Morning all, in UK anyway, just a quick question, I have seen in a number of places, including the NHS information, that they issue a Blue Steroid Card, if you are on them long term, neither my Docs or the chemist have mentioned this. Do I need to find out more and/or get it sorted? Many thanks.
Blue Steroid Card: Morning all, in UK anyway, just... - PMRGCAuk
Blue Steroid Card
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Bcol
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Hi, yes you need one. If you join the charity (PMRGCAuk) they send you one, but I am sure a pharmacist can give you one together with the meds. You can fill it in yourself and keep it with you when out an about.
I got mine at hospital when initially diagnosed - 8 years ago. Not sure GPs, chemists etc are as good as they should be with providing.
My GP and rheum told me the NHS do not provide
Not sure that’s strictly true - just means your local health trust doesn’t!
Not received it yet but I'll get one sorted. Thank you.
Yes, we send out a blue steroid card to all our members every year.
Fran
I’ve never had one sent Fran.
Have got my original one given by hospital.
I've never ever had one, from anybody, from my gp or the hospital!
Does seem to happen. I’ve asked for a new one as mine bit tatty in it’s little plastic bag. Not buying a laminator for that!
They don’t offer them at the pharmacy either - you have to ask.
Hi Telian, do you want to message me with your name and membership number if you know it and I'll send one out. You should receive one automatically when you apply and then each year on renewal.
Fran
Thanks Fran. Does it renew automatically? I pay my subscription to the charity.
I think if you pay by DD automatically I doesn’t trigger a new card. If you have a renewal notice sent by post - and you pay by cheque it does. I changed my type of payment some years ago to save the charity postage - and haven’t had a card since.
Not that I need one any more, but it’s the vagaries of digital v hard copy.
Finally - it appears I wasn’t a member because I donated instead. All done now and will be paid via D/D I presume so some good came out of it, thanks. Plus they got more much needed money as I’d recently donated.
Good. As I said further down in replies I pay by DD - but got confirmation letter the other day with blue card enclosed.
Hi Fran, I've never received one and I've been on steroids for nearly three years. Are you able to send me one please?
Hi Pinkpepper, are you a member of the charity? If so you should receive one annually with your renewal letter. If you let me know your membership number (on a private message) I can look up your details.
If you're not a member and would like to join, you will receive a steroid card (as well as our member magazine 3 x per year, plus access to our AGM and Members' day webinar with guest speakers in September).
pmrgca.co.uk/content/about-...
I hope that helps
Fran
I get my blue card from boots chemist, am on my forth one now. Just ask for it.
DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer
imperialendo.com/for-doctor...
This is printable - not necessarily for PMR or GCA - but it will do. Having looked on line they seem to have altered existing one.
The charity used to send out one with membership - not sure they do any more.
Lots also have a Medical bracelet -plenty online.
Thank you, I did join a few weeks ago so perhaps they have stopped sending them. No problem, I can get one printed.
Hi Bicol, if you message me with your name I can check the status of your membership. I'm posting out a load of new memberships and steroid cards this morning so yours may be in it.
Fran
Had a look at that. It says steroid replacement card, but can be amended I guess.
I could find what I wanted online - will have another look.
Found this . But it doesn’t give GP details or dosage changes as previous - nmouk.nhs.uk/downloads/Ster...
I got one from the charity recently
I found you have to ask for it. It was not volunteered. I have mine in a pocket when walking. After the third unplanned wash I had to get a replacement - no problem!
Thank you, not seeing doc for a while, hopefully, so I'll probably print and laminate one maybe two!!
I think I need to get a laminator as well........................
They can be useful, not very expensive nowadays either.
Was just going to suggest that!!
No excuse, there certainly used to be an example of one in the BNF. I also wear a medical bracelet with a slip of paper in with dosing history. I figure that in the event of an accident or I am rendered incapable, medical personnel need to know immediately if I’m at risk of adrenal crisis.
When I asked my GP he said it is in my records so I don't need one! I went straight to the chemist and he gave me one. I now carry it all the time and also have a medical necklace at all times. You cannot be too careful is my opinion.
I was told much the same when I asked for the paperwork to go with my pacemaker - you don't need anything, it's on the computer! In Italian, accessible by the hospital and the local GPs only. Very helpful if you have an accident in Austria just up the road - never mind further afield ...
Yes, yes.
