Remission

[Gary1310]

Remission ..Wondering what I can expect when I am in Remission. I hope to reach that “end” in February, God Willing! Should my walking be normal? Will my energy return? Will I feel normal? I seem to be getting stronger everyday. I currently am on 2 mg Prednisone. Does Remission mean I can relax my feeling of being captive to this condition and Prednisone? What can I expect?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi

Life does return to normal, but not necessarily on day one of life without Pred.!

Your Adrenal glands may not be sparking at 100% initially for example - and if your walking has been bad you need to give your muscles time to recover properly as well.

It is said that it can take up to year for your whole body to get back to ”being normal” - Pred and the illness can affect lots more than you think.

Plus, of course, you have got a bit older - depending on how long you’ve been on Pred.

So don’t expect things to suddenly change like a light bulb being switched on - but you should notice a steady improvement as time goes by.

[Gary1310 in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you! It has been a year.....but symptoms earlier. I am so ready for this year to be over! Has been a blur. I seem to be a bit better everyday. I have had a bad knee for about 10 yrs....today the knee feels good.....I feel well. I seem to walk better, too. Feel like I am crawling out a black hole.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Gary1310]

Ok

Well a year is a bit quick - so don’t be in too much of a rush.

You may find you’re fine on 2mg, but struggle on a lower dose.

Don’t want spoil things no matter how much you want to be off Pred - at such a small dose it’s shouldn’t be causing any problems.

[Gary1310 in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you....wouldn’t even a small dose of Prednisone confuse my Adrenals? I do want those little glands to kick in, 100% with no confusion.

[SnazzyD in reply to Gary1310]

They can work with low dose but even when you’ve stopped it can be a good year before normal function resumes. From experience I would caution against assuming the last little bit is insignificant. I found it quite a big haul to get from 2mg to 1mg but we’re all different. All this while my adrenal function has improved, but I don’t see the point in rushing to zero in order to feel it is all behind me while risking the adrenals not being ready.

[Gary1310 in reply to SnazzyD]

Thank you...🌹

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Gary1310]

Not necessarily- once you are below 7.5mg (approx to physiological dose your body normally produces) - your own body has to make up the difference between the Pred dose and your “normal” level. For some people that’s easier than for others, but the usual advice is to reduce slowly to allow the Adrenals to be able to get going properly. But as I said earlier, they do need gentle persuasion- they don’t just switch back on overnight (so to speak).

If you aren’t suffering fatigue at the moment and feel good generally, then you should be okay.

[Gary1310 in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you...🌹TodayI feel great!...walking normal. Thanking God.... Will pace.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Gary1310]

It is far more important to keep the PMR under wraps than to get off pred.

[Gary1310 in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you.....🌹I do feel well but vulnerable.....will pace myself.