Hi
I have been taking Pred. for 14 years for GCA/PMR and was told by my Rheumy. " to keep spares in case of a flare and never be without them " especially if it happened at the weekend. The Rheumy even sent my surgery a letter stating this.
My old GP.of 30 years, now retired, new this and would always trust me to dose myself according to my symptoms/flare, after all I have been doing it for 14 years. I would always report the flare to the Dr. anyway.
However the new Dr. would not prescribe me extra Pred recently for a flare
.[ as you are aware if you are taking 20/30mgs a day they soon go and my repeat prescription is only 2x28. 5 mgs. per month which is fine if you are on 5/10 mgs a day, but not enough for a flare ]
saying I shouldn't be doseing myself and she wasn't comfortable prescribing me more Pred. and I need to go back to see my Rheumy,[ whom I'm due to see next month anyway,] but what do I do in the meantime if I run out of them ?
If that's the case, then everytime I get a flare I should see a Rheumy. for my extra Pred!!!!. I dont think he would be very pleased.
Surely all Dr's must know that you cant just stop taking/be without steroids. I even told her that, and if she looked up my records she would see that I am not to be without Pred. in case of a flare,
I suppose if I was so desperate I would have to go to A&E but what a waste of time, especially for A&E who are what they are, and not for prescribing medication.
Thankfully I had enough Pred to take a higher dose, and will make sure that every month I get my repeat prescription to build up my stocks again.
I will be interested to see what my Rheumy says when I next see him.