Flare??

[jenerino]

Hello all you lovely people. I have a question please. I was diagnosed 3 and a half years ago with pmr and I am now finally down to 2.5mg this last month. However, yesterday I spent in bed; felt dreadful, as if I had flu; spaced out and in pain every where. Decided I might be having a flare, so have upped my dosage today to 4.5mgs. Can you tell me please when it is likely to "kick in" as I still feel totally spaced out and in pain. Thank you x

[Hidden]

Sorry to hear you’re not feeling so good 🌷

Can’t be sure when it will kick in, did you do anything out of the ordinary on Saturday to account for feeling so bad? Or had this come out of the blue following a Normal Routine?

I’d have been inclined to go to 5mg but no matter you can try that tomorrow.

Can you take simple pain killer ie Paracetamol as it is always possible you may have a ‘flu like virus.

Let us know later how you are feeling, just relax, lay on your bed or on the sofa.

Hope you feel better soon.

MrsN 🌷

[jinasc]

I would be inclined to go back up, as MrsNails has said to 5mg and ring for an appointment with my GP. I would then ask for a Synacthen test.............to see if your adrenals are up running and how good.

[jenerino in reply to jinasc]

Thank you, I will. x

[SheffieldJane]

Well done with your taper so far. I have had PMR for about the same time as you and am wobbling a bit at 4.5mgs.

Have you done any detective work to understand whether this has been caused by stress or unusual activity?

Have you ever had a Synacthen Test to ensure that your Adrenal Glands are capable of working alone?

If you have overshot your ideal Pred dose, this could be a factor - every half mg counts now.

Finally, you may have a virus - there is a lot about, with the changeable weather. Things to consider anyway. Our response to Pred is pretty individual.

[jenerino in reply to SheffieldJane]

Thank you for your response. Don't think I did anything to cause it really but have had a bit of stress recently. However, I have upped my dose to 5 mg for the last 2 days and I am feeling much better. The stomach ache has gone too. I really think that I probably had some sort of virus infection which has run it's course but will stay on 5mg for a while now to let things settle down. Will definitely have the Synacthen test though.

Take care and good luck x

[PMRpro Ambassador]

IF it is PMR it won't kick-in unless the dose is enough and just adding 2mg is not a lot, especially when you take it well after 4am.

But it may not be PMR - having PMR doesn't excuse us from other illnesses.

[SnazzyD]

Hello, could you be ‘just’ ill or reacting to an extra mental or physical load? Your adrenals May be fine when your day is ticking over but I found that throwing in anything extra wiped me out and it took a few days to recover.

[jenerino in reply to SnazzyD]

Perhaps I have been overdoing it without realising it. Sometimes difficult to monitor just how much can send you over the edge, isn't it! x

[SnazzyD in reply to jenerino]

Hmm, not very much I found.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to jenerino]

As Jane says it takes very little to send you over the edge especially at such low levels. You are on such a fine line between what is enough and what isn’t - there’s very little or no surplus Pred sloshing around the systems - not like higher doses.

Plus I think perhaps we mentally think we are “nearly there” and maybe forget what we can and can’t do!

Hope you soon feel better.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to jenerino]

Years ago I wrote a post "What a difference 1/2mg makes", In the words of the prophet: Nothing has changed!

[HeronNS in reply to jenerino]

The horns of the dilemma: barely enough or not quite enough? Which is it? Only time will tell. Either one gradually feels better or one gradually feels worse.