I have osteoporosis due to prednisone usage but then I am an old lady and had osteopenia before ever going on prednisone...small frame. I suffered a compressed fracture of the lumbar spine about four years ago after a fall on my tush. I do a lot of walking, love to exercise and take Calcium with vitamin D. I refuse Fosamax, don't need ulcers in my esophagus, have enough in my rectum.
Unfortunately, my UC flares are starting to occur more frequently. After bein diagnosed in 1998, my flares would pop up every two years or so and always in the fall. Well, after 2003 (a stressful year for me), the flares started every year either in spring or fall. Now, I am in a flare and just got out of a seven month flare which ended Nov 1st of 2008. They just couldn't get me off the prednisone last year....seven months is a LONG time. The doctor is trying to keep my prednisone at a lower level this time. I started at 30 (he actually wanted 20 but it did nothing), five weeks ago then I lowered it by 5 mgm weekly. Well, I am stuck at 20 and still bleeding with urgency. When this happened last year, he upped it to 40 for five days with 5 mgm decrease for five days, etc. He also increased my 6MP to 100 mgm. Guess I better give him a buzz this am. I know what he is going to say..."Chris, you tell me what you are going to do so I can write it in my record."