Flare or Flu?

[PatB1948]

As per my last post, I have been on 15mg Pred for two weeks and seemed to be fine on that dose. I wasn't feeling very well on Thursday, nothing specific but during Thurs night and on Friday, I felt very unwell, sore throat, high temp and aching all over. Some of the pain was like the PMR/GCA, sore shoulders, hips, upper arms and excruciating headache. What made me think it was maybe a flare was the headache did not get better with painkillers. I took 5mg Pred on Friday afternoon and felt better by evening.

My sore throat has not come to anything but I do have a dry cough and wheezing/whistling sound from my chest especially when I lie down. My temp was still 38.5 to 39 until Saturday evening. I also had extra 5mg Pred on Saturday but have not had any extra today (sun). I am still not feeling well, my chest hurts when I breathe. I do not have the PMR/GCA pain.

What do you think flare or flu and should I pay a visit to the doctor? Pat

[SnazzyD]

Hello, for me the giveaway for the flu is the high temp and sore throat. This is not to say that your condition hasn’t been exacerbated by the flu. Headache with the flu can also be fairly resistant to pain killers but it is hard to say.

I would advise getting a doc to listen to your chest to rule out various things that should be treated especially if you’re on steroids. Pred is a powerful anti inflammatory agent which Is why we’re taking it but it also suppresses other inflammatory responses to infection that would otherwise alert us to it earlier and may stop you mounting a good response to it.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to SnazzyD]

I agree with all Snazzy says.

[PatB1948 in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks, PMRpro, good advice yet again. Pat

[PatB1948 in reply to SnazzyD]

Thanks, SnazzyD, will get an emergency appt at doc tomorrow. Pat

[HeronNS]

I think you were either brave or foolhardy to increase your pred dose by 33% without medical advice. Just sayin'. Hope you are feeling much better now!

[PatB1948 in reply to HeronNS]

I'm still not feeling too good and perhaps was a bit OTT to take extra 5mg Pred but it was only for two days and certainly helped me feel better. Thanks for your forthrightness. Pat

[Hidden]

I had my first dose of flu since pred. I am on SSA too. Sore throat and laryngitis and aches. Within 2 hours of first symptoms felt it drop to chest. Day 6 got to drs with chest infection. So worth getting a check up if crackling. Of course 2 weeks later rheumy hurse saud should have stopped taking steroid sparing agents. I thought about increasing pred but thought even though anti inflammatory I didn't want to suppress immune system anymore (might be wrong there?).

Still not got voice back fully @ 4weeks later...some people pleased at that. But i believe my dog missing my daily food and walk songs I trained her with. Looks blankly at me. I stare blankly back. 😞

[PatB1948]

Thanks, Poopadoop. Pat