Bloods are ok

[Gypsylass]

Why does blood tests show no inflammation. I have been diagnosed with PMR and I was surviving on 5mg of predi but weaned down to 1mg suffering bad yet blood tests show all is OK.

Confused any info welcome, Thanks in advance

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Were they raised at the outset? Have they followed your previous patterns? And what sort of "suffering bad"?

One of the top research rheumies in the UK was saying at a meeting I was at recently that they have noted some people do not see their blood markers rising with flares while they are still on pred - they don't know why, it just is so. That is why, whichever way it is, symptoms should always be king over blood tests.

[Gypsylass in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks my symptoms are severe muscle pain and fatigue I agree with you about blood tests now and with talking with GPS he said it is about the symptoms but everyone is differentnt.

Many Thanks

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

As PMRpro says blood markers aren't the gold standard - many people never have raised figures, some have high figures when PMR is not the problem, and sometimes they lag well behind symptoms. Unfortunately the doctors put a lot of credence on them, and sometimes they can be very misleading - low and high!

The key thing is symptoms, symptoms, symptoms! Despite what all the medico say, if you still have symptoms then you shouldn't reduce the Pred.

You don't say exactly what your suffering consists of, but if 1mg is not controlling things then you need to re-consider your dose. No point being on the drug if it's not helping.

[Gypsylass in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank for your reply I feel enter talking with my gp we have agreed I go up to 3.1/2 or even 5 mg. Was my own fault I think I dropped to quickly k.

ThanksThanks for your reply x

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Gypsylass]

Yes I think that can be a problem, when you get to lower doses you think it's going to be easy, but actually I think it can be more difficult than when on higher doses.

Each reduction of 1mg or 0.5mg is a bigger percentage drop than the previous one, and you're apt to think "oh 0.5mg won't make any difference" whereas it does!

So next time around, slowly does it!

[Gypsylass in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanks you have helped me massively with your advice x

[barbara1234]

Please now follow the "slow, slow, almost stop" reduction plan. It works! Good luck--

Barbara

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to barbara1234]

Which is here:

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[Gypsylass in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you its copied and pasted x

[Gypsylass]

Managing on 3+ 1/2 now .