Steroid card

[alice1940]

Do we need to carry a steroid card ? If so who do we ask for one as l haven't been offered one ? Alice

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi Alice you do need to carry a card with your details and dosage. You can get one from your pharmacy that provides your tablets. You should have been given one with your first prescription, but we all know that doesn't happen very often! Make sure you keep it where it can be found just in case you are out alone and anything happens and you can't tell medical staff etc you're on Pred. You should also still carry it for a year or so after you've come off Pred. Also don't forget to tell dentist you're on steroids and AA (if you are on it as well) should you need any treatment.

[alice1940 in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you DorsetLady for your information l will certainly ask when l next go to the chemist this forum is so helpful when we have a question knowing we will get a straight answer Thank you again keep well Alice

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to alice1940]

Hi again. I also wear a bracelet like piglette. Worth it if you start on a high dose and know you're going to be on them for a long time. Unfortunately a bracelet or necklace doesn't give the dosage, which your card will. Hopefully you will never need it but best to cover all options!

[alice1940 in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanks again DorsetLady yes l will get both just to cover myself if l am out alone as l am totally deaf have been since 8 years old due to meningitis ,Thank you again Look after yourself Alice

[BillP101 in reply to DorsetLady]

What is the risk if one was suddenly taken off steroids because of such an emergency as described here?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to BillP101]

Hi, once you've been on Pred for more than about three weeks your body has become used to steroids so it stops producing its own cortisol. Therefore you would be in pain due to the inflammation flaring up again, like before you were diagnosed and treated (unless you were lucky and diagnosed very quickly and not in much pain)!

It's just a risk you don't want to take, and the pain returns very quickly. You just have to read posts on here about people who have missed a day, or even reduced too much at a time to get an idea of what the affect would be. Plus your body would find it more difficult to cope with any other injury more than somebody whose producing adrenaline normally.

[Hidden in reply to BillP101]

Hi BillP101,

The risk with stopping steroids suddenly when you have been on them for a while is that you run the risk of going into an Addisonians Crisis which is a medical emergency ( low BP and shock ).

[notnice in reply to DorsetLady]

Morning Dorset Lady, would the reason be that you are likely to get a flare for a year after finishing presds that you need to keep your steroid card for at least a year after finishing?

Sue

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to notnice]

Hi notnice,

I haven't got there yet, but I agree it would very sensible to keep your card even after you've finished Pred (hopefully one day). I think it can take up to a year for your body to get back to its normal production of cortisol.

[notnice in reply to DorsetLady]

Hi DL

Thank you for that, it is always good to get as much information as possible.

Take care

Sue

[piglette]

As Dorset Lady says you can get them from the chemist. When I asked it took them ages to find a rather dusty copy. Doctors' surgeries should have some, but that may be wishful thinking. I wear a bracelet too which I thought may be more obvious if something happened to me.

[alice1940 in reply to piglette]

Thank you Piglette ,l will look into getting a bracelet as well as a card ,l think Amazon have a few if the chemist don't sell them Thank you again keep well Alice

[Pat9442]

The best selection of medical ID bracelets and necklaces are sold by Universal Medical ID. Great selection in steel, silver, gold or rubber at wide ranging prices

[alice1940 in reply to Pat9442]

Thank you Pat will look into it Alice

[bowler]

I always fill my blue steroid card in with a pencil, as it soon gets filled up especially when tapering every week/fortnightly, and its easier to erase than a pen,

[alice1940 in reply to bowler]

Thank you Bowler,that is good,advice Alice

[PMRandRA in reply to bowler]

Now why didn't I think of that Bowler! Doh to me...

[PMRandRA]

Yes definitely and also a Medic Alert bracelet or necklace. One thing you don't want to happen is for Doctors or Nurses to not give you Pred in the case of an accident or emergency where you can't tell them you are on it.

Ask your Doctor or Pharmacist. Actually, don't ask - lol - tell them you need one!

[Judigardener]

Medic alert are very good in the UK for bracelets etc. and offering 24/7 back up if we are unconscious.

[amandybaby]

I got mine from my copd nurse

[fuzzybear]

I live in the UK and have never heard of Medic Alert. Please let me know what it is and how to get in touch with them.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to fuzzybear]

Hi fuzzy bear,

Just type in Medic Alert in your search box online, and it, and other organisations will come up. If you join Medic Alert you will be asked to pay an annual fee. They then keep all your medical details, and the medical team ring them to get info.

If you don't have complex medical issues, I think a bracelet or necklace will suffice. Bracelet may be best, because they usually look to take your pulse, whereas necklace may be hidden under clothes especially in winter.

Mine just gives my name, On steroids for GCA, and NOK' name and tele no.

[mk14]

I posted this about a year ago, but thought it might be of interest to this conversation. I took a photo of my Steroid card with my phone and set is as the wallpaper. I reckon a phone is the first thing someone might look at in an emergency. It doesn't show the dose (phone screen's not big enough) but at least it will prompt people to look elsewhere for the actual card.

[fuzzybear]

Thank you, I'll definitely look into it as I'd never heard of it before.