Good news and a problem!: Good news is I have lost... - PMRGCAuk

PMRGCAuk

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Good news and a problem!

SuziCutie profile image
39 Replies

Good news is I have lost 1 stone 7 lbs 😀😀 thank you Slimming World!

Also I am reducing prednisone 6mg one day 6.5 mg the other day. So far so good. 60mg December 2017 so taking a while but as we say there is no rush!!

My only problem really is stairs. My knees just won’t cooperate. Really stiff. A real effort to get up the stairs especially in the morning. No pain thankfully. Had an X-ray no problem showed up.

Wondering if it’s muscle weakness due to the steroids??

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SuziCutie profile image
SuziCutie
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39 Replies
SuziCutie profile image
SuziCutie

O dear making a mess of this. Tried to delete my first post as I clicked send somehow 😬😬. I am blaming the weather it’s still very hot 🥵

You got there in the end!

Well done re weight loss ...that's great.

Knees...I have done the single step down because of leg and knee issues, but the only time I had trouble going up with knee issues was bursitis in my right knee. The knee itself didn't hurt at first I just couldn't use it to push off. Then it swelled up and started to hurt. My thighs often used to refuse to get me up stairs for the first couple of years and if I am really tired still do. Again you try the next stop and it just won't let me use the leg to pull/push me up stairs. I was sideways Or bumways up and down for a while.

Well Done 🏅 on the weight loss!

Ah, Knees! My problem is downstairs & l do have evidence from X-rays to confirm!

Have you tried massaging them with a simple body oil/cream & keep them moving as much as possible.

Any worse when it’s hot/cold & does it improve during the day?

Sympathies 🌷

MrsN

SuziCutie profile image
SuziCutie in reply to

I do try to keep them moving but it lasts all day. Sometimes it seems a bit better. It’s odd really. It’s just like there is no strength to get up stairs. If there is a hand rail I can manage. Bit embarrassing though as it’s obvious I have a problem. I just can’t do stairs if there is nothing to hang on to 😥

in reply toSuziCutie

I have a fair bit of damage to the reverse side of my kneecaps (Patellar) l was at my Aunts last Winter, when my knees are at their worst & l came down her stairs very easily & wondered why? When l turned around l saw they had a hand rail on each side of the stairs, this is something l am going to consider if not this Winter, then fairly soon!

Sometimes l stay upstairs all morning after l get up, if l have ‘admin’ or tasks l want to complete as there’s no point hurting the knees if l don’t have too!

Hope yours improve soon 🌷

MrsN 🌷

in reply to

Ouch mrsN....that made me limp and cringe in my mind just thinking about the inside of your kneecaps. 😱

in reply to

Poop, l couldn’t/can’t walk down stone steps even wearing Sketchers thinking they’d cushion it a bit! I’d have to go around the long way!

Poor Knees 😱

in reply to

Yikes. Poor knees indeed! No trips to Whitby for you then. Mind you I just would not get up or down them. 😲

jinasc profile image
jinasc in reply to

How?

in reply tojinasc

Typo...would NOT get up them...and deco not down.

jinasc profile image
jinasc in reply to

Me too (osteo in both knees) so when I am up I do things. .............and we keep a container on the stairs and anything that has to go up.......gets slung in and waits.

When or if I should say if, you get the extra handrail, which I did many moons ago, my friend who was a carpenter would not fit anything except a round wooden hand rail. I asked him why and his reply was, you can get your whole hand around and it gives you a better grip, especially as you get older. Then he told me, next time you go into a care home, have a look at the banisters.........................he was right. Every time I go up the stairs, with a basket over one arm,,,,,,,,,I think of John now long gone.

Without that extra handrail, I would never make it up my stairs.

in reply tojinasc

That’s interesting about it being round! Shall bear that in mind, yes we do the same with up/down things, never come up or down empty handed us my Motto, except for me coming down, that l can’t manage!....

jinasc profile image
jinasc in reply to

I chuck them down provided they are non-breakable.........😊 and no-one is at the bottom. 🤕

in reply tojinasc

Me too. Quite a feat with a dog gate at the bottom if the stairs too.

Yellowbluebell profile image
Yellowbluebell in reply tojinasc

I like to have at least half a dozen things that need to either go up or down the stairs before i make a trip and yes we both use the method of throwing things down if they wont break. It can be dangerous attempting the stairs whilst things are being moved though!!

Yellowbluebell profile image
Yellowbluebell in reply to

Since husband broke his back he cant do stairs but indoors he goes up and down on his bum. Not something he does outside but it does make things easier for him at home

in reply toYellowbluebell

Bless Him! 💙

Yellowbluebell profile image
Yellowbluebell in reply to

He is still able to make tea and bring it up to me which is obviously important!!

in reply toYellowbluebell

Double Bless Him 💙💙

Otherwise it’d be a mini fridge & kettle in the spare room! 😉

Yellowbluebell profile image
Yellowbluebell in reply to

We did consider that but I am considering his health by him doing regular exercise

jinasc profile image
jinasc in reply toYellowbluebell

My Grandad who had been injured in a mining accident , long before I was born and in his 40's, going up and downstairs was done on his bum. When I was 2, he was 66 and I only would go up and down like my Grandad. Did not matter what anyone when said....................that is how Grandad did it.

Thank you, you have made me smile...............😊

Yellowbluebell profile image
Yellowbluebell in reply tojinasc

Our grandson thought the same till he was about 5!! If his precious grandad did it then he was doing the same.

