Rheumy appt

[Indigo2417]

As I mentioned in my post yesterday about my ongoing stomach pain, I got a surprise appt with an NHS rheumy, a consequence of the GP referral in Aug 23. Had to go through my symptoms from the beginning and answer questions. Had examination. I took a copy of the report I had from private consultation in Sept 23 which was read in abt 5 seconds. Discussed my osteoporosis and rheumy examined the scans and X-rays that I’ve had done in the intervening time. It seems I may also have another fracture in the lumbar region as well. Not sure which vertebra. She concurred with the PMR diagnosis. I had already explained that I had a flare in the summer and upped my Pred dose and gradually tapered down to 6.5 after being on 7 for 2-3 mths. She asked for blood tests to be done after my appt and said if the bloods are ok I must taper. She favours alternate days 7/6mg for two months then 6/5 for two months and so on. Seems to think cutting pill in half is too messy and you don’t get accurate cut. I did point out that a small half mg and a slightly bigger half mg is not so much a change as alternating by 1mg a day, but she seems to think that’s the better way. Anyway, I think she might have read my mind that I’m going to carry on with cutting the pills as she shrugged a bit and repeated that I must reduce if bloods are ok as the Pred is not good for my osteoporosis. She asked if I’m on a stomach protector and I said no. I was on Lansoprazole at the beginning of the year, but asked to come off it because of the osteoporosis. She didn’t seem to think Lansoprazole would make much difference. So I’ve had my blood tests. Don’t know if I’ll be getting a follow up or not.

[Pixix]

Quick one…I was told two days ago that splitting isn’t good as you can end up with virtual quarters, & virtual three quarters, which I agree with.but reckon I was jabbing 90% of really equal halves! Mine was a yearly review with surgery pharmacist. She said I should do one day 1mg, next day 2mg, instead of 1.5 mg each day. She meant well. I’ve already done a month of boxes with l.5mg in them.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Pixix]

What rubbish. What exactly is the difference between her virtual quarters and zero? It balances over the 2 days anyway. Why don't they engage brain before opening mouth?

[Pixix in reply to PMRpro]

I knew, just knew, that you’d love that one! Jumping around, laughing now!! I’m not going to do it, of course…but then you knew that, too!! Last time I did a whole months worth of splitting & only threw two tiny bits away! Result, I reckon! S x

[Indigo2417 in reply to Pixix]

It seems worse to me yo-yoing by 1mg than going from a half fractionally bigger on one day a smaller on the next.

[Pixix in reply to Indigo2417]

Oh yes! See my response above to PMRPro, please! Yo yoing is bad in my book, too! S x

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Indigo2417]

Exactly ... Though there are people who think that the drug isn't evenly enough distributed through the tablet and that even tablets with score lines shouldn't be split. Just shows they have NO idea about the manufacturing process.

[Bagingtonshaw]

I started to reduce lansoprazole by taking one pill every 28 days takes along time but it worked for me. Started reducing my Prednisone in the same way and totally failed now back to 5mg for one month feeling good will start again

[Bagingtonshaw]

should be one pill less every 28 days

[Indigo2417 in reply to Bagingtonshaw]

Hi. Didn’t have a problem stopping Lansoprazole. That was in May this year. Rheumy was talking about reducing Pred by alternating dose by yo-yoing 7/6 mg day to day. Which I thought was worse than taking 6.5mg daily. She wasn’t keen on pill cutting. My plan is to stay on this for another 4 weeks or so and do a 5 week taper to 6mg, depending on how I get on coping with hubby on crutches.