Steroid warning card

[angelone2]

This is the first I have heard about a warninhg card and have had PMR for 6 years. How do you apply for one?

[optimist-ok]

The cards should be available at your surgery and chemists. Also at the hospital.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

As optimist-ok says - the pharmacy or your practice may have them, just ask. I believe the NE PMRGCAUK support group had one designed to issue to their members as there were problems obtaining them for a while - see their website.

The normal ones are blue. You keep a note of your current dose and it shows how long you have been on pred etc. If you can't find one you could write the details on a small card and keep it in your purse. An alternative for informing healthcare staff of your medical history in the event of an accident is a MedicAlert bracelet - but they do cost rather more! Christmas is coming...

[daveD]

This post just proves how much we rely on these Forums,I have to keep going & re, reading angelones post,it does say 6yrs? & Drs ect not thought to recommend one. beggers believe.Dave.

[iforget]

If your GP surgery and/or pharmacy do not have them you can email your request for a steroid warning card with your mailing address to

[e-mail].

They were most helpful and I got mine within a few days.

[polkadotcom]

That's very useful information, iforget, I will make a note of it.

[Jeanieallergy]

I, too, was not advised by either my GP or my Pharmacy that I should have a Steroid card. Fortunately my daughter is a Pharmacist and told me about it. The next hurdle was actually obtaining one as no Pharmacy in my town had one in stock! Daughter again came up trumps and got one for me, from the hospital where she works. I can't help thinking sometimes that GPs and Pharmacies assume that once you have been diagnosed with a condition you automatically know everything you need to without anyone telling you. Where would we be without the internet to help us?

[Hidden]

PMRpro

You are correct in your assumption, we did design a Steroid Medication Booklet, together with a Steroid Alert Card, (credit card size) for issue free to our members. The medication booklet was adapted from two booklets issued by the NHS for other illnesses. It also allows you record every medication, when prescribed, when stopped, when last reduction and a place for the medic who prescribed or changed it to sign it. They are designed to last at least 18 months onwards, depending on the number of entries.

We were abble to do this as a Supporter raised over £1500 doing a sponsored walk.

Our members have found it very useful and when they hand it to their Consultants or GPs they are very happy to fill it in and keep it up to date.

They can be purchased, if you want one, email us on the link via our website - the cost is £1 plus p&p. (at no profit for us).

We would love to be able to give them out freely, but as a small charity finances do not allow us this luxury.

If you are a member of any of the support groups run by PMR&GCAuk, each Organiser was issued with a free copy to show members.

[mk14]

That's all very useful information. I got mine from the rheumy but as it's so tattered I went to the local pharmacy (Lloyds) to ask for a replacement. The assistant had 'never seen one and didn't know what they were'!!!!!!