Travelling and tapering.

[HelenDaisy]

Diagnosed April 2019, I've tapered using Dorset Lady's Slow Taper. I'm now trying 8.5mg, and feel under the weather and PMR-ish. Or steroid-withdrawal-ish. Anyway, not good. I wonder if I should stick on 9mg for 2 weeks while on holiday? Our flight is 11 hours. Does anyone have a thought? Thanks!

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I wouldn't be trying to taper while travelling - not least because the holiday is more important than 2 weeks of taper!

Where are you off to?

[HelenDaisy in reply to PMRpro]

We're off to Cape Town. We had to cancel all our trips last year due to my husbands cancer (the stress of which I believe caused my PMR.) Maybe I'll stay on 9mg for the holiday

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to HelenDaisy]

And you don't even have time zones to adjust to!

[Thelmarina in reply to HelenDaisy]

How lovely! I was there last year and had the most wonderful time - the warmth is magic! I would keep at 9mgs for your holiday as you will walk more - taper when you get back. Have a gorgeous time! 🌺

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Most definitely. As PMRpro says. No reducing when travelling.

[HelenDaisy in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you. I've got to 9mg fine so I think I'll stay there until I get home. Thanks!

[HeronNS]

Given that you already aren't feeling up to par I wouldn't taper. Hopefully you'll find, as I always seem to, that travelling for pleasure is good for you and you feel a whole lot better.

[yogabonnie]

NO rule that you must reduce reduce. I think I stayed at 5 for 3 months. stay at 9. get it solidly under your feet feeling GOOD! no point in having a flare! Have a lovely holiday!

[Hidden]

I stayed at 6mg for a year and had to go up so up and downing just a part of the pmr game. I would stay at 9mg and make sure you take enough pred in case you flare. Have a fantastic holiday in SA and from thinking about reducing for a few weeks.

[SnazzyD]

If you suffer from the journey and you taper as well you won’t know why you feel bad. Keep it simple, don’t stress the body more than you have to especially as you are on the border of adrenal land. I was on 18mg for 5 weeks because of a 2 week holiday and got really uptight about it. It is now a distant memory and I think my body enjoyed a bit of stability.

[SheffieldJane]

I definitely would stop especially as you are getting warning symptoms. You don’t want to spoil your holiday.

[nuigini]

Have a great trip and don't even think about reducing until you've settled back home.