Guest guest Posted September 8, 2001 Report Share Posted September 8, 2001 In a message dated 9/8/01 1:30:54 PM Central Daylight Time, kelyn888@... writes: > takes predisone 10 mg daily, and has been for > I don't know if men get osteoporosis(spelling?) though I cannot understand why they wouldn't. My rheumy has me on 10mgs of predisone and told me to take calcium and vitamin D to prevent bone density and schedules me yearly for a dexa-scan which is a non-painful non-invasive test to measure bone density, kind of like an x-ray.No other doctors I have gone to in the past have mentioned this but all were men except my current one, who is a woman who is very pro active against osteoporosis. Check with your husband doctor because we all lose enough of everything else with PA or RA we don't need weaker bones as well. best of luck, Chicagoland Sharon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 8, 2001 Report Share Posted September 8, 2001 kelyn888@... wrote: . Also all the info on meds is appreciated. He has been on metho 25mg for a long > time (5 years) and also takes predisone 10 mg daily, and has been for > 5 years now. My question is : Do you feel this is a lenghty time to > be on predisone at this dose? I hope someone has an opinion. Thanks > again. Kelyn, I personally feel any prednisone for 5 years is a lenghty time. Prednisone is great for temporary relief but long term is not good for our bodies. I have been on prednisone now for a year and I am slowly working it down and hoping to go off of it. It thins your bone density and over a period of years will do harm. I've now been on mtx for over 15 years and know that they told me when I started w/it that I would not be on it long but times change and opinions change. Wish your husband luck and glad you are looking into his health! Nanc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 8, 2001 Report Share Posted September 8, 2001 Hello Everyone! I read all of your posts. I have been on MTX for about 5 years now. I am suppose to take 20mg...shots once a week. But after reading about the side effects of this drug, I decided to only take it when I needed it! If the pain from the PA, became to unbearable, then I would give myself a shot. I have found that it has worked very well...I am a preschool teacher for the special ed. population...so you know that I have to be very active! It has worked for me...having PA doesn't mean that you have to be on top of the world...but it doesn't mean you have to be on the bottom either, and suffer... MTX side effects are too heavy for me to deal with, but it has been a help! Moderation in all things works well......I hope this helps....God Bless you all.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 18, 2001 Report Share Posted September 18, 2001 Hi Kelyn, I was taking prednisone for over six years when I had an x-ray of my wrist taken on New Years Day 2001. The x-ray showed that I had symptoms of osteoporosis. Moreover, I had just learned in December 2000, that I had a growth on my parathyroid glands for the second time in less than 3 years. So, in February 2001 I began using Fosamax to counteract the osteoporosis, and I had surgery on my parathyroid gland. Now, I usually feel much better, as I continue to reduce my usage of prednisone from 10 mg per day in February to 5 mg per day in September. Sincerely, Bill in DC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 18, 2001 Report Share Posted September 18, 2001 Hi Bill and Group, My name is Lynn, I live 23 miles south of Washington D.C. I'm 52 and joined originally to help learn more about PA for my mom's benefit. She has an extreme case, she's 79 and doesn't use the Internet. Arthritis runs in my family and since I've lost weight, arthritis and I have become very intimate! I have had an awful rash on my hands for almost a year that all the docs call exzyma. I've had my suspicions. When my fingers began to ache and the rash crept up the outside of my index finger, my dominant hand, and I couldn't open bottles, turn a key in the lock, zippo, nada! And I play piano, so am used to strong hands. Not anymore! Went again to the dermatologist, he looked again (I've been using a topical steroid, triamzolone and it hasn't done a thing.) Said he might revise his diagnosis to PA! But, I'm seeing the rheumy tomorrow because I might also have Polymyalgia Rheumatica. And I have arthritis in knees and feet, degenerative in my spine, and rheumatoid arthritis runs in the family! I want to learn more about prednisone...I truly am nervous about the drug, have read all the side effects. Had a chance to breeze through " Coping the Prednisone " by Eugnia Zukerman...looks like some interesting info. anything you could share, I would so appreciate! Thanks for letting me participate. Lynn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 18, 2001 Report Share Posted September 18, 2001 Bill, I've been reducing my prednisone from 5 mg to 2 1/2 per day and it has taken me about 3 months to do this, it is very difficult. I mostly find that I am tired. I've started with the remicade infusions and noticed within a day or two how much better my joints were w/the increased dosage of remicade to 300 mg over the 199. Nanc in PA wreid2@... wrote: > Hi Kelyn, > > I was taking prednisone for over six years when I had an x-ray of my > wrist > taken on > New Years Day 2001. The x-ray showed that I had symptoms of > osteoporosis. > Moreover, I had just learned in December 2000, that I had a growth on > my > parathyroid > glands for the second time in less