Advice re taking Pred before or after procedure

[AmberGamble]

I have to have a colonoscopy tomorrow morning (Thursday 9.30am) and am fasting today in preparation for it.

I have been advised not to take my diabetic medication either today or tomorrow, which I understand.

I am now down to 5mg of Prednisolone, aided by Methotrexate , which I usually take with my breakfast. I will take my weekly MTX today as usual, along with the rest of my normal medications.

My query is, should I just wait until after the procedure when I can eat and then take my Prednisolone, rather than take it on a completely empty stomach before it?

Not looking forward to it, as I have had them before, but alas it is necessary😞

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

You could take it just with water, what is the last time you can have liquids… but as procedure is reasonably early, it might be wise to leave until afterwards..

Hope all goes well.

[AmberGamble in reply to DorsetLady]

I can have clear fluids right up until the actual procedure, but as I’m diabetic and not able to take my meds today or tomorrow, I may leave the Prednisolone until afterwards. I’m only on 5mg now but it might still spike my blood sugar levels.

Taking it later than usual should be OK then!?

I’ve got all my warning cards ready to take, the steroid one and the MTX one, plus a list of my other meds👍

Your advice is much appreciated, thank you!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to AmberGamble]

Taking it a bit later is okay -but you might feel a bit more PMR-ish in the morning-and adrenals might struggle a bit -so make sure everyone knows about that. But you seem to have that covered.

[pog165g]

when i had my colonoscopy they told me to take my pred early morning with water only preferably at least 2 hours before procedure.

[AmberGamble in reply to pog165g]

Thanks! I ended up waiting until after the procedure and seem to be OK.

[Zak61]

I recently had the same procedure. The consultant (not rheumy) advised I double pred the day before and after AND they gave me a steroid injection (not sure how much, but a lot) as part of the procedure. I'm pleased to report I had no problems related to PMR as a result.

5 polyps removed, all benign.

Hope that helps?

[AmberGamble in reply to Zak61]

Thank you. Unfortunately I haven’t actually seen anyone in person. I got the notification by letter re needing a colonoscopy following an annual MRCP scan I have, which I’d had in February. I’ve not seen a gastroenterologist in person for over 3 years! The letter just said book an appointment which I did. I asked re my meds and was advised to ring the nurses. I rang the nurses and got scant advice, some of which I knew to be wrong 😬

When I was checked in the nurse asked about my meds….which I’d had to take the list with me. Her reaction was, oh dear that’s a lot of things and I don’t have very much time! I did say I would really prefer to not have to be on so many things…

Something I didn’t realise was that if on methotrexate, you can’t have the gas and air. The nurse said she thought shed heard that and she’d put a note on my records and when I went in the nurse confirmed that some people on MTX had reacted to it.

[Didgeydo]

Hi I have been on prednisolone for a period of two years but have now been able to wean myself off of them.I would wait until you can eat,rather than to take them on an empty stomach as it gave me a lot of pain in my stomach if I ever took them on an empty stomach,I know we are all different with our meds but I would wait until you can eat then take the prednisolne. I wish you well and hope all goes well for you. Take care.

[AmberGamble in reply to Didgeydo]

Thank you that’s what I did and seem to be OK. However by the time they did the procedure, I had fasted for 30 hours and I’m diabetic. I was quite unwell and unfortunately the procedure will need repeating which I am not looking forward to😞