I have been on Pred 20mg for almost 2 weeks now for a PMR flare up. I see the GP in a week to discuss tapering. My symptoms were 80% reduced within just 4 hours of starting and continue daily to improve, its a miracle for sure but I have found it comes with a small cost.
Namly gastric upset, the feeling that I'm never quite ready to get up from the loo and I seem to have turned into an olympic wind bag its embarrassing more than anything else everywhere I go a foul cloud follows.
Has anybody else experienced this and did it improve with tapering ? Or is there something I can do to combat it ?
I can put up with being wired, to be fair Im getting lots done as a result so that's good but I don't want people avoiding me because I smell like a public toilet
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Travs
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They really aren't "normal" adverse effects of pred - are you on anything else as well? Pred can cause breathlessness - counter intuitive I know - but I thought it usually took a bit longer.
It could be an electrolyte imbalance (sodium, potassium, magnesium) and pred could contribute to that.
You are already on pred I take it? What dose? How did the PMR flare happen/present?
Hi Travs, I have also started to have a few episodes of wind over the last week - I think it is because my guts are now readjusting to having a larger appetite and starting to do exercise again. I have been on Pred for a week - after about 5 days I actually started to feel hungry again, and have managed to do some long walks. I hope your innards start to settle down soon.
probiotic live Yoghurt with honey with your Pred can prevent it Irritating your stomach and if acid is happening after every meal a few spoons before you eat can help reduce the acid effect. Sipping cool water with your meal also helps , plus drinking green tea ( any flavour ) or ginger or mint after a meal or medication.
You may be having a common side effect of many of us and find that you are eating too much sugar , white carbs or wheat is being an irritant just while the body gets used to the medication .
Large , Carb heavy portions are also harder on the system while on steroids because it does have an effect on your insulin sensitivity.
If changes of diet don't work and you aren't on one already you may need a PPI , or if you were given one straight away but never had stomach issues before it could be causing a reaction while you body adjusts to it.
Reducing your quinine may have had an impact on the general aches and pains.
Why did you take it before and why have you been taken off it?
You could , as Pro says , be suffering from the reduction of electrolytes , especially Magnesium and Potassium salts and that adds to Nerve Pain and Muscle Ache , so having more of these foods , or taking a supplement will help , and you can put on Magnesium lotion or spray at night to reduce the night time aches.
Sleeping with your head elevated gradually and on your right side can also help reduce the effect of gastric reflux at night.
If things don't improve though and you feel your PMR Pain is worsening or these issues are not being treated discuss it with the GP.
I have been on Omeprazole for as long as I can remember 20 years perhaps so I would be surprised if its that, The GP stopped my quinine at a meds review, just a money saving exercise I think Im going to ask for it back.
As for the bad belly it seems to be settling but other family members are now complaining so I expect its a virus, Norovirus perhaps which is an annual occupational hazard for me and the right time of year so Im not too worried
Ooh take care , lots of fluids and rest , and be prepared, as these things can last longer while suffering with PMR and on Pred , and there is a possibility with infections of this type that you can have a Flare in PMR Pain. Hope you feel better soon.
If you do find that your symptoms worsen for either problem get to the GP for some extra advice and help.
But you are on other drugs now - and that can change the way your body reacts to something you have been on for a while. If you have been on omeprazole that long, I do hope you have had a dexascan done? It contributes to reduced bone density too.
I didnt know that, No I have had no scans. I see the GP tomorrow not my normal GP but the practice GP with an interest in PMR so I may learn a lot at this appointment. Thanks for all your help
Me = GCA since Nov 2016; now down to 3.5mg pred. Have steroid-induced diabetes and did have loads of other pred side effects.
I've experienced various gastric side effects in response to various medications.
To begin with, on 40mg, I reacted quite badly to uncoated pred. Despite live yoghurt etc. There was a distinct improvement when I changed to coated pred. Worth trying if you haven't already. Made a big difference for me.
I didn't react well to Adcal, and so stopped that. Continued w vits D3 and K2, which I seem to tolerate well. Luckily, as they really matter. Bones OK so far . . .
I also stopped all other nutritional supplements, as the cumulative side effects just weren't worth it. Soon learned to eat low carb + high calcium. Plus lots of protein and veggies. Real food = best.
The worst med of all - for me - was Metformin, a diabetic med. Not everyone reacts badly to it, but it had extremely bad gastric effects on me. Luckily I managed to find satisfactory alternatives.
I do react badly to some carbs now, so still a bit familiar w your symptoms. Things like bread = v wind-producing. Try to avoid them. Have to be careful w things like figs - not too many. Chick peas = fatal! Stopped Omeprazole because of absorption issues - seemed somewhat crucial when on long-term meds. Now just take occasional Gaviscon when required.
Must say that not all symptoms improve w tapering. But trial and error + perseverance seem mostly to do the trick in the end.
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Is this a flare or something else?
GCA? or something else?
GCA, adrenal fatigue, migraine or something else? 
PMR or something else
