I have been wondering how to tell if I am having withdrawal or flair.
I base most of my assumptions on what my labs say. If they are higher than last lab I say flair. But I just don’t know. I felt I would be more tapered down by now ... over three years and still trying.
My labs never raised so that would be useless for me.
SW tends to happen quickly (day 1 to 3 for me) and then dissipates.
Increasing PMR symptoms tend to take a little longer (days 7+) and gradually increase.
SW pains may be eased with paracetamol. PMR symptoms probably won’t.
Are your inflammation markers consistently raised?
I am going to look at my labs and see. I do know my sed rate was over 60 and when I took the extra 30 mgs prior to ER visit it had gone down almost to normal. The sed rate is the test my FNP wants more than the crp. I normally only had CRP done prior to moving. It seemed to average between 13-14.
Just wondering if there is anything else inflammatory grumbling on that may be keeping it up. A dose of 30mg would likely knock it on the head. Do you have symptoms too or is it just the markers that drive the dose change?
My labs are not the reason for dose change. I have symptoms which normally drives the change, the labs are to check and make sure that I indeed have reason for it.
I just went into my labs and found
CRP Nov 14.8
Dec- 9.21
Jan -12.01
Feb -16.23
Mar -10.51
Range is .00-3.00
Sed rate
Nov. - 60
Dec - 55
Jan. -34
Feb -54
Mar -66.
I am now going to see what dose of Prednisone I was on for these results. All the above were at least 10 mgs. I have only gotten under 10 two times for a short period of time.
Lots of people are 5 or 6 years and still trying...
Me too Lin-Calif (Oregon). Soooo over it all! Xx
Over 4 years in and still trying to get below 10 mg....
I had withdrawal symptoms when came down from 40 to be 30 on first day painful joints very tired and really weak difficult to walk more than 10 minuses now on second week and feeling much better.
Even had very stabbing pains in head. Try to stick to it . I hope it will pass and you feel better.
If I was not so worried about going blind I would just bite the bullet but when the headache keeps coming back with new tapers it concerns me.
I was doing fine until I got to 15 mgs from this last episode where thy bumped me up to 60 mgs. Then 40, 30, 20, then 15. Each higher dose was only for three days. I now have been on 15 from Sunday and each day I have a bit more pain. It will all work out I am sure. I just got a new Rhumatologist and appt at the end of April. If it wasn’t for the right temporal headache I would not even think about it. Much....
My GP has stopped doing ESR, only CRP counts. I presume thats because the ESR can be raised for lots of other reasons, like a cold. Hope you feel better soon
I was only getting CRP but my new FNP said that sed rate tells a better story of inflammation so she has now included it. It does get confusing at times.
Hidden I had been wondering how you are, not having seen a post from you since the deer photo. But a reply you made on another post got me looking back, and I guess you've not had the best of winters. Hope you are beginning to feel better now, getting a handle on the GCA again? I think I missed your intervening posts because I was in the throes of a very stressful move myself and I know I missed a lot.
it sounds from the way you describe things that your new medical people are very caring and even if you are not in a big city they will do the best they can for you. Caring counts for a lot. How is you new cat? Not so new now I guess. Our two cats have settled into the condo quite nicely, but it was a lot easier when we lived in a house with a basement! Still, they are good company.
All the best. Jean
I love where I live. My new cat Suzie is not as demanding as my Nellie but then no one was like her. Suzie is not as smart as far as having conversations but Suzie is less demanding which is less work.
I have one last project I want to get done with is a gate to close off my patio.. Then Suzie can come out without her lead on n play in the herb garden with me.. Like Nellie she doesn't jump to high.
Otherwise I will be seeing my eye physician on Thursday n we will see where he wants me on prednisone tapering. He so far is not.... Go fast n get off... He is more like what is your body telling you.
He is new to me but this far is very good and careful.
Can overdoing it cause a flair
Pmr or withdrawals 
