New member

[Hedgehog16]

Hi just signed up. Dexascan tomorrow as been on steroids for a while. Started on Methotrexate injections few weeks ago and they are helping a bit

[sylvi]

Welcome hedgehog and i hope you get all right tomorrow for your dexa scan.xxxx

[Hedgehog16 in reply to sylvi]

Thank you

[sylvi in reply to Hedgehog16]

Your welcome darling.If you feel you want to rant because your frustrated about something feel free we have all done it at times and if you have anything funny to tell us well we will welcome that as well.xxxxxx

[Hedgehog16]

I am having trouble working out how to post a message, but I'm sure I will get the hang of it. Cool that there is somewhere to share our views.

[Shazz10]

Welcome hedgehog.

I'm new here too and have been in methotrexate for two weeks now. Not noticed any improvement as yet but thankfully very little side effects also. Good luck with your scan.

Sharon ☺

[Ceddy123]

What exactly is a dexa scan

[Hedgehog16 in reply to Ceddy123]

A type of x-ray that shows your bone density. Steroids can think your bones, so I also take calcium.

[Ceddy123 in reply to Hedgehog16]

They just put me on folic acid

[nomoreheels in reply to Ceddy123]

Folic acid is prescribed when we're prescribed methotrexate. Hedgehog is having a DEXA scan as she's been on steroids for a some time. This is because steroids can cause osteoporosis, loss of bone density which can lead to fracturing or broken bones if not addressed, hence the DEXA scan, to determine the state of her bones, specifically the density.

[nomoreheels in reply to Ceddy123]

This link explains Ceddy radiologyinfo.org/en/info.c...

[Ceddy123 in reply to nomoreheels]

Thank you

[Jacki08]

Hi Hedgehog ---- welcome to this amazing group. Love your name btw--- we have had a family of hedgehogs in our garden for a few years now-- so lucky they have chosen to live with us 😊

[Hedgehog16 in reply to Jacki08]

Thanks. I love hedgehogs and you are so lucky to have them in the garden. I only have soft toy ones!

[Jacki08 in reply to Hedgehog16]

Yep-- we are lucky-- we see them most nights munching their way through the food we leave out for them. 😊

[Eiram50]

Welcome hedgehog; if you need to be anywhere in terms of shared knowledge and support, this is thie place to be!

Best of luck for your scan tomorrow.

Marie

[Hedgehog16 in reply to Eiram50]

Thank you for your kind words

[nomoreheels]

Hiya Hedgehog & welcome. I hope you find in a few more weeks that injections work better for you, they do for many of us here. I also hope the DEXA scan shows you've an improvement in your previous FRAX score. I'm also on both MTX injections & low dose steroids (4 years), have you been offered AdCal-D3 or similar? I credit this & my diet for my latest score being better than my last one.

I hope you enjoy being here. 🙂

[nattynooo in reply to nomoreheels]

hi can I ask what dosage of steroid are you on?? And how come you are still taking them, because I have been on mine for 3 months and am desperate to get off them because I think they are a dangerous drug. I was under the impression when I started taking them but I would only be on them for 3 months but now the rheumatologist has almost back track and I think they think I'll be on the long-term which really upsets me. I was going to just stop taking them but you can't do that can you because it's dangerous and your body doesn't produce steroid anymore after taking these unless I wean off them really really slowly. Are you still on them because you can't tolerate being off them?? Sorry for all the questions

[nomoreheels in reply to nattynooo]

I'm on 3mg nattynooo but not prednisolone, I take deflazacort. The dose works out slightly differently but has more anti inflammatory & immunosuppressive activity & it seems to have less effect on the bones when compared with pred. I'm still taking them because the one time I tried to taper them I flared nearing the end of the taper so my GP wanted me to go back on 3mg until I saw my Rheumy. She was off for around a year & although I asked nobody would give the OK to try tapering them again without her say so. She's since told me as my DEXA scan FRAX scores have been reducing slightly each time & as I'm reasonably well controlled she'd prefer me to stay on them though I do intend to ask again at my appointment in May, if I see her that is!

I would ask your Rheumy if he/she is considering you being on pred long term & for what reason if the answer is yes. You could also ask if he/she thinks changing to deflazacort could be an option for you, if there's good reason to & you agree to remaining on steroids of course.

Hope this is helpful?

[Hedgehog16 in reply to nomoreheels]

Thank you for your helpful reply. Good luck with your appointment in May.

[Hedgehog16]

Sorry just woke up from a knap. I didn't​ know that people take low dose steroids for a long period of time. I have put on weight since taking them, so was hoping to stop taking them after a while. Silly me stopped taking them for a week and the pain was huge. What diet do you take? And thank you for your kind reply 🙂

[nattynooo in reply to Hedgehog16]

And me I have out on almost a stone in 10 weeks. I have tried for years to maintain a constant healthy weight and now it all out the window. It's making me really anxious. I was hoping there months max. But that isn't the impression on getting from the rheumatologist

[Hedgehog16 in reply to nattynooo]

I have been on them since August last year, but I have been allowed by my rheumatologist to reduce the dose from 5mg to 2.5mg. Hopefully won't put so much weight on. Did read a post on this website that someone was on them for 4 years. I did stress to my rheumatologist that I do wish to come off them.

[Stats12]

Welcome Hedgehog 😀

I'm fairly new too diagnosed in Feb this yr. on MTX for the last month

Hope everything ok at yr dexa scan

Sue

X

[Hedgehog16 in reply to Stats12]

Hi thank you for your kind words. Just got back from dexascan. Very relaxing as they played 1980s music. Hope Methotrexate works for you. It has for me. All the best

[Carolsos]

Hi all i have been on low dose of steroids for 4 years. 2.5 mg did stop them for a month but got so much pain had to go back on them. I have just got an appointment to see consultant for RA as i had to cancel it last Oct and i had thought they had struck me off!

So was very relieved to get said letter. I think i am in remission and have been for about 4months, am not on as many pain killers.

[Hedgehog16 in reply to Carolsos]

Steroids really do help with the pain. Glad you have been able to lower your dose of painkillers. I hope to do that in the future.