Extreme fatigue

[PenelopeVita-Finzi]

I have very cautiously and slowly reduced the pred dose to 1 mg after 4 1/2 years of taking it for GCA. I remain on 15mg of Methatrexate per week. Over the past couple of weeks I have been experiencing extreme fatigue. Is this something to do with being on a minimal dose of pred after years? Or is there possibly another cause? Old age perhaps? I am about to be 80.

[Constance13]

I’m also knocking 80.😞

Fatigue is a thing I think we must “put up with”.

The weather this week has been terrible for OA and immune illnesses (according to the official weather forecast for Bad Sassendorf).

I have had PMR for nearly 7 years (down to 4 mg Pred), Inflammatory arthritis and Polyneuropothy.

Still, I’m alive and “wobbling”.😂😂

Keep taking the pills!

💐💐

[PenelopeVita-Finzi in reply to Constance13]

Thank you for your kind reply.

[Constance13 in reply to PenelopeVita-Finzi]

Where do you live Penelope? We don’t seem to have much about you. Unless, of course, you want to keep it that way!

[PenelopeVita-Finzi in reply to Constance13]

I have been aregukar follower and an occasional follower of this life-saving forum for the past 4 years. I love in North London.

[Constance13 in reply to PenelopeVita-Finzi]

Thanks for the info Penelope. I’m not very good at remembering names so I could probably have even written to you in the past!😂

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Extreme, especially increasing fatigue at doses of pred below about 4 or 5m may be a sign the recovery of adrenal function hasn't kept up with the reduction in pred dose.

How long had you been at 2mg? Was the fatigue then better?

[PenelopeVita-Finzi in reply to PMRpro]

I was on 2mg for several months before reducing via the dead slow method (the consultant had recommended a quicker reduction) and I was fine without being very energetic. It is the past couple of weeks that I have felt increasingly tired.

Thank you very much for your reply.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to PenelopeVita-Finzi]

Maybe worth asking your GP if you could have a synacthen test? 2-3mg is said to be enough to function OK, now the 1mg is catching up as you are not having any 2mg days to help out.

[PenelopeVita-Finzi in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you. I have never heard of that. I will make an appointment.