Update

[diduck]

Have succumbed to steroids got to speak to dr again this week to see if working , they are a little bit was hoping to reduce this week but will see what dr says

[HeronNS]

How long have you been on the steroids? You need to stay at your initial dose for about four weeks (at least). If they are not working to ease your symptoms at least 70% after a week I'd say the dose is too low. Or, possibly, the diagnosis needs to be reconsidered. If you've had PMR before, as you indicated in an earlier post, you know it's a diagnosis of exclusion, usually finally confirmed by a good to excellent response within a few days to a moderate dose of pred. And symptoms always trump blood tests.

[diduck in reply to HeronNS]

Blood tests never been an option , I have managed to get some sleep which is a great improvement., I would say I have had 50% improvement and been on them 6 days , dr says to discuss tomorrow , I will not go back to a rheumatologist as last time I went for 3 years and they did but do a thing so will now only deal with dr

Fingers crossed

[HeronNS in reply to diduck]

Sorry, I misunderstood. When you said you were going to talk to the dr to find out if the meds were working I thought you meant you'd be getting blood tests. Only you know if they are working!

And I hope they are. All the best.

[SnazzyD in reply to diduck]

What dose are you on?

[diduck in reply to SnazzyD]

15 to start with

[SnazzyD in reply to diduck]

Perhaps you need a bit more as things have gone on a bit and 15mg is on the low end of starting dose. Good luck with the doc.

[diduck]

Thank you

[jinasc in reply to diduck]

At least, as another Lady said on her second time around, "it is different but I now know more and what to do". Hopefully you will manage better this time around.

[diduck in reply to jinasc]

Yes hopefully but I looked awful last time with moon face etc I was trying so hard to avoid but couldn’t carry on with the pain at night I was getting no sleep

[jinasc in reply to diduck]

I missed my Moonface when it went, as all my wrinkles disappeared. With a bit of luck and a fair wind you may not get it this time.

And if you wear a mandatory 😷 who knows - sometimes there is an upside to a disaster. 😉😉

[diduck in reply to jinasc]

Ha ha yes I can see that lol

Fingers crossed as took 4 years last time to get off them😞

[Viv54 in reply to jinasc]

Hi jinasc, im the lady second time around , yes i think the mask idea is great ! Have a good day. Viv x

[jinasc in reply to Viv54]

Now I can add another one to the figure I already have 😊

[SnazzyD in reply to diduck]

Keep the carbs and salt low to help with the all round blob effect. Salt made my face 10 times worse.

[Sheilamac in reply to diduck]

Get quickly on to a low carb diet. It will make a difference

[SheffieldJane]

The only thing that is succumbing to Pred is the horrible disease. You can get more than 50% relief, I expect a start dose of 20 mgs will give you the bounce you deserve. You manage the disease this time and introduce all the actions to head off the dreaded side effects. There are much worse autoimmune diseases out there, with this one we stand a fighting chance and as others have said, we hopefully, protect ourselves from a much worse scenario ( GCA, LV). On your side!! 🌻

[Noosat]

When I was diagnosed on December 12, 2018, I started on 40mg for 3 days and then on to 20 mg. After that it was left to me to decide on reductions. Now ,going very carefully, 1mg at a time then 1/2 mg after 9mg. level, I am down to 3mg a day. I know we are all different, this is just my experience so far.