This is my 5 lot of steroids since the middle of jan does any one think I should be on a maintenance dose

[Decor]

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I do not think this is a possible answer to this as every one is different. I think you need to have a good chat with your GP consultant or resp nurse. It may be worth giving BLF helpline a ring and chatting to on of their nurses. I am on a maintenance dose for rest of my life as long term steroid use have left me with Adrenal gland innsufficency. So i have a weak immune system.

[timber]

It should of course be a medical professional to answer your question,but if it helps ,I was in the same boat ,hardly recovered from one infection and high steroid dose,then another would begin back on a big reducing course again.Took the decision myself to try a low level maintenance course 5mg a day .

It worked discussed it with my excellent GP 8 months later ,his words "the proof is in the pudding,I haven't seen you in 8 months .

I certainly feel much better and can live an almost normal life ,yes there are side effects ,they can be difficult ,but not as bad as not being able to breathe.

Overall my consumption of steroids is lower than before ,but do speak to your medical professionals .

hope this helps.

Woody

[Decor]

Thank you for your input I will talk to my gp about it

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I think I would ask your GP for referral back to the Consultant if you are getting repeated infections which mean the need for repeated courses of steroids. Too regular high dose of prednisolone will start having an affect on bone health. Your best bet as mentioned is to discuss with your consultant whether you may need a maintenance dose, the Consultant can explain what is right for you in your situation.

I am not a medical professional but as a suggestion I would say your situation needs further investigation, to conclude why you are needing the repeated high dose of steroids, perhaps checks on your sputum should also be carried out to be sure the correct treatment medication is prescribed.

I think the Consultant is your best bet to help you with this, although you could ask your GP to have your sputum tested to determine if or to identify any specific bacteria, so results are ready for when you see the consultant.

Good luck, hope you can get this sorted soon.

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Hi Blakey, do you mind me asking what conditions you suffer from? Have just looked at your profile and all that's there is links about bullying which seems a bit odd. George

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Hi George, do you mind me asking why you ask? A lot of people on the site have nothing on their profile at all but that doesn't mean they don't have a lung condition.

I am guessing its a curiosity thing is that correct?

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Hello Blakey, a lot of people don't but we usually get to know one way or another. I don't often post much here but frequently look in and know most the regulars and have picked up what their conditions are one way or another. Many introduce themselves and state their conditions, others come here with a question about their condition which, again, tells us. Noticed you were new and always have a nosey at a new person's profile. If you don't want people to know what your condition is then fair enough but not understandable. And by the way where did I suggest you didn't have a lung condition? What a strange thing to say? George

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That's ok George, you are quite right. Hi I am Blakey, nice to meet you George.

You may get to know about my conditions should I chose to include that in one of my replies to some one, or change my profile or avatar, but I may not choose to do that. I hope because I don't nobody will pre-judge me for that. I might have a very good reason for not posting personal details on my profile and they could be very valid ones.

I thought I knew you from somewhere George but the person I am thinking of had a photo up then and also said they were only diagnosed a couple of years ago. I see from your profile its differs, I guess its easy enough to mistake someone for someone else.

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No, I've never had a picture on my profile and am rarely "active" in the forum so it's very unlikely you would have mistaken me for someone else. I think I must be missing something here so will leave well alone.

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Must admit I find it rather odd too, if he cannot talk about his Lung condition that is O K some people cannot but I fail to see the need for all the anti bullying links on a health site for Lung conditions unless he is insinuating that there are an awful lot of bullys on the site which could not be further from the truth. I find the site incrediably helpfull and supportive both with the BLF staff and the members here. As you say a bit odd. Decor I hope you get on well when you see your GP Juliexx

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Julie, its hard for you to understand perhaps, but my reasons are very valid, and like others you have assumed I am a he when in actual fact I have not said if I am male, female, transgender or anything else. It shouldn't really matter either way really but I believe you and others have already made up your own minds. That's ok, its up to you. But please don't keep confronting me, there is plenty of room here for all.

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I have no desire to know what sex you are I assumed you were male as you chose a a .male character for your original pic.I just fail to see what relevance anti bullying links and pictures make to a lung condition site. You say your reasons are valid but seem unable to tell us why and then are suprised when people are suspcious.I actually feel some what bullied by you .

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Just report and ignore Julie, best bet.

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BlakeyC

Maybe you might consider following your own advice then?

I seem to recall you posting ad infinitum a couple of days ago about why a certain harmless joke should not be allowed on this forum. You even created a blog about it.

In addition, I also find it odd that someone would visit the forum and not say what lung condition he or she or a family member has, seeing as it is a lung forum.

Finally, I agree with the others that your list of anti bullying links are inappropriate in this context: it does imply that there is bullying on the forum whereas from what I have seen there is not.

koala

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We all have different views koala, I felt the joke in question was offensive and it has been dealt with. All matters relating to that are now history. Please don't keep dragging it back into the present.

You think my links on my profile are inapprorpriate, I thought that joke was also. We just do not share the same views on what is appropriate or inappropriate.

I find the repeated attempt to keep dragging this out offensive and when I feel things have settled perhaps I will remove or keep those links on my profile, I may even change my avatar again if I wish to.

PS (you don't have to look at profile or links, its purely optional)

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I find you unpleasantly confrontational towards people and I will therefore not read or react to anything further from you.

koala

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Décor I am sorry for the digression of your thread, it shouldn't have happened, I hope you will be able to shed some light on the best way forward after seeing your medical advisers.

All good wishes

BC