Progress report.

[Thomas45]

I have 4 long lasting medical conditions and 1 hopefully temporary condition.

They are Asthma for the last 40 years. Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation for the last 18 years. Enlarged prostate for about six years, and PMR since June 1st 2013. The other condition is an unrelated knee ache, caused by years of driving with my leg around the steering wheel rather than under it. I can drive for about 50 minutes until I get excruciating knee pain. Once I flex my knee about 20 times I can drive for another 50 minutes. I'm seeing a physio and doing exercises which were helping.

Stupidly a fortnight ago when I saw a friend I decided to 'run' to catch him up. One minute I was catching him up, then tripped, and landed on my knees. My knees still sting a bit but I should get back to my knee exercises tomorrow.

My PAF, enlarged prostate and Asthma are largely controlled by drugs. As for PMR I'm still on 10mgs of prednisolone and feel it's the time to decrease to 8.75mgs using the method of 1x7.5, 5x10, 1x7.5, 4x10, 1x7.5, 3x10 and so on until alternating 7.5 and 10.

I do get pains from time to time, either from PMR or from being 'out of condition'. I need to exercise more, by walking, but live in a hilly area. I soon get out of breath from asthma, but need to exercise my lungs so they'll improve. I sometimes get PMR type upper arm pain, and lower back pain, but that could be lack of exercise. I am just under 6' 7" tall. I do get tired and at 10am I'm still in bed although I woke up at 6.20am. Pure laziness on my part. (I'm 69 in June, but most people think I'm younger). The only pains I have this minute are 2 smarting knees. When I get moving I'll forget about them.

I'll let you know how I get on decreasing Prednisolone, gently.

[jinasc]

Thomas45

Reduction plan is too high a drop. It should never be more than 10% at a time. So that means a 1mg drop.

Send me a pm with your email address and I will send you a method you can try.

[Polywotsit PMRGCAuk team member]

Wow! You really are working hard to keep up your physical condition - good for you! At 6'7 though you sound like a pretty big guy. The fact is that you may need more prednisolone to control your symptoms than a smaller person. Bear this in mind when you compare yourself with others. You have only had your diagnosis of PMR for about 8 months so be very careful about not tapering too quickly. Good luck!

[Thomas45]

I decided to reduce the dose much mpre slowly, taking 10mgs a day for 5 days, hen one day at 7,5mgs, then another 5 days at 10mgs, then anpther at 7.5mgs, and so on. this effectively is a reduction from 10mgs to 9.5mgs. A few days ago I had a brisk wlak for nearly 2 hours which did me some good. An hour after I came home my heart rate was about 110, but it didn't feel that it had tripped into fibrillation, Also I was wheezing, but felt my lungs were more open than at the start, and a day later I had aching legs, but not PMR pains. I shall have another long walk tomorrow.