Longtimer profile image
Longtimer in reply to

My sister with RA says both handrails on the staircase are a godsend....all helps....

MamaBeagle profile image
MamaBeagle in reply to

Have you tried walking downstairs backwards?......it can be a lot easier when you've got knee or leg muscle pain.

Constance13 profile image
Constance13 in reply toSuziCutie

I was like this at first but got a grip on it eventually by going up 3 stairs then backing down them. I increased 1 step every week ( this was 5 years ago)! Now I can go up and down stairs (with rail!) as often as I please (within reason).😊

Good luck! 🍀🍀

Noosat profile image
Noosat in reply toSuziCutie

Down to 5mg and find stairs challenging. I use the handrail,l when there is one. Keep hoping it will get better over time, but after reading one of the posts here by GP doesn't sound optimistic. It said once the muscle fibre gone cannot be recovered. I will just keep trying to strengthen that which I have left. Good Luck.

SheffieldJane profile image
SheffieldJane

You are doing great. This sounds like an issue for a good physio, unless you recognise these symptoms as presenting symptoms from your version of PMR. Groin pain would be my warning and all the associated disability, regarding stepping say into a bath.

dillydally1 profile image
dillydally1

congratulations re your weight loss, you should be very pleased with yourself because it is much harder losing weight on pred. it gives me hope x

SuziCutie profile image
SuziCutie in reply todillydally1

Thank you dilly dally. I just got to the stage that I was disgusted with

Myself. Stuffing my face all the time. Slimming world online was so helpful. I have learnt a lot so hopefully I will continue to loose another 7lb. Back to my original weight pre PMR.

The urge to eat when on steroids is compelling and I found carbohydrates made it worse. So did my best to cut out bread and biscuits and cake. Once I started I didn’t miss them too much and seeing the weight coming off is a huge incentive to keep going. Plus the slimming world plan is easy to follow. Basically healthy eating 😋

dillydally1 profile image
dillydally1 in reply toSuziCutie

hi, this is my second time with pmr. I started slimming world on line in January and up until a week ago I had lost one and half stone. started prednisolone one week today and have gained 3lb.. I have seen people on here do the low carb diet which I am going to try.

its so frustrating isn't it, i'm certainly going to have to discipline myself, because I could eat all day especially the bad stuff. yes I found slimming world easy to follow in fact it started me cooking from scratch again. wishing you well in your weight loss, onwards and downwards (in weight I mean) x

SuziCutie profile image
SuziCutie in reply todillydally1

So sorry about the 2nd dose of pmr. And disappointing for you with the weight gain.

Darling steroids. How we need them and how we hate them.

But take courage. You know the SW plan works. You have proved it.

When you’re pain is under control you will feel able to start the SW plan again.

Wishing you all the best ❤️

Pongo13 profile image
Pongo13

Well done on the weight! When I'm exhausted and stiffer than id like to be, I go upstairs on all fours (like a big baby....) then it seems that last step is the one and only tough challenge in a whole flight. X

SuziCutie profile image
SuziCutie

Just had a brilliant day. Our one and only granddaughter is getting married next year.

I was invited to go wedding dress shopping ❤️❤️

We were in the shop for nearly 3 hours so had to use the facilities.

And guess what it was up 2 flights of stairs . 😥😥

Seems loads of us have knee issues 😳

yogabonnie profile image
yogabonnie

wow! to the weight loss. Inspiring! I love arnica oil. Lots of runners use it on their knees. And I would Ice them whenever you can.

Good luck!

Smokygirl profile image
Smokygirl

Hi! I started my Pred today, 15 mg. I have been frightened to start but had a dreadful night last night.

I am a target member of SW and love the regime. My question is, how did you manage to lose weight on SW when all the gurus here say we have to go on a low carb diet for PMR ? Do you think I might be able to maintain if I stick to SW. or is my Pred too high to do this at the moment?

Well done on your terrific weight loss xx

SuziCutie profile image
SuziCutie in reply toSmokygirl

I was on 8mg pred when I started with SW . Took few weeks to get my head around the plan. Weight loss was slow as couldn’t stick completely to the plan. Didn’t want to reduce the milk as I love milk and need to be careful for my bones sake. Hate SW sausages 😳 but cut out bread biscuits cake and greatly reduced my fat intake.

So comfortably lost a 1lb a week.

I confess it wasn’t easy. But was determined to loose weight.

I wish you success.

Do it for your self 👍

Smokygirl profile image
Smokygirl

You did brilliantly! I am going to really really try to stay at target but am dreading the hunger pangs and cravings!

Incidentally, since I started Pred this morning I have had a had a headache all afternoon. In your experience will that go away?

SuziCutie profile image
SuziCutie in reply toSmokygirl

Not best person to answer that . I had GCA/PMR so started on 60 mg pred. Relief from all pain was within few days.

Maybe see how it goes for next few days. If no improvement seek medical advice.

Re the hunger pangs. I stocked up on loads of SW free foods and also muller fat free yogurts also the fibre 1 biscuits. Really helped when starvation hit 😁😁

Smokygirl profile image
Smokygirl in reply toSuziCutie

Yes —-I love the yogurts too! The fibre 1 biscuits give me bad tummy ache —- as do the SW bars! Shame because they are delish and filling!

I’ll have to peel some carrots to keep handy with some homemade free dips and nibble pecan nuts ( which I love but stick in my teeth 😂). Oh the joys of being over 77 🤣🤣🤣. I also found that a mug of Low fat hot chocolate helped with my sweet tooth—— hope it suffices once the dreaded Pred munchies set in!! Xxx

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