Comments on: Alendronic Acid – Take a break! http://birdshot.org.uk/blog/index.php/archives/2623 support and information for people who have birdshot a rare form of posterior uveitis Fri, 03 Sep 2010 19:18:52 +0100 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Annie http://birdshot.org.uk/blog/index.php/archives/2623/comment-page-1#comment-93 Annie Sun, 14 Feb 2010 21:42:08 +0000 http://birdshot.org.uk/blog/?p=2623#comment-93 I had a chat with the doctor I see who does my bloods at the local renal unit. She advised me that the time to really worry about bone density being reduced from steroids, was when you are on high doses. I talked to my ophthalmologist as well and decided to stop taking the alendronic acid unless I have to go back on high dose steroids, when I will obviously need to reconsider. It's so difficult to know whose advice to follow! All the best. Annie I had a chat with the doctor I see who does my bloods at the local renal unit. She advised me that the time to really worry about bone density being reduced from steroids, was when you are on high doses. I talked to my ophthalmologist as well and decided to stop taking the alendronic acid unless I have to go back on high dose steroids, when I will obviously need to reconsider.

It’s so difficult to know whose advice to follow! All the best. Annie

]]> By: Carole Ball http://birdshot.org.uk/blog/index.php/archives/2623/comment-page-1#comment-92 Carole Ball Sun, 14 Feb 2010 10:27:54 +0000 http://birdshot.org.uk/blog/?p=2623#comment-92 Thanks Annie, I have been on this drug for 2.5 years now and am only on 5mg of steroid a day at the moment, I will certainly mention this next time I go to the Hospital. Thanks Annie, I have been on this drug for 2.5 years now and am only on 5mg of steroid a day at the moment, I will certainly mention this next time I go to the Hospital.

]]> By: Annie http://birdshot.org.uk/blog/index.php/archives/2623/comment-page-1#comment-91 Annie Fri, 12 Feb 2010 20:17:32 +0000 http://birdshot.org.uk/blog/?p=2623#comment-91 I mentioned this to my aged mother who has bad osteoporosis and this is what she says. "There's been a lot of discussion about this in the Osteoporosis News and I have already warned my friend Jane about it who has been on the drug for 8 or 9 years. She has discussed it with her doctor who has taken her off it. I have been on it for 3 and a bit years. When the time comes I shall certainly discuss it with my doctor and I'm sure she will agree. On re reading I see it suggests 3 years in one place, so maybe I talk to her before. Believe me I am very aware of the problem." Personally I think for birdshot sufferers, Alendronic Acid perhaps only needs to be taken when on high doses of steroid, and not for elongated periods of time, because from what I have read, it is at the high doses of steroids that the damage to bones is most likely to happen. If this concerns you at all, please ask your doctors for their advice. Perhaps, we should all be trying out the weight bearing (housework and exercise) carrying weights (bottles of water in a rucksack) since this also helps to build up bone density and can do no long term damage to bones. What is more it is free! Annie I mentioned this to my aged mother who has bad osteoporosis and this is what she says. “There’s been a lot of discussion about this in the Osteoporosis News and I have already warned my friend Jane about it who has been on the drug for 8 or 9 years. She has discussed it with her doctor who has taken her off it. I have been on it for 3 and a bit years. When the time comes I shall certainly discuss it with my doctor and I’m sure she will agree. On re reading I see it suggests 3 years in one place, so maybe I talk to her before. Believe me I am very aware of the problem.” Personally I think for birdshot sufferers, Alendronic Acid perhaps only needs to be taken when on high doses of steroid, and not for elongated periods of time, because from what I have read, it is at the high doses of steroids that the damage to bones is most likely to happen.

If this concerns you at all, please ask your doctors for their advice. Perhaps, we should all be trying out the weight bearing (housework and exercise) carrying weights (bottles of water in a rucksack) since this also helps to build up bone density and can do no long term damage to bones. What is more it is free!

Annie

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