Nausea and sweats...

[Zacsmimi]

Hello my friends. I’ve not been around much as I’ve been very busy (good sign) and feeling pretty good (good sign). I’ve en struggling between 5-6 for months. A month ago I got my first URI since diagnosis almost 2 years ago. Doc increased me from 6 to 8 for a week, and then wanted to do it again as my recovery was quite slow. I talked him into a steroid inhaler instead as it would be less effect systemically... ok. So I have felt eh a few times, a little more stiffness, a little more pain... but here comes the shocker from me .... I way over committed myself last week. My sister got married and the reception was in my home. I completely and totally depleted myself, physically and emotionally. So, here comes a full on flare, right on time. The pain was like the day I was diagnosed. Made me weep. Day 1 I increased myself to 8 from 6. Day 2 rheumy says take 12. The magic occurred and I was much better 24 hours later.. down to 10. Doc says 10 for a week and then tapers... I’m sick as hell. I can’t sleep, I’m having bizarre dreams, I have the sweats/chills all day and night, I’m nauseous.... is this from the flare and pred changes? It’s awful. Not as bad as the pain was, but still... today I took 8. Because I want normal ASAP. Then I found a pill by my feet. So I don’t know if I took 4 or 8. I’m overwhelmed.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi,

Oh dear, I’m sure you enjoyed your sisters wedding, but it’s obviously taken it’s toll.

Might be worth going back to 10mg, stay for at least a week, and then reduce, maybe 1mg every couple of weeks, even 0.5mg a time. You are also around the time your adrenals need to spark again, so that may not be helping.

Your symptoms could be Pred induced, PMR or adrenals, all, or none.

Don’t beat yourself up! Try and get good quality rest, if you need an extra mg then take one! But make sure you take it, not throw it on the floor!

[Zacsmimi in reply to DorsetLady]

Doc said the same. I guess I just thought is these ax are from the sudden jump maybe I could go a bit lower... sigh. I need to settle down and return to IT IS WHAT IT IS.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Zacsmimi]

Yes it is unfortunately. But as I’ve said before - we are a resilient lot!

[Epimondas in reply to DorsetLady]

Good advice from Dorset Lady. If I have a flare up like that I go up by 5mg and then slowly come down again, don't mess about with tickling it go for a good dose to get you back on track. Be kind to yourself and rest. I am sure you enjoyed your sister's wedding now it's time for you to have some me time. Big hugs and hope you will feel better soon. xx

[SheffieldJane]

Sorry I am being dim but what does URI stand for?

That is a shocking story! I recognise all of those symptoms of Pred. Side effects But singly and not severe and not sudden. In fact my experience of increasing my dose temporarily in response to a known stressor has been positive. An inhaler is an unknown quantity to me, I wonder how much you actually absorb and has this flare been building for ages? Then the wedding and all it entailed was the final straw.

I certainly had nausea and vomiting in the early acute stage of PMR. Coupled with very disabling pain and stiffness.

It will take someone cleverer than me to untangle this.

In the meantime, I am sorry that you have suffered so much.

[Zacsmimi in reply to SheffieldJane]

Upper respiratory infection. Sorry, once upon a time I was a nurse...

[Zacsmimi]

That’s what recommended too. I just thought maybe this shakiness and sweats and nausea would be better if I jumped sooner. I have to settle back into IT IS WHAT IT IS..

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Zacsmimi]

And a bit of revision:

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk......

[markbenjamin57]

Hi Zacsmini. Greetings from the UK to you in the USA!

I'm so sorry to hear that you are struggling at the moment - especially as you are one of the first here to support others of Us Lot during the 'tough bits' of PMR / GCA.

I'm sure that DL and others here are correct. You've probably exhausted your already depleted physiological and emotional 'energy battery' with the recent family events - even if they were enjoyable?!

As others here say, PMR and all that it brings symptoms-wise (including the Snakes and Ladders process of steroid treatment and the consequences of the vague art of tapering), can make the entire process of 'recovery' feel confusing and scary.

Yes, the 'shakes, sweats, nausea', etc. seem to be all part of the process of both PMR and / or taking / weaning-off of the steroids that are very familiar to me, too. And, yes, also, 'weird' dreams seem to go with the process of the altered Brain Chemistry - maybe as a result of either or both?!

As for coping with / managing the recent 'tough bits'? I'm not a medic or a psychologist (as if!). All I will just say is try to 'roll with it' and Relax after what you say was a demanding time for you emotionally and physically.

As you say, 'It is what it is' (!). So, you've probably got the answer already!

Hope this helps - try to keep smiling on the Journey

MB

[Zacsmimi]

I do miss hearing from you. Thanks for the encouragement.

[bunnymom]

No word of wisdom for you but it is good to hear from you and that you have been doing well up to now. This pmr is a constant puzzle with no box to look at. Glad you have good medical support.

[Zacsmimi]

Ok. So today I feel a bit better... not so nauseous, on 10mg. I did take the stray pill of 4 mg figuring if it was what I dropped while taking them, my dose would have been only 6 and if extra well, 0h well. The sweats have stopped... and I have low grade fever since late last night (but honestly I think it was all day)...I can’t reason except fever and inflammation seem likely with flare?i don’t think I have ever “flared” quite like this one.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Zacsmimi]

My flares are different now to what they used to be - no idea why it should be. Unless the sutoimmune bit varies in which tissues it attacks.