Feeling “dithery”?

[NWFiona]

Hello everyone!

I haven’t posted here for about a year, in fact since you really kindly helped me last time!

I have had PMR for almost 2.5 years now.

I have mostly been feeling good & tapering by .5mg every month (or longer if anything stressful or difficult was happening) I have been on 4.5mg for a month now

Over the past 2 weeks I have felt different. I feel dithery, as if I’ve drunk a very strong coffee? And really tired, particularly in the morning. But then sometimes a bit overactive & manic later (similar to the feeling when you take that first high dose of pred) I don’t have any stiffness or pain. There doesn’t seem to be any specific pattern or trigger.

Wondering if it is to do with blood sugar or possibly diabetes?

I have a doctors appointment tomorrow, but wondered if anyone has had similar symptoms?

Thank you in advance!

[SheffieldJane]

Hi NWFiona. It could be a blood sugar thing, but it sounds to me like your Adrenal glands kicking in. Well done for managing thus far - really well. I guess you will go for the necessary tests but my instinct is that this is part of your recovery. Let us know what happens.

[NWFiona in reply to SheffieldJane]

Thank you for your quick response Jane!

I hadn’t thought about the adrenal glands and haven’t experienced this feeling before. It makes sense. I will mention it to the doc tomorrow 😊

[PMRpro Ambassador]

My suspicion would be low adrenal function in the morning (your body should produce a spike of adrenaline and cortisol in the morning to get ready for the day ahead) and then it picks up for the afternoon surge.

[NWFiona in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you PMRpro for your quick reply too! As I said to Jane, I hadn’t thought about the Adrenal function as a cause.

I did mention it to the doc about 6 months ago, when I went about extreme tiredness - she said... “oh no, we wouldn’t do an Adrenalin test until your PMR has gone & you’re off pred”!!! My iron was low so she gave me a course of iron tablets & I felt much less tired, so I forgot about the possibility of lack of adrenalin.

Thank you again for your help 😊

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to NWFiona]

Silly woman - bit late by then if you DID have adrenal insufficiency ...

[NWFiona in reply to PMRpro]

Just what I thought, so I don’t hold out much hope that she will listen tomorrow! 🙄

How are you?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to NWFiona]

Achey - there is (yet another) change in the weather!!!

[NWFiona in reply to PMRpro]

Oh no, hope for warmer weather soon, to ease your aches 😊☀️

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to NWFiona]

Temperature is OK - it's the damp and wind ...

[NWFiona in reply to PMRpro]

Ah, yes of course - hoping for less rain & wind X

[Noosat in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks ! this is very informative for me.

[patriciawhite]

Yes I do it leaves me feeling quite feeble ,It passes and is only now and again .No explanation from the doctor though .Come in when it happens is all you get .I have a doctor (new) to the surgery now who is going to look into it .

[NWFiona in reply to patriciawhite]

I’m just in the docs waiting room at the moment - too early! I’ll see what she says! Let me know how you get on with your new doc 😊

[patriciawhite]

Will do ,I see him Friday after next .

[Purplecrow]

I recognize your "dithery" feeling. It came and went, for a bit, when I was tapering in the 4-6 mg range of pred. Now in the 3 mg range, seems gone, and I feel much better.

Hang in there! You're doing great!

[NWFiona in reply to Purplecrow]

Thank you “Purplecrow” that’s very encouraging to hear! 😊

[NWFiona]

Update on “feeling dithery”

I have been feeling dithery all day, but had a lot of energy this morning 🏃‍♀️💃

I saw the doctor today, but she didn’t really have a proper explanation!

However diabetes & thyroid function were eliminated, having had a blood tests recently.

I said could it not be my adrenal function kicking in after over 2 years on Predniselone & I am now on 4mg as from today? She disagreed & then I can’t remember what she actually said, but she just listed various hormones.

Then she said I think it’s your body adjusting to your reduction in steroids!!! Is that not what I just said?! (In my lay person’s language)

I said could it be anything to do with my heart? No, but no blood pressure taken.

So...

It’s a good job there is this great forum, to put my mind at rest! Thank you 😊X

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to NWFiona]

Actually - think she was more lay-person language than you ...