than 3 years. So, in February 2001 > I > began using > Fosamax to counteract the osteoporosis, and I had surgery on my > parathyroid > gland. > Now, I usually feel much better, as I continue to reduce my usage of > prednisone from > 10 mg per day in February to 5 mg per day in September. > > Sincerely, > > Bill in DC > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 20, 2001 Report Share Posted September 20, 2001 Hi Lynn, I was 51 when I was first diagnosed with PA in my right knee in 1994, when I started taking prednisone for asthma. This drug can lead to osteoporosis, which I learned I had on New Years Day 2001. Also, I had such a servere case of PA that I had both double hip and double knee replacement surgeries between June and September 1998 ar the Washington Hospital Center. Moreover, prednisone can affect your parathyroid glands, since that happened to me. Sincerely, Bill in DC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 20, 2001 Report Share Posted September 20, 2001 In a message dated 9/20/01 1:42:29 PM Central Daylight Time, lynifyni@... writes: > Lynne, I am not an expert by any means. However, for me, it's the only drug that actually minimizes the swelling and therefore the pain. I started plaquenil and arava and rested during the course it takes (3 months-plaq and 3 wks-arava) and before a major flare in my right hand I was weaning down the prednisone so I was put back on 10 mgs a day. I really thought the newer meds were the reason I was feeling so good but after returning to work yesterday with a full release of being able to use my hands I have to admit by the end of the day my fingers were swelling and my fingertips were pulsating and my wrist started to swell again. Compared to right before I took medical leave it isn't as bad but either the one or both of the meds did nothing. The predisone works immediately for me and I know I felt a lot better immediately kinda like I am now. Everybody is different though what works for one may not work for the other. I always suggest that when you start taking prednisone talk to your doctor about nutritional supplements for iron and vitamin D because prednisone can cause loss of bone mass. Also be prepared-because it causes weight gain due to it being a steroid. Hope you feel better soon. Chicagoland Sharon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 5, 2004 Report Share Posted May 5, 2004 Mick- I see this same thing with quite a few of my pts. It is also my experience that at this point they are not taking additional protein supplements, are not walking or exercising and have probably started to cheat a little. 1. Make sure protein intake is adequate suggest maybe a bar. 2. No calorie drinks between meals. 3. No snacking between meals, I let my pts have a 1/2c of high protein food, drink, or bar between meals. Hate to tell them but this is only a tool. They must be proactive! Like my PCP says "diet and exercise". Cheryl -----Original Message-----From: micatnight@... [mailto:micatnight@...]Sent: Wednesday, May 05, 2004 8:32 AM Cc: NutritionResults@...Subject: Re: New member/Question In a message dated 5/5/2004 8:51:44 AM Eastern Daylight Time, spaldingj@... writes: I have several patients who lost 30-40 pounds in the first 4 months and now they are stuck. The MD is telling them to keep their calories under 1000. They are. Do they need to eat even less than that or do they need a little more to get their metabolism going? HELP! Hi, I'm new, too, and would like to add a question to this one: Is it possible that these patients have developed kwashiorkor? Is it possible that this is water weight gain? Tanita has a scales that is supposed to measure body fat and body water. A lot of help I am, huh? Add another question. I've just heard dietitians on this list talk about the struggle to get in adequate protein, the hair loss issues, so I figured that this might be something to "rule out" Thanks for letting me play armchair quarterback this AM Mick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 5, 2004 Report Share Posted May 5, 2004 This is not uncommon for patients to hit a weight plateau. Addressing their protein intake, hydration status, intake of high sodium foods and beverages and their exercise routine are what I focus on initially. Shirley R. , RD, MS, CD Registered Dietitian Dean East Clinic, 1821 S. Stoughton Rd Madison, WI 53716 Ph: (608) 260-6524 fax : (608) 260-6521 shirley.shelley@... micatnight@... 05/05/2004 08:32 cc: NutritionResults@... AM Subject: Re: New member/Question Please respond to BariatricNutrition Dietitians In a message dated 5/5/2004 8:51:44 AM Eastern Daylight Time, spaldingj@... writes: I have several patients who lost 30-40 pounds in the first 4 months and now they are stuck. The MD is telling them to keep their calories under 1000. They are. Do they need to eat even less than that or do they need a little more to get their metabolism going? HELP! Hi, I'm new, too, and would like to add a question to this one: Is it possible that these patients have developed kwashiorkor? Is it possible that this is water weight gain? Tanita has a scales that is supposed to measure body fat and body water. A lot of help I am, huh? Add another question. I've just heard dietitians on this list talk about the struggle to get in adequate protein, the hair loss issues, so I figured that this might be something to " rule out " Thanks for letting me play armchair quarterback this AM Mick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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