I don't know whether this is a worry but I wear the necklace in case I go into some sort of a coma and I assume the ambulance crew would want to know that I am on steroids. As I said, caution is the key. If you arrive at a hospital with no means of identification how are they supposed to access your records? (There's also, in my case, the fact that if I am picked up dead I need medics to know that my brain is to be donated for dementia research - but not before I'm dead, hopefully!)
Thanks for your help and advice everyone. Printed one off and will get it laminated later today. Latest, also got one with membership from Fran.
The one from the pharmacy shows what dose you are on and should be kept up to date
I got mine from the pharmacy when I picked up my first prescription. I just asked over the counter, and they gave me one
I asked at Lloyds Pharmacy and they looked blank
That's not helpful, is it? I use the pharmacy at my local Asda. The assistant wasn't sure, but she spoke to the pharmacist, and returned with the card for me. I hope you get sorted.
I popped into my chemist and asked for one,no problem.I also found out that my chemist will sit down with me and review all of my medication which is great.
I yes I have one. My rheumatologist gave me mine
I get mine at the surgery but Boots have had them too sometimes. My original one came from from the hospital. Need to carry one in purse.
I was given one by the pharmacy and carry it all the time. I tuck it in my phone case , which I always have with me!
As well as having sorted out a Blue card, I have also ordered a bracelet. Was also just thinking about how strange these times are, that we live in at the moment. I was diagnosed with PMR at the beginning of July and all the signs are that was the correct diagnosis. PMR is not the worst but certainly not the best of things to have to cope with, but in all that time, apart from the Doc at the hospital and the nurse at the doctors surgery for blood tests, I have not actually seen a doctor at all, everything is arranged over the phone, and even that is not necessarily the same doctor. Never had a suggestion to see a Rheumy, although I'm happy with what the docs are suggesting, with my input, which in reality means the advice and help from here. When/if the world order gets back to something like normality, whatever that is, do I need to think about a Dexa scan?
Yes, I would, the sooner you're on the waiting list the better. Always good to get checked out before they throw alendronic acid tablets at you. I refused to take mine until I had had a dexa scan. Gp at the time wasn't impressed, but the radiologist doing my scan said, in her opinion, I had done the right thing and the rheumy confirmed that too a few months later! Don't want to take more pills than necessary, especially if you don't even need them!! I would like a second scan towards the end of the year, as it will have been two years since the first, so will be asking to go on the list although in the current climate who knows if I will get one?!
Got mine with first lot of steroids from hospital
I asked for one from pharmacist - PMR charity sent me one too
Ask in your Pharmacy, it is so important we carry one with us at all time.
After one year I managed to get one.. my GP surgery told me get it from your pharmacy and vice versa. You need to also carry this for 2 years after ceasing treatment. Keep pestering till you get one
New Red Steroid Card. HI, Don’t think this has been mentioned yet. This post reminded me that I had this downloaded but had not printed off. Can’t remember where I got it from. endocrinology.org/endocrino...
I get mine from my local chemist. She gives me 3 at a time so I have one permanently in handbag, one in work bag and a spare. Very important in case you were in an accident and couldn't tell anyone you were on steroids. Dose is important for them to know too. Could affect treatment given if sick or injured. Should never buy them off internet as are available free.
My rheumatologist when I spoke to him last said it’s a good idea to buy a bracelet or necklace. They are available from places like Amazon.
Yup, got one on order
I got mine from my local Boots chemist, I had to ask for it, and they had to hunt for one. I am on my second one now as it's been nearly 5 yrs and my dose has been up and down a bit. Recently received the Red steroid emergency card in a letter from my GP about Covid-19, have printed it off and laminated it to keep in my bag. It doesn't give your current dose though.
I asked my local chemist and they issued me with a Steroid Card.
I don't have one either and no doctor, rheumatologist or chemist has ever mentioned it to me and I've been on them a year, better see if I can get one
I think everyone assumes we are given a blue card by someone else. My pharmacist certainly thought the GP would have done but as we all know we don’t get many F2F appointments and ante so grateful when we get any appointment we try to finish ASAP.
My problem with the card is remembering to take it. I don’t use a handbag much, don’t have the right sort of phone case and don’t always have suitable pockets. So I’ve got a wrist band as an extra sign. I did think about scanning it and using it as the screensaver on my phone but there’s quite a lot to get on.
DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer
Just to update - my annual membership has recently been renewed (by DD) but have received confirmation by mail - with new blue steroid card enclosed.
So charity are still supplying.
So if you are having issues contact Fran_Benson -if you haven’t already.
Hi DL, Fran emailed me last week and apparently it is in the post.
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