whether you will have side effects from a medicine that you have never tried. Therefore, make sure to let your healthcare provider know if you develop any side effects while taking the drug or if something "just does not seem right." While it may not be a side effect of Zometa, your healthcare provider will be able to diagnose and treat the problem."

Does that help you any? The numbers on what side effects are most and least common?

Please write back and let us know what your doctor says.