Flare

[carolBF]

Hi

hope you are all keeping safe?😊

I am posting an update from 2 weeks ago when I wrote I am jogging,

All was going very well, until I did a hour weeding in my garden, my muscles started to ache (a lot) around my hips.

Therefore I stopped jogging and rested and felt fine after a couple of days ( trying to listen to my body)

Last week I tapered down to 5.5mg from 6mg. 3 days later on Monday night I had a headache (all over) and I felt so fatigued I had to go to bed at 7pm and had a restless nights sleep. Since then I have had a sore dry throat tiredness and content headache. I self isolated and was tested for Covid 19 which came back Negative yesterday. My hips are a little sore but I still have a headache and sore throat and nothing will get rid of it, even though it’s not as bad as when it first started.

This does not feel the same as my last flare up.

I was thinking of asking for a blood test to see if my inflammatory levels have risen

Any advice would be welcome

🌈stay safe

[SnazzyD]

This guessing game is so difficult isn’t it?

Firstly, I’d try an antihistamine for a week because people do seem to report an increase in allergy sensitivities around this level of dose. You may be getting some hay fever and Subtle congestion in the sinuses from pollen, even if you haven’t before.

You are also really down to the adrenal challenge stage too where the adrenals need to work but aren’t yet realising this. It can give you profound fatigue and slight feeling of being ill.

Just a left field thought. Were you cutting down ivy by any chance? If I have to, I have to wear a proper mask with filter because the dust in it gives me flu like symptoms the next couple of days without fail.

The Covid test can give negative readings I have read in various places between 15%-30% false negatives. I suppose keep your eye on it. If you muddle through, all well and good and if you don’t and it worsens call for medical advice.

I would go back in dose to where you felt better and see which symptoms clear out.

[jinasc]

You need to call your GP now.......down to 5.5mg with a diagnosis in 18 months too fast...........the constant headache is telling you something.............your dose is too low and because of that method you could just be running into its big sister GCA.

It needs checking out now.

If by ay chance you cannot get your GP - I would try upping your dose back too 10mg for a few days and then use one of the plans. But still try and call your GP.

Carol, PMR is not something you get rid of in weeks, it takes years, the mean average is 5.9 - all the pred does is keep the inflammation down - the underlying illness is still there and will only go away when it wants too. The aim with pred is to keep you as pain free as possible - so always you are seeking the lowest possible dose that allows you to do so. Please go to Pinned Posts on right hand side of this page and click on Tapering Plans.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to jinasc]

Actually, Matteson found the mean time to get to 5mg is 18 months - so OK for half of people.

[carolBF in reply to PMRpro]

I have felt great on 6mg so thought I would drop to 5.5 after 4 weeks but have been jogging and weeding and think I may have a virus of some sorts, waiting for the doctor to ring me back, she was a new doctor and asked if I felt nauseous and if my sleep was disturbed which is yes to both, i have gone back up to 6mg, I also take 75mg levothyroxin for an under active thyroid

[jinasc in reply to PMRpro]

Mea Culpa, I half remembered that he had done the stuff, I, personally have not come across anyone, except the three men I know off in less than two years........I sort of just put it to one side. Serves me right, I just know so more women than men.