Fatigue and preds

[_multistrada]

Is it normal to feel complete exhausted after small amounts of work, I am on 10 mg a day preds which I will try reducing over the next few weeks buy one a week, to find a happy medium, but only after the smallest amount of work I’m completely exhausted and fall asleep

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Do NOT, I repeat, DO NOT attempt to reduce by 1mg per week, That is asking for trouble as you will reduce faster than your body can keep up and you run a big risk of overshooting the dose you are looking for: the lowest dose that manages the symptoms well. The result will be a flare and you will have no idea at what dose it went pear-shaped.

Yes, it is perfectly usual to feel fatigue in this way with PMR or any autoimmune disorder - the pred manages the inflammation bt nothing else. The actual disease process is chugging away in the background, attacking your body in the same sort of way flu would do.

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk......

is a set of links relevant to this aspect of chronic illness - I'm sure they will be helpful.

[_multistrada in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you point taken

[Robinsnest72]

I am also on 10mg pred. I would not be reducing weekly. Have come down from 15mg. My rhemy has me reducing monthly. I seem to be tired some days and other days not. If you reduce weekly you have a huge chance of a flare and starting over

[SnazzyD]

I will add another shout to PMRPro’s. Apart from not knowing where you over shoot you won’t be able to tell whether you’re getting withdrawal or not enough Pred to control the inflammation. At some point lower you would also get into trouble with adrenal function. If you drop slowly by small amounts like 0.5mg you are more likely to know where your sweet spot for now. I allow a minimum of 2 weeks on a good dose before jumping again.

[Soraya_PMR]

Yes!

You need to learn the art of pacing, do a bit, rest a bit.

It’s as though PMR is using our batteries, and they discharge unpredictably and quickly. Then we have to recharge from ‘in the red zone’. Try to stop the work before you hit the red zone, and recharge BEFORE exhaustion and sleep are the only options.