second question,why do different doctors tell you different things?can you have the test to see if your adrenal glands are working or not.

[gsmith]

one doctor says he can prescribe me slimming tablets,another says they would be bad for my liver..confused is not quite the word

[PMRpro]

It isn't as simple as testing to see if your adrenals are working or not - though some doctors think it is. As I'd suspected, an endocrinologist explained to a friend recently that it isn't just the factory part that is suppressed when you are on pred - there is a very complex feedback system involving several hormones and glands and it takes time to sort itself out properly.

A doctor offering to prescribe "slimming tablets"? What and why?

The different stories bit? All sorts of reasons - different training, different opinions, some have more knowledge and know why yes/why no - it all depends.

[Katie18]

im supposed to be having a test to make sure my adrenal system is working ok - but it cant be done until ive stopped taking prednisolone - im on 1mg a day and reducing v slowly. However even if they say it isnt working fully i will be so reluctant to increase my steroid dose again - it may be a case ill have to live with it and hope things improve. i get tired v easily these days and it takes my a while to get over any kind of infection - but thats because im on azathioprine. for me i feel its all about trying to maintain balance

[PMRpro in reply to Katie18]

Hmm - well I know people who have had synacthen tests whilst taking pred and I know of a research project which is intending doing so - the patients will just be asked to wait until after the test at 9am to take their pred for that day. One lady on another forum is still on 8mg and had a synacthen test. My granddaughter has also had a synacthen test whilst on pred - the doctor who did has developed a method of assessing it. Who says you have to be off pred? Is it an endocrinologist or another specialist?

If you've reduced to 1mg/day and haven't been more ill I'd think your adrenals are probably working ok - but if they finally decide it isn't working properly then the pred becomes a replacement therapy like HRT or insulin in diabetes and that is a very different thing. The problems with pred in an inflammatory illness is that you have an excess floating around your body and that causes the side effects. They may also use a different form of corticosteroid - it is a different thing altogether.

[Katie18]

thanks for your reply that is useful. It is a rheumatologist who has taken advice from an endocrinologist who say i have to be off prednisolone before taking a test. Im hopefully seeing specialist dr bruce in manchester next week and so ill see what he has to say.

[gsmith]

slimming tablets because im a little overweight and he says losing weight would improve my fatty liver