I'm 10 months in with PMR and tapering preds monthly and now down to 6mg. For the last couple of weeks I've actually started to feel a bit better... fatigue has dialled down and minimal joint pain. Then yesterday I had two glasses of wine (first alcoholic drink in a month) and today - well hello shoulders! - massive aches and pain back again! I don't know but maybe - just maybe- the alcohol has reduced or even negated the work of the preds? Anyone else had reactions with preds and alcohol? If alcohol is a no no then someone please just shoot me now!!!
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MrsMac03
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Alcohol seems to make things rosier for me. There is no reason you should not have the odd glass of wine every so often. Red wine is an anti inflammatory I tell myself! Did you overdo things after the wine?
I have not given up my wine drinking since taking Prednisolone although I try to go without some days. Either way I don't notice it makes things any worse but a glass of wine is relaxing in the evening. My rheumatologist is aware.
I've heard a few others say they didn't feel good after alcohol. Can't say I have noticed any real difference having tried no alcohol for some weeks a while back (not out of choice it has to be said!). And it is true that when you've given it up for some reason your body does react a bit to the first re-exposure...
But having read your other post - that was what I was about to ask!!!!
I gave up wine for about a year after I started Pred - was on very high doses so thought it wise.
Now I have it occasionally but can get through a few glasses at a time! Not very good with heavy reds though, although was like that before GCA! Never say no to bubbly though!
It may be that the alcohol in the blood means less energy is getting to muscles etc, my late hubby who had angina was always a little more sluggish the day after a glass or two! When on Pred I found a heavy meal had a similar effect!
But a little of what you fancy does you good so try it again- but without the housework beforehand!
Morning, just seen all the comments about alcohol which was the very question I was asking about a couple of days ago, so that's good, feel I can definitely try a daily glass of red when I go on holiday.
On another note about the housework, on Bank holiday Monday I felt so good and almost like my old self (only diagnosed with PMR in March) that I dusted, hoovered and mopped like crazy then cooked a roast and washed up, still feeling fine. However, what a bad night of pain afterwards and all day yesterday I suffered and my legs felt like lead I could hardly walk! So I learnt the hard way and will never overdo it again, I suffered so much afterwards!! I'm learning about the good days and the bad days.
I'm not aware of any adverse interaction between alcohol and the preds. My money's on your flare in symptoms being caused by overdoing it physically - maybe when feeling that bit better? Also, PMR can have a mind of its own despite the best of plans and efforts to manage it, as I well know.
That said, I'm certain that the sugar content in alcohol can have as much of an influence on the body as the alcohol itself. Some wines have massively greater sugar content than others. I stick to dry, cleaner tasting red wine (e.g. Cotes du Rhone / Bordeaux) - it feels good on the palette and less 'heady' than some of the heavier reds. Maybe it's more about what / how much you drink than anything?
My conclusion? Everything in moderation and if a tipple helps you to relax, why not? As important (?), try not to get carried away with physical exertion when the symptoms subside - PMR / the inflammatory 'stuff' is still the system and looking for any excuse to come back and haunt you. But easier said than done when you feel better, as I know!
Phew - the shares in two nautical related companies (Captain Morgan and Sailor Jerry) were about to take a dive if a big no was the consensus!! . Arrrr - yo ho ho.....
Actually I was reducing after Christmas 2016/ January 2017...c. 5 mgs to 4 mgs and whereas a social drink did not seem to bother me before that (having started at 20mgs on diagnosis last March) I was getting head pressure coming up to December 2016...like a book or books laid on my head and I blamed alcohol so I did not have a drink for a month and then had 2 drinks one evening in February...pressure in head back again...although I also had a cappuchino the same weekend. ( I avoid coffee). I was not sure which (if either were to blame). So again I stopped having either but happy to say that my Easter drinks and a recent cappuchino have not affected me thus. I am now on 3mgs and my worst pains are my feet (p.m.) And occasional shoulder stiffness. I am somewhat unusual in that my symptoms have always been worst in the evening. I take my pred in the evenings. At no stage did I feel that the actual pains got worse with a drink. And I am on other medications as well as pred....not for PMR.
I have written already about the head "pressure" if you wish to refer to that. And I am sure that there will be other replies which may be more helpful or directly applicable for you which include alcohol and pain directly.
I do hope that you get through this....possibly and hopefully short phase soon!
Thank you all for your interesting and amusing replies!! I must admit I was feeling very down in the dumps today but your replies have definitely cheered me up and made me laugh so thank you so much!!
I have 4 electrically operated fully adjustable, heated / cooled leather chairs complete with headrests. Trouble is, they're in the car - better not start drinking in there!
We used to have one of the first Espaces - the front seats turned round, 2 seats moved into the back and there was room to put the camp table so we could dine in there! Just drinks didn't need that - the 5th seat formed a perfect coffee table...
Good old Espace, I remember them well! I had a Citroen C8 for a short time a few years ago - very similar design and really practical - could double-up as a van if needed!
Hi All! I have PMR and I don't drink. But if I did, I would try to find homemade wine - without all the additives!! We have a friend who makes wines and it is delicious! But I haven't had a sip in over 20 yrs. Anyway - most commercial wines have sulfite and other additives that would cause an inflammatory reaction in our already inflamed bodies! I would consider it's the sulfites, rather than the wine itself! Just a thought.......
Interesting point nymima01. It makes sense about the additives - all to make most commercially produced wine quicker onto the shelves and last longer? Mmmmm...
I'm allergic to something, most likely in some red wines, mostly the heavier sort and most likely not sulphites - causes a typical food allergy reaction in the middle of the night - but the nice immunology doctor said we could look for the rest of our lives and not work out what it was. Take an antihistamine when drinking she said. It works - but now I don't take an antihistamine before drinking - I take it if I wake up and realise it's happening. Two Lidl's loratidine tablets works a miracle and it goes away very quickly!
No - think it is something else, I know exactly what you mean.
A world-renowned scientist in oxygen transport to tissue told us that the reason sparkling wine goes to your knees so quickly is entirely due to the bubbles...
I am now down to 2 mg of prednisone and have been on medication for 8 months. I really enjoy a couple of Chardonnays of an evening and it has not affected me tapering off. Cheers, hope you enjoy your wine like me
After reading all this... feel ao much better. I enjoy my wine but had given it up thinking that sulfites might be causing my middle of the night problems. Love the PMR pro info. Is there anything she does not know?
I haven't had an alcoholic drink for over 30 years (following a riding accident and big bump on the head) but since this PMR diagnosis my husband has been pouring me a weak G & T at 6pm each evening - and now I am hooked! It really hits the spot fast and revives me just when I am really flagging. As for heated seats in the car - I rush to sit in my husband's car and put the seats on heat - it really eases that awful ache in my thighs. I have a heated pad which I might use on aches and pains - it would be easier than getting in a bath each time my legs ache.
Nothing like a nice G&T to revive the flagging spirits (so to speak...)
Never mind being easier than getting INTO the bath - I haven't had a bath for 13 years as I'm terrified of not being able to get OUT!!!! Thank goodness for walk-in showers!
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