need help to reduce steroids,inj June was on 30mg,s now down to 13mg,s but to day have really bad withdrawal symptoms .

[ritter]

I feel really need some help regarding the reduction monthly or weekly .Ritter Anne

[polkadotcom]

Are you sure they are withdrawal symptoms, Anne? Have they come on gradually after the last reduction, or did they appear as soon as you dropped the dose?

Asking because they are separate things..........coming on slowly generally means the dose isn't enough to contain the inflammation so it is gradually creeping back. If that is the case I would go back up to the last comfortable dose and stabilise there for a few weeks before beginning to reduce again - and the reduction would have to be very, very slowly. If they happen overnight (or close to) following a drop, then it probably is withdrawal and the advice there is to hang in there for a few days to see if it settles.

Do hope this helps.

[ritter in reply to polkadotcom]

thank you so much, it came on overnight,have been fine the last week,thank you for replying makes me feel so much better,knowing you are all their, Have been asleep the last 4 hours going to try and pull myself together now,dont know how to thank youAnne

[ritter in reply to polkadotcom]

thanks again Anne

[ritter in reply to polkadotcom]

sorry polkadotcom I noticed I have not answered your question properly reduced last sunday to 13mg for 2weeks and then 12.5 for 2 weeks and so on, but into my second week on 13 to day felt like withdrawal symptoms,have been fine all the week just to day,panic this morning and took 14mg,s and my normal painkillers had 4 hours sleep to day on settee and woke up feeling almost human,with this happening to me to day think i will stay on 13mg,s or even 13.5 for a month,I think every 2 weeks is may be asking a lot from my body so will do monthly drops and see how that goes,thank you for been their for me,I do appreciate it.Anne,

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I think every 2 weeks is too fast even when you reduce at tiny steps - it needs at least 2 weeks to know the dose you trying is still OK before trying the next one. Do you reduce overnight - i.e. from 13mg every day to 12.5mg everyday? If so try a week at old/new alternate days before going to every day new. And remember - there are other causes of pain - like if you felt well you may have done too much!

[ritter in reply to PMRpro]

Hi PMRpro,thank you for your reply and good advice will definitely take your advice re preds I was just getting a bit exited and lost the plot a bit as we all know we wold love to get off this medication, thank you for replying and your help, all the best to you.kind regards Anne

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to ritter]

There's nothing like a flare to remind you why you are taking pred! After nearly 10 years of PMR, 5 of them on pred, I have got down to 6mg/day after a mega hiccup last year (with 3 weeks in hospital and 9 months on crutches) and if I were told I needed to stay on that for life I wouldn't argue! There are bad things about pred - but they keep my granddaughter alive (she has severe brittle asthma) and me mobile. That's enough plus points for me!

[Hidden]

Hi Anne,

Try to remember, the lower you get, the harder it may become, and let's not forget that it may be more stressful at the mo because of Christmas. If you are struggling after a week or so, then go back to the dose that kept you well, as others have said, and I would hold it there till after the hols. You're doing nicely so don't spoil it with a big flare.

I know how hard it is to give in and up the dose as I'm on 7.5mg for the 2nd time, but don't lose control for a few mgs. It's not worth the risk.

Best wishes,

Pats.

[ritter in reply to Hidden]

Hi Pats,nice to hear from you,yes I will try and keep control as we all know I got so exited at getting down to 13mg,s I thought is was my Birthday lol.you too have a nice Christmas,and I hope your family stay well,ps still have 1 chicken left and 2 beautiful sheep dogs to keep me busy,lovely to hear from you.Best wishes,Anne.

[Hidden]

Thankyou Anne for your kind thoughts.

Bless you and your pets - they mean a lot to you, I know.

I have a new pet called Foxy. Lewis, my lovely house rabbit , died in January and it floored me because he had helped me cope through the worst of PMR and as I began to recover he died very suddenly - no warning. It was allmost too hard to take. She was with the CPL till I rescued her. Found dying a year ago after being feral from birth. She's 3 now and a real stunner - black long hair with emerald green eyes.

It's taken me 4 months to tame her, but she's a real 'madam'.

Wouldn't want her to be any other way though.

My family are mostly OK, but my eldest daughter has Fibromyalgia now and is struggling with work and family life - I do what I can.

Have a nice Christmas,

Love Pats. xxx

[ritter in reply to Hidden]

Oh Pats i did not know about your daughter that has brought tears to my eyes,its bad enough when we are poorly but when its our children that is very unforgiving i do hope she has a very special Christmas i wish i lived closer i would help too..nice to hear about you new rabbit but sad for the older one,my daughter just had her rabbit die on her and its a very sad time,my daughter Tonya works in Vets can you imagine what that is like for us animal lovers lol she brings all sorts home,thank you Pats for all the support this last year i really do appreciate it,still find it hard to get to grips with this website change i havnt got a clue what i am doing,dont like computers but they are a necessary evil, i will keep in touch Lots of Love Anne.xxx

[Hidden]

Hi Anne,

thanks again for your kind thoughts, but must clarify - Foxy is a cat! My fault, didn't make it clear. I could never have another rabbit because it could never replace Lewis.

Foxy is a whole new ball game and keeps me going - it's not good to spend too much time on your own.

Pats.