bone protection

[Scaredofpred]

2 weeks in to Pred and very grateful for all the excellent advice.

Resting a lot more, taking AdCal/ Vit D supplements and following advice in here have upped dietary intake of calcium ( enjoying hot milk before bed!).

Have been told I don’t need a Dexa scan.

have got Vit D/ K2 from Amazon. Can I alternate them with the AdCal please, or is it best to stick to one?

No GP support and next Rheumatologist appointment 6 months away. You wonderful people cannot be thanked enough for offering support. Thank you

[PMRpro Ambassador]

What dose of vit D are in the ones you got from Amazon? I take 4000 IU per day summer and winter or my vit D level falls steadily (and I live in Italy!). As long as your total vit D is under that you will be fine taking both.

[Scaredofpred in reply to PMRpro]

Yes, they are 4000IU, being careful!

[agingfeminist]

how do they know you don't need a dexa scan? have you already had one in the past few years? If it was ok, then you don't need one for several years.

Extra cheese and yogurt in your daily diet should take care of the calcium and then just stick with vitd/ K2 supplement.

Have you had a blood test recently that shows vit D level?...it will let you know if you are taking a high enough dose. I find 1000IU per day keeps my vit D within the range.

As you have just started pred, I hope someone has recommended to cut carbs so that you don't have any weight gain (though fat does redistribute in a rather odd way at high doses)

wishing you a smooth, uneventful, and short PMRjourney

[Bcol in reply to agingfeminist]

Just an add, my doctors send me for a DEXA scan every two years.

[Scaredofpred in reply to agingfeminist]

Many thanks. Never had a Dexa scan! Happy to pay for one, but most sites seem to need a referral. Sticking to VitD/K2 supplement now. 1000 IU/100ug. Thanks to this forum and advice I cut carbs from the start, upped yoghurt, spinach, cheese, already lost7 pounds! Resting more.

The advice has been invaluable, none of the above was suggested by GP. Thank you so much.

[agingfeminist in reply to Scaredofpred]

spinach not a good source of calcium because much of it joined to another chemical (oxalates) in the spinach...this means most of the clacium in spnach can't be absorbed by the body

[Scaredofpred in reply to agingfeminist]

Thanks! Didn’t know that!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Scaredofpred]

Shouldn't eat spinach or rhubarb (amongst other things) close to taking calcium supplements either

[Purplegloss in reply to Scaredofpred]

The Nuffield Hospitals do them without referral, that is where I have mine done. Just need to phone the x-ray department and book.

[Scaredofpred in reply to Purplegloss]

Many thanks, will contact.

[Purplegloss]

You can have a DXA scan privately without needing a referral from your GP. Cost is about £215. It is a good idea to know what your bones are like before you go too far down the Prednisolone long road. Realise not everyone can afford it, but useful when GP's say you don't need one.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Purplegloss]

Depends where you go - there are cheaper options.