FATIGUE

[dillydally1]

Hi,

I have been on prednisolone since just before Christmas, for PMR. I got one week of extra energy on starting 20mg of prednisolone, now feel weak and very low energy levels. I am on 12.5mg prednisolone at the moment. Is this normal. The prednisolone certainly as reduced my pain. I do also have underactive thyroid which is treated with 75mg thyroxine. x

[kingharold11]

Hi there I have had PMR for three and a half years throughout that time the fatigue has been my biggest problem I am permanently knackered I don,t have a lot of pain haven't since going on steroids I am on 5mg at the moment but have had a flare due to a water infection I had to take 10 a day for 5 days to get me over the infection but since then I have been exhausted. Wendy

[dillydally1 in reply to kingharold11]

thank you x

[suzieh]

I have had PMR for just over 2 years now .....didn't start the pred until 6 mths in as PMR was not diagnosed at the beginning. Like you I felt great with no pain after taking 20mg. Again, like you, I have to take thyroxine - when I started pred I was on 150 mg thyroxine (I had been on this dose for several years) now I am only on 75mg!! I should ask your dr to check your thyroid readings every few months to keep an eye on dosage. The steroids definitely had an impact on my thyroid dose.

I have experienced quite a lot of days with tiredness and low energy along the way, also dizzy spells and faint feelings. Not well at all some days. Luckily for me I don't work any more and can take it easy when I have to. I have always wondered if it was a combination of thyroid issues and PMR or just the pred??

The good news is I have been following the very slow reduction plan, advised on here, and am now reducing to 3.5 mg currently. I have been feeling almost normal again and have also lost half a stone ! Have enough energy now to do aqua aerobics, Pilates and yoga as well as gardening etc without any trouble. I have learnt to rest when I need to. Hope this is helpful and encouraging to others. I have gained such a lot of support from this group along the way and am very grateful for all the advice and help - thanks!!!

[dillydally1 in reply to suzieh]

Hi, thanks for the positive advice, it is good to know there is light at the end of the tunnel. I to have put on weight (nearly 2 stone), I suppose I am not used to carrying a lot of weight, so that won't help. my doctor has just done a thyroid blood test, it takes 3 weeks for results, cant remember the name of it. Glad to know your almost feeling normal again. best wishes for the future. I agree this group offers brilliant support along our journey with pmr. and I am also grateful for all advice offered. x

[PMRpro Ambassador]

The energy boost may be your personal response to higher dose pred - some people it energises, others are desperately tired. You may need the thyroxine dose adjusted - the whole HPA set-up (hypothalamus, pituitary and adrenal) is linked and changing one bit may send the other bits haywire.

The fatigue in autoimmune illnesses doesn't respond much to the medication ever - and I bet you are trying to catch up all the things you couldn't do when you felt so sore????? REST and pacing yourself are essential from beginning to end of PMR - and learning to manage PMR is a combination of using the pred to relieve the pain and stiffness and learning to work around the fatigue. Having a rest at a time that works for you will give you more energy later too - and in the end you get more good hours in the day than trying to force yourself to keep going at all costs.

[dillydally1 in reply to PMRpro]

thank you