SELF MEDICATE

[shazstep]

Well the new year started with no drama. Australia is still fighting bush fires and air quality in some places is very poor. I got caught the other night. After an over 40 degree day I opened up once the cool change came. Bad decision. I went back to bed and my eyes started watering and I started coughing. My house was filling with smoke. I quickly shut everything up again. The smoke from Kangaroo Island covered Adelaide.

Hardly slept from then. I rang drs but he is on holidays. Decided to medicate myself. When I get this cough dr would normally increase preds. I made the choice to up preds to 25 (from 6) for that day and review following morning. I was able to go back to original dose. The air cleared and I had had difuser running. Whether it was one thing or a combination of everything I improved from just having that single larger dose. I will be discussing it with my dr at my next appt.

If anybody here is from Kangaroo Island or any of the other areas in Australia that has been destroyed, my thoughts and prayers are with you. If the air quality is making it hard for you please pm me.

[SheffieldJane]

It is heartbreaking, I add my thoughts and prayers for all those affected. I am glad your strategy worked for you. Do you intend to return to 6 mgs now you’ve zapped it with the high dose? I see you said you have. How did that work? It was a big brave increase. Have you had experience of this before?

[shazstep in reply to SheffieldJane]

I would probably not see the doctor for a couple of days from when I start coughing. Just the one increase worked great. It might explain why I had the shakes worse than normal. I have decided in future to up the dose in future as soon as I start to cough (that will be with drs consultation). In the past once I start coughing I just get sicker and sicker for a few weeks hence I will try and take high dose immediately.

Nobody can explain what the cough is from but it is definitely not asthma. My first experience with it I was in bed for 6 months 3 months without a voice. I had so many tests and yearly since then but still no answers. Since then I am unable to tolerate any smoke at all.

I have decided this is going to be a good year for me and my rheumi agrees with me. I am no longer classed as diabetic. I am losing a bit of weight because I am starting to have the energy to do things.

I do hope this is my final year on preds.🤽‍♀️Me before diagnosis🛌during🤽‍♀️hopeful

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I imagine it would improve your condition if some of the symptoms were due to irritation and inflammation of the airways, which is a natural reaction to smoke inhalation.

[scats]

The pictures from Australia have been horrific, you are all in our thoughts. Take care.