Spoke too soon!

[Whatgrange]

After the family wedding - and being enthusiastic about how I had managed the festivities - something has hit me and I would welcome advice! Am at the end of a month tapering from 15 to 14mg. Didn’t go to 13 because of the ‘strain’ of the wedding. 5 days after the wedding I now feel rotten!! Very stiff, achy and having to be careful with balance. My OH has a cold virus and I presumed I also had a virus, but no cold symptoms. I don’t want to go up to 14.5 or 15mg but how long should I wait with these increased PMR problems. Haven’t taken any paracetamol yet.

[Yellowbluebell]

Hi, i would be tempted to try paracetamol for a couple of doses and make sure you rest. If things dont ease off afterwards then i personally would increase the dose to 15mg, just for 2/3 days and see how things go. You can drop straight back down to your 14mg without tapering again. My youngest got married in april and i upped my pred for 3 days but i was still tired. Make sure you get lots of rest. Take care. YBB

[Whatgrange in reply to Yellowbluebell]

Thank you! I was thinking along those lines and have just got out of bed to take a couple of paracetamols!! It’s the middle of the night in the UK! I have been doing nothing much since the wedding, knowing I would need to rest although I did have to go to a hospital appointment. I felt as though I was doing very well - I guess pride comes before a fall!!

[Yellowbluebell in reply to Whatgrange]

I am also in the uk but got full blown pred insomnia even after a year on it and my gp's attempts to find a solution!! I checked your profile before answering your post as usually questions at 2am are usually from America!! At least it means there is someone about at silly oclock i suppose! Hopefully you will feel better after the paracetamol but please dont leave it too long to up your pred if you are still feeling rough. A few days on a slightly higher dose wont do your taper any harm. We have all done it even though logically we know we are just being stubborn!! Good luck and please let us know how you get on. x YBB

[Whatgrange in reply to Yellowbluebell]

My sleep pattern used to be very poor - waking often for a couple of hours then sleep for an hour, then wake again! With my morning pred not having much effect until mid afternoon. A month ago I changed to bedtime full dose and my sleep improved - much to my surprise! I do wake to go to the loo, but don’t stay awake for hours. My fatigue is much better too as I don’t feel sleep deprived - until tonight of course!! It also means that I am much more flexible during the day, until evening.

[Hidden]

It can takes a full dose or two days of painkillers to help. I suspect delayed onset muscle soreness and straightforward knackeredness. After Xmas spent with family I plan on bed rest for 2 to 3 days and then pottering. I always feel better once I get to right amount of painkillers.. 🌻

[SnazzyD]

If it was me I’d take paracetamol and if after half a day with rest as well I didn’t feel better I’d go up to 15mg for a few days. Also, viruses don’t get us all in the same way; you don’t have to have all the outward signs. In the grand scheme of things a few days on 15mg isn’t going to upset much.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

First try paracetamol - regular doses for a couple of days, not just a on-off dose. And rest - it often takes a few days to catch up with you once all the excitement is past. That isn't a "do nothing" rest - it a "change is as good as a rest" thing too.

[Whatgrange]

Thank you, wise ones!!! Will do - am on my second paracetamol dose! Definitely can’t be ‘doing nothing’ rest as my OH is suffering with her bronchial virus too! Usually we manage to be unwell in sequence which is much more convenient !!

[Blearyeyed]

As the others have said try Paracetamol for 24/48 hours but actually increasing to 15 mg for a few days (2/3) then returning to the dose you are on now if it is not an infection may be what you need on this occasion after a week of Family Partying.

Have you checked your temperature or checked for other signs of a virus?

If you have no viral symptoms except Fatigue you are going be suffering from the Fatigue of all the Positive Stress ( and some Negative , we all have that one annoying cousin !) that even Healthy People feel after a big event.

You increase the usual muscle ache and tiredness of healthy individuals of a post party meltdown by 10 if you have PMR/ GCA or any Health Condition that involves you taking over 3 mg of Steroids a day and , even if you are having fun , you do risk a mini Flare in symptoms .

Why? Because your Adrenal system has gone to sleep thinking that something else will do the temporary increases of Cortisol in your system for Big Stress Days , but your oral steroids don't react to Stress on your body instantly , unknown to your Adrenals, and so your body spends a number if days using all of it's Cortisol on coping with Activity Stress instead of the Stress from your Illness.

Result , you drop like a stone , or feel like you have had a piano dropped on you with a blink of an eye the day after a holiday , or even an afternoon out because even we pacing you may not be able to take it.

I wrote a post not too long ago about how not all Stress is a bad thing , you are experience that Good Stress Blowback.

So increase fluids , try getting under the duvet and having a sleep when you need it , have Paracetamol and some extra vitamins . Eat light for a few days but nutrient rich , in other words don't be tempted to live on wedding cake as it's pretty cut and comes with it's own serviette. And , yes , you may benefit from an increase in Pred for a few days while you try to get that Cortisol back into control of your overall body as well as your PMR symptoms.

So sorry , it's not fair , it's like being a child again and having a tummy ache half an hour after their birthday party , hugs xx