How long at higher dose?

After a few days of increasing pain, I decided to up my dose from 12 to 15. I am asking how long does one safely stay at the higher dose before I drop down to my previous dose of 12?

Thanks so much for being there whenever I need guidance.

[SheffieldJane]

I have managed a few days without having to taper back down. A fortnight is probably the limit.

[Hidden in reply to SheffieldJane]

Thank you Sheffield Jane. I must say, however I had to look up the meaning of "fortnight".

[SheffieldJane in reply to Hidden]

Gosh is that British?

[HeronNS in reply to SheffieldJane]

Not especially, as far as I know. Not in the same way as car parts like boot and bonnet (trunk and hood in North America). I use it, I think I hear it quite often, but maybe it's a regional thing here?

[Hidden in reply to SheffieldJane]

We don't use the word fortnight here in the US. But as I said in a previous post....I am now learning a "new" language.....British

[Hidden in reply to SheffieldJane]

YES! Hahaha. It is so British! American's would say "...stay on higher dose for two weeks." Or, "I'll stop by, bi-weekly." Or, "It happens every other week."

[SheffieldJane in reply to Hidden]

Well “chocks away”. Like literally. Off to the GP, high blood sugar borderline diabetes 2. One of those depressing telling off appointments that GPs enjoy so much.

This is a good international site, I love the learning and the loving arms across the sea.

[Hidden in reply to SheffieldJane]

Good luck at GP!

[yogabonnie in reply to SheffieldJane]

Good luck to you Sheffieldjane. I had one of those appointments and now am eating very boring food!! No more of those Mary Berry Cakes someone just posted! alas!

[Telian in reply to SheffieldJane]

Be interested to know how you get on re your blood sugars, how high are they? I got the shakes last week and nearly passed out - as if I had to eat., yet just eaten a light meal. GP having me monitor levels and keep a diary to take when I get results of fasting bloods. Currently teetering between 4.4 and 5.6 so hope that's normal!

I don't want diabetes...

Hope you get on ok?

[SheffieldJane in reply to Telian]

I saw a wise old fashioned doctor today about my results that are within the normal range but at the high end. He noted that they had already come down several points from 41. He just advised me to be careful with my diet and said it would improve as I continued to reduce the steroid dose. I go back in six months. I came out buoyant rather than depressed after a telling off that I had expected. I guess he was retired and standing in for holidays - he just radiated ease and calm. Consequently I feel inspired to improve my diet further.

Thirst and a dry mouth are possibly symptoms but they are in the side effects of my meds too.

[Telian in reply to SheffieldJane]

That's is good news, I'm so pleased for you.

Why do we only decide to make changes when we've 'escaped' - like you I am going to be good. i'm using a tester that gives the readings in 'old money' so I haven't got my head round the higher numbers they now quote but 41 is good I believe.

Diabetic thirst is really extreme and yearning sweet sugary foods was how my husband started. He once drunk a bottle of squash without diluting it as he thought it was flavoured water!! He can't touch it now, even diluted.

[SheffieldJane in reply to Telian]

I think normal is between 27 and 47 so I am on thin ice. This really is a tedious disease. I don’t drink, I don’t dance and now I can’t have cake, puddings or chocolate. I love it when I’m slim though, it’s a joy every day. That will be my goal.

[Slowdown in reply to SheffieldJane]

A very tedious disease ... I was at 54 on the diabetic range, officially Type 2, but am now at 49 after being quite strict with carbs and lost a stone. I put it down to diet and 'dancing' (er, sort of) around the living room! That and a bout of IBS... just another condition to join the queue. Go for your goal, good luck!

[Telian in reply to SheffieldJane]

Thank you for that, I must learn the new readings, our GP always converts it for my husband so no incentive for me to learn any difference. Tedious is a kind word for our illness - but we can re-educate ourselves and the weight loss is a reward well worth aiming for - albeit not easy. For me, It is better not to have any of the 'sin' foods as I get the taste...... don't buy them is my rule! The weight loss is truly a joy though and gives us a new lease of life! I've just bought a new dress for my birthday party, it's a 'vintage style' dress with a slightly flared skirt and broad, self material, belt with buckle, I'm over the moon with it, can see my waist!! I have good incentive though here with hubby, his mobility is so poor I count my blessings. We used to love the dancing, good 'boppers' we were and still are in a 'virtual world'. I say to him you don't have to move much just stand there and I'll dance round you!! He just looks at me - as if I'm mad! He could be right....

Sounds like you're up for it Jane, that is key! Perhaps we should compare notes - hints and tips if struggling - once in a while, keep us on our toes!

[SheffieldJane in reply to Telian]

I hope you have a wonderful birthday party in your lovely new dress. Send pics!

[Telian in reply to SheffieldJane]

Thank you and will do - here's hoping it still fits!! - an incentive for sure!

[MamaBeagle in reply to SheffieldJane]

The oldies are often the best....B G..... before Google,. Flow charts etc. And think of patients as people!

[HeronNS in reply to Hidden]

bi-weekly. Does that mean twice a week or once every fortnight?

[AndrewT in reply to HeronNS]

Twice a week, once every Two weeks, is 'Once a Fortnight'.

[HeronNS in reply to AndrewT]

So are you saying the American usage of bi-weekly for fortnight is incorrect? Because it sounds like, from Mamici's post, they say that to mean two weeks. I think it's ambiguous, that's why I asked.

[Hidden in reply to HeronNS]

When I looked up "fortnight" I got the definition"two weeks"

[HeronNS in reply to Hidden]

Yes. "Fourteen nights". With metrification English lost a few other words like that, tuppence for two pennies, three pence pronounced thrupence. And lovely names pronounced quite differently from their spelling: grammarphobia.com/blog/2010...

[SheffieldJane in reply to Hidden]

Thoirty Thoird and Thoird. Translates as the corner of Thirty Third Street and Third Avenue where I had to be in New York to get a great Pizza slice. 😀

[Meggsy in reply to SheffieldJane]

Aussies use it too.

[AndrewT in reply to Hidden]

Dear Luigisim,

It 'Makes a Change', as we say over here, for an American to have to look up a British word. Normally we are 'Bombarded' with American terms, that WE, have to look up! Jokes apart, it's is strange, to us, that you didn't know this Very Common Phrase.

I wish you well.

AndrewT

[Hidden in reply to AndrewT]

Hi Andrew....strange that we share a common language but differ in so many of the terms. I see so many words and phrases on this site to which I have no idea of the meaning.it is a great learning experience for me both about PMR and the British "language"

[AndrewT in reply to Hidden]

Yes it IS strange, even 'Common' words like Ladybird, you call Ladybug, both are that charming small, highly coloured (again spelt the British way), little beetle- much beloved of children.

[piglette in reply to AndrewT]

In fact garbage comes from Middle English meaning offal and was presumably taken to the US and used there, while the word rubbish was used in UK.

[Hidden in reply to AndrewT]

And Ladybird here is the wife of former president Lyndon Baines Johnson

[AndrewT in reply to Hidden]

Wife of Ex President Johnson? How should we Address you, or is Luigisim or Ladybird, OK? In England you would, in all Probability, be 'Your Ladyship' as, by now, your Husband would be a Lord. Either way I feel Honoured, to be 'Speaking', to you. Would Ex First Lady, be alright? Did you, really live, in The White House?

Regally- No wait- Respectfully Yours.

AndrewT

[Hidden in reply to AndrewT]

No...that was her name "Ladybird Johnson"..no titles here like queen, king, Lord, Earl,etc

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Up to a week should be absolutely fine, everyone tends to be a bit different and more than 2 weeks is probably too long to drop straight back down.

[Hidden in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you

[Telian]

Wait until your symptoms have settled again then decide if you want to go straight back to 12 or just by 1mg at a time, listen to your body the slower you take it the more likely you are to succeed. I have to slow mine really down, but we are all different. ATB.

[MamaBeagle]

has going up to 15 worked for you? I had hip and wrist pain so upped from 2 to 5 then 6 and now 7 I've done a week at each level and now feel in control. I'm the major carer for a son with mental health problems and an OH who's a bit of a creaking gate and going in for a new knee on Tuesday - so it's imperative I can cope! To be honest I'm a bit light headed and according to the packet it's a side effect of the preds and definitely not pleasant. Anyway going to begin tapering down in a day or so which will be the week at 7............good luck and interested to know how you get on. Pain defintely ain't normal even though my doc said it was an age thing!

[Hidden in reply to MamaBeagle]

Yes it did work for me. Have been at 15 for about 5 days. Plan to drop tomorrow and see how it goes...it feels good not to have that awful pain....you have somuch going on in your life...must be very difficult. My best to you

[MamaBeagle in reply to Hidden]

With you there. Please keep in touch. Love to follow your journey....downwards and onwards...