Yesterday was the worst day of the past five months of my PMR journey. I forgot my morning medicine when I left for work. My brain was not up to making any decisions. I cried off and on till 3. I saw my eye surgeon who then found my pressures had dropped enough so that I can have cataract surgery next week.
I believe that was mainly behind my emotional craziness. Every one was telling me to go home and stop working.
Today I’m decreasing from 14mg to 13.5mg of prednisone.
I now have to add another medicine for my high blood pressure.
Today I feel wiped out. What do you recommend?
I’m an administrator for my church and supposed to only work 20 hours a week.
Thanks for any words of advice.
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singingloud
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First question - if you feel so bad, why reduce? That’s just going to make things worse.
You’re wiped out for a variety of reasons-
a. because you missed yesterday’s dose - well that’s done so you can’t do anything about - except make sure it doesn’t happen again, or if it does take half a dose later in the day - at least you’ll get some benefit;
b. Adding in another medication is always a bit of a let down - but if you need it, you need it - you may find the BP goes down as you reduce Pred and you may be able to come off it;
c. The thought of a cataract operation can be a bit scary - but the procedure is straightforward and painless - and result afterwards is really spectacular.
Just give yourself a bit of TLC today - if you can - think things through rationally - and you’ll see it’s just “one of those days” - we all get them, but they soon pass. And next time (hopefully there won’t be one!) listen to your colleagues - they could see you weren’t functioning properly and were just trying to help.
Don’t worry about cataract op - it is ok - no pain and results are like a miracle
Oh dear. Forgetting your pred makes you feel horrid. I have missed a few doses over the years. Make sure you leave a dose or two in your work desk in future. You have to rotate every few months so it doesnt expire. At least you can take your missed dose ASAP if it's there or in your bag. I have spare doses everywhere.
To be honest after that there's no way I would reduce for a week or so. Just to let the inflammation settle. I recommend taking it easy for a day or two, especially as you are adding a new BP med. Do you know what med it is?? I hope you don't need anymore drugs but believe me you are doing OK if you just take pred, BP meds and supplements. I take between 10 and 12 meds a day and each new one has to be adapted to. Good luck.
I'm so sorry , you certainly had one of those days .
I agree with the others , Tapering is not a strict Timetable but the Guideline to follow taking your Life and Health into Consideration no matter what your Doctor's tell you.
A Taper won't work if it's started a day after or during a period Stress , especially if you have missed a dose.
I , personally wouldn't think about starting a Taper after a day like yours , or until after a few weeks from missing a dose .
I also never taper when I have just started a new drug for at least two weeks until my body has settled down and adjusted to the new chemicals I need to put in it. If you try , it can be confusing as you cannot be sure that any side effects you are feeling is because of Steroid Withdrawal or the effect of the New Drug on your system. It's just too many things to ask you body to do at once.
The rest of this week should be spent giving yourself TLC , Rest, and Relaxing , Positive , Gentle Activities that you enjoy . Let your body and mind restore itself and build strength for what's ahead before you Taper.
And keeping an extra store of Pred in a box in your bag , just in case , is a great way to avoid the odd Missed Dose.
After a few days Calm it can be helpful to think back over your Day and the Events that added to your burden. The forgotten Pred and the Appointment Anxiety were the foundation of your Emotional Day , but were there other things that also took you over the edge , things brought to ahead by that foundation. Note down those things , wether work stress or certain jobs or relationships . These can be your minor triggers and things that build up Tension in your Life , the type of Tension that makes dealing with your Pain , Medication or Feelings harder.
When you know them you can set a plan in your mind to adapt your activities , or hours and duties in work , or find a way to remove or avoid them.
Take care , take it easy and feel better soon xxx
Oh Dear SingingOutLoud,
You’ve joined the Club which we all swear we will Never Forget our Pred Again.... until the next time! 😉
I have a little Red Bag l keep my current Meds in except my Daily Pred which is in a Pill Box but in the Red Bag is a Strip of Pred so if l’ve gone out & have forgotten to take them, l have some in reserve.
But l now have an alarm & a husband who asks every morning have l taken my Pred?!
As Dorset Lady says, why reduce if you feel so poorly & although getting the news you can have your cataract done, it’s a bit stressful too.
Hope you can take tomorrow off, relax put your feet up & look after yourself.
I had to have BP Meds when l’d been on Pred a while & now my BP is under control, so that’s another tick ✔️ in a list that’s getting longer.
Don’t despair & just be aware that BP Meds can take a bit to find the right combination, so don’t be concerned if that happens to you as most of us have had more than one shot at getting them right.
All of you have given me some very sound advise. I did take my morning dose at 4pm and then my evening dose at 11pm as usual. But I will take your advise to carry extra on me and put it in my desk in case it happens again. I believe I was so distracted and feeling overwhelmed that I walked right out without it. I hopefully have learned my lesson.
I have been on BP meds for years but my BP has gone up in the past few weeks, so we are adding a new medicine to help bring it down.
As much as I think I'm handling PMR and the up coming eye surgeries, I know that my mental status is strained.
I will stay at 14mg prednisone for a few more weeks, esp. because of the eye surgeries. Even tonight I feel the pain in my shoulders.
You are right that others may be seeing the effects of the stress and telling me to say no at work. I'm one who has always looked out for others but it is time to give more attention to me. And that's okay. Thanks, friends!
Poor you, so easily done and very scary to forget a dose. I keep strips in a special place in my handbag. I also set an alarm on my phone. It went off in the theatre once! as I take it during the evening after food. Most embarrassing especially as I was looking all around thinking it was someone else🙄!!
I agree with everything that has already been said so I won't repeat it.
If you take more than one medication I believe a dosette box is essential - and even if all you need to take is pred then a weekly box is still a useful addition as log as it lives in your bag that you always take with you when you leave the house. I use a daily box as my selection is a bit complicated but I never leave the house, even to walk into the village and back. without it. The essential timed ones are set on my phone - even then occasionally the alarm goes off and I switch it off without taking the pill!!!!
But I am also picking up on this comment "I’m an administrator for my church and supposed to only work 20 hours a week." From that I'm getting the message you work more. Whether it is a church or whatever - no-one will set up a memorial saying "She gave her all for her job". When you are sick you come first, second and third in the pile. Not the job.
Just reading pmrpro's last paragraph, there ain't nothing like the Church for finding more work, and, nowadays, less people to do it!
I know, 'cos my wife was a Churchwarden for many years, and is still on the PCC. And, quite simply, I don't know how our Administrator keeps going with the mountain of work heaped on her.
No - stand your ground, and give yourself loads of tlc so you can get better.
No words of wisdom from me but your ‘name’ reminded me of an earlier post on benefits of singing! I felt a bit low at work yesterday as everyone due was crying off sick so I put karaoke u tube on and sang ‘dancing queen’ (badly) amongst others and boy did I feel better! X
Music is certainly healing and especially singing. I m a private voice teacher and I tell everyone to sing. It doesn’t matter if you are on pitch or not but Sing! You were all made to sing.
After eye surgery I hope to get my guitar out and sing even more! Thanks for the reminder.
I was a church administrator for 10 years (long before I was diagnosed with PMR), so I’m familiar with the demands associated with this position. Putting boundaries in place with your hours/work may be necessary, and would like reduce your stress. You must prioritize and advocate for your health. If need be, and possible, arrange to take some time off to allow you time and energy to address the other things on your plate that are adding up.
It’s awful having low emotional days, and our mindset certainly does impact our conditions. Stress is the enemy. I feel for you given all that’s going on.
Others have already provided some great suggestions. I would add talk therapy with a professional helps...we’ll it certainly helps me anyway. They can assist you in finding ways to deal with/combat the issues that are affecting your emotional state. The folks on this forum serve a similar (albeit less detailed) support role.
Know that we are here for you, and we “get it”. Take good care and keep us updated